Reggie Knighton

Reggie Knighton is a singer, songwriter and lead guitarist from Biloxi, Mississippi who relocated to Los Angeles, California at an early age and grew up there.

Reggie Knighton
Born	(1953-11-03) November 3, 1953 Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S.
Genres	Folk, Rock, Pop
Instruments	Lead Guitar
Years active	1974 – Present
Labels	Haven, Reprise, Capitol, CBS
Associated acts	The Grass Roots, John Sebastian, White Horse, Reggie Knighton, Reggie Knighton Band, Mark Saffon & The Keepers, Phil Brown
Website	The-GrassRoots.com

Beginnings

His professional career started as the lead guitarist for The Grass Roots from 1974 to 1975. He arranged an audition through Dennis Provisor who had experience with the group since 1969. He played lead guitar during the period of The Grass Roots "Mamacita" single (which charted), their self titled album and the US tour in support of it. He played with Rob Grill (lead vocals and bass), Dennis Provisor (vocals and keyboards) and Joel Larson (drums).

He then worked with John Sebastian on his very popular "Welcome Back" album, the #1 single released and the US tour in support of it in 1976. After that whirlwind experience with a gifted talent like Sebastian, he then played with a band called White Horse in 1977.[1]

Solo Career & The Reggie Knighton Band

Later in 1977, he produced 4-track demos of his compositions in his own home studio. The tapes caught the ear of a management company, which landed him a record deal with CBS Records. He released his self titled solo album in 1977. The next year he released his second album, titled The Reggie Knighton Band produced by the acclaimed record producer Roy Thomas Baker. It was a group affair this time and he brought in the other members. Knighton had been friends for a long time with guitarist Brian Ray. Ray was Knighton's age, grew up in the same part of L.A. and they formed the nucleus of the band. Knighton had just finished a tour backing another CBS artist, Valerie Carter. It was on his gig as a guitarist for Carter that he played and became friends with bassist Kurtis Teel. So the three of them held auditions for drummers, which was how they connected with Glenn Symmonds, who was replaced at the end of the bands run by Milton Ruth.[2] The band toured as the opening act for 10cc during 1978. Knighton and the group collaborated with John Sebastian on a Canadian animated film score called "The Devil & Daniel Mouse" in 1979.

In 1981, he worked with Mark Saffan & The Keepers and added his vocals to Phil Brown’s The Jimi Project album in 2006.[1]

Discography

Singles

Release date	Group	Title	Flip side	Record Label	Chart Positions
					US Billboard	US Cashbox	UK
1975	The Grass Roots	Mamacita	The Last Time Around	Haven	71
	The Grass Roots	Naked Man	Nothing Good Comes Easy	Haven
1976	The Grass Roots	Out In The Open	Optical Illusion	Haven
	John Sebastian	Welcome Back	Warm Baby	Reprise	1
	John Sebastian	Hideaway	One Step Forward, Two Steps Back	Reprise	95
1977	White Horse	It Doesn't Take Much	Through Thick And Thin	Capitol
	Reggie Knighton	Clone In Love	Magnum Sally	ARC
1978	Reggie Knighton Band	Rock 'N' Roll Alien	Lear Jet	CBS

Albums

Release date	Group	Title	Record Label	Chart Positions
				US Billboard	US Cashbox	UK
1975	The Grass Roots	Self Titled	Haven
1976	John Sebastian	Welcome Back	Reprise	79
1977	White Horse	Self Titled	Capitol
	Reggie Knighton	Self Titled	CBS
1978	Reggie Knighton Band	Self Titled	CBS

References

1. http://the-grassroots.com/html/regknighton.html The Grass Roots official website.
2. http://www.reyno-roxx.com/reggie_knighton.htm Reggie Knighton Interview.