Jerry Knight

Bassist Jerry Knight helped launch Raydio as one of its original members and stayed until 1980. Before Ray Parker, Jr. asked him to come aboard the group, Knight had already worked alongside Bill Withers. His voice fronted the band’s breakthrough single, “Jack and Jill.” In 1980 he signed a solo contract with A&M, where “Overnight Sensation” and “Perfect Fit” both reached the R&B Top 20; however, his albums failed to sustain sales momentum, prompting his exit from the roster in 1983. The following year he teamed with Polydor as one half of the duo Ollie & Jerry. Knight also found success writing songs, supplying “Tonight” to the Whispers and “Desire” to Phillip Bailey in 1983. He produced “Challenge” for Howard Hewitt and contributed bass to numerous recording sessions. In December 1996, at age 44, he succumbed to cancer.