William Guest – a singer best known for his time with the legendary R&B group Gladys Knight & the Pips – has passed away at the age of 74.
A statement from Guest’s family indicates that he had been struggling with a heart condition for several years.
A cousin of Knight’s, William joined the group in 1953 when he was just 12 years old.
Over the course of his six decades in the music industry he would perform with Knight and the Pips on more than 20 hit singles, including such classics as “Midnight Train to Georgia” and “I Heard It Through the Grapevine.”
Along with the rest of the group, Guest was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.
When the group broke up in order to allow Knight to pursue a solo career, Guest and fellow Pip Edward Patten formed Patten and Guest Productions.
Following Patten’s death in 2005, Guest continued to manage artists as CEO of his own label, Crew Records.
Guest’s 2013 memoir, Midnight Train from Georgia: A Pip’s Journey, remains a favorite amongst sould and R&B enthusiasts.
In a statement issued to the Associated Press, Guest’s daughter Monique wrote, “My heart is broken, but I know his legacy will live on.”
