William Guest Long Time Member Of Gladys And The Pips Has Died At The Age Of 74

William Guest Has Past Due to Heart Failure 

Gladys Knight And The Pips 

BHR Hollywood Reports..........Member of longtime soul group "Gladys Knight And The Pips" has past away due to heart failure.

Mr. Guest, who was Ms. Knight’s cousin, began singing with her when they were both children.

 His background vocals were heard on records like “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” a Top 10 hit for the group in 1967, and “Midnight Train to Georgia,” which reached No. 1 shortly after the group left Motown Records and began recording for Buddah in 1973.

William Guest (Left), Gladys Knight(Middle),
 And Merlad"Bubba" Guest 

Gladys Knight and the Pips won three Grammy Awards and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Apollo Hall of Fame in 2006.

Guest's sister-in-law, Dhyana Ziegler, said he died Thursday in Detroit of congestive heart failure.

Guest performed throughout the lifespan of the Grammy-winning group from 1953 to 1989.

He performed background vocals on hits such as "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "Midnight Train to Georgia."

Long Time Soul Group
"Gladys Knight And The Pips"

"My heart is broken, but I know his legacy will live on," said Guest's daughter, Monique Guest, in a statement.

Gladys Knight and the Pips were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 and the Apollo Hall of Fame in 2006.

After the group ended, Guest and another member, the late Edward Patten, formed a production company.

 Guest later served as CEO of Crew Records. He released his autobiography "Midnight Train From Georgia: A Pips Journey" in 2013 with Ziegler.

"I am so glad we finished the book, so his wonderful life and legacy will be celebrated throughout eternity," Ziegler said. "I loved my brother so much."

BHR Will Keep Gladys And The Pips In Our Prayers