René DeKnight

René DeKnight (December 5, 1913 – January 24, 2004) was an American pianist, composer and arranger. He was a member of The Delta Rhythm Boys.[1] He arranged and played on many of their influential work, including "Dry Bones" and "Take The A Train". DeKnight also played with Ella Fitzgerald and later became the arranger and composer for The 5th Dimension.[2]

René DeKnight
Birth nameEdgadito De Knight
BornDecember 5, 1913
New York, Nork, U.S.
DiedJanuary 24, 2004(2004-01-24) (aged 90)
Cameron Park, California, U.S.
Associated acts

Biography

DeKnight was born in New York City on December 5, 1913.[3]

He was a member of the vocal group The Delta Rhythm Boys as a pianist and arranger. They appeared in numerous films, including So's Your Uncle (1943), Crazy House (1943), Hi, Good Lookin'! (1944), Follow the Boys (1944), and Easy to Look At (1945).[4] In 1945, the group appeared in the Broadway musical Memphis Bound!.[5] DeKnight also wrote songs for the group and backed Ella Fitzgerald on piano.

In 1940, DeKnight married Freda Alexander who became Ebony magazine's first food editor in 1944, and later as the fashion editor she staged the first Ebony Fashion Fair in 1957.[6][7] In 1962, DeKnight took and 8-week leave from The Delta Rhythm Boys to travel to Hawaii and Japan where his wife selected fashions for the 1962 production of the Ebony Fashion Fair.[8] His wife died in 1963 from cancer.[6] Later in 1963, DeKnight married jazz singer Sallie Blair in Honolulu where he was heading his own trio.[9][1] He was later married to a woman named Marie.[10]

DeKnight became the music arranger and conductor for The 5th Dimension in 1966. He played a major part in shaping the groups sound by adding jazz elements to their music.[11]

DeKnight died at the age of 90 in Cameron Park, California on January 24, 2004.[3]

References
  1. "DeKnight Wedding". Jet: 41. January 2, 1964.
  2. "The 5th Dimension". Ebony: 153–154. October 1967.
  3. Living Blues. Center for the Study of Southern Culture, The University of Mississippi. 2004. p. 91.
  4. Dick, Bernard F. (2015). City of Dreams: The Making and Remaking of Universal Pictures. University Press of Kentucky. p. 144. ISBN 978-0-8131-5889-1.
  5. "Rene deKnight – Credits". IBDB. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  6. Barrow, William (August 1963). "The Late Freda DeKinght: Tribute to a Lady Titan". Negro Digest: 30–34.
  7. "Hold Last Rites For Fashion, Food Expert Freda DeKnight". Jet: 40–41. February 14, 1962.
  8. "Travelogue". Jet: 41. March 1, 1962.
  9. Sherman, Eddie (December 3, 1963). "Peek-A-Boo". The Honolulu Advertiser – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Homage to René DeKnight". International Club of Andorra. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  11. Nicholson, David. "Enter The 5th Dimension". The Daily Press.
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