Jerry Ernest Knight (April 17, 1952 – December 29, 1996)[1] was an American R&B vocalist and bassist[2] who reached prominence in the late 1970s and early 1980s, during which he was part of several groups and had a brief solo career.
[1] A Los Angeles native,[2] he first gained recognition as a founding member, along with Ray Parker Jr., of the R&B group Raydio, singing vocals on their early hit "Jack and Jill.
"[1] Prior to this, he was a session player for many artists, notably providing bass on Bill Withers “Lovely Day.” Knight left Raydio after before their second album was released to pursue a solo career, going on to release three solo albums and achieving moderate success with minor hits such as "Overnight Sensation," "Perfect Fit" and "Turn It Out".
[3] Shortly after Ollie & Jerry parted ways in 1985, Knight began working with the Jets, co-writing their early hits "Crush On You," "Curiosity," and "Private Number".
[4] Although his career as an artist faded, Knight continued to write and produce for other acts such as the Whispers, Patrice Rushen, DeBarge, Howard Hewett and Elkie Brooks.