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Lloyd Knight’s first performances were aimed at any family
member, neighbor or friend who would watch and listen to
him. At the age of four years old, he would “enter his
stage” by bolting out of a closet with a tennis racquet
(guitar) in arms giving his best, deep-voiced rendition of
Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues". Little did he know that
this song would end up being one of his favorite life long
cover songs. Lloyd still performs it every chance he gets
and it’s a “must see”!
Growing up in Vidalia, Georgia on a pecan-tree lined farm,
he and his three older siblings helped out around the farm
after school and sang in church on Sundays. He performed his
first solos in front of a live audience at the Church of God
in his home town. His favorite gospel songs “Old Rugged
Cross” and “Have A Little Talk With Jesus” still bring back
fond memories and are dear to his heart.
His young summers were spent cropping tobacco and then
heading out to the pond with his Momma’s family famous Fried
Egg Sandwich tucked in a paper bag for a mid-fishing snack.
Cane poles, worms, fields and ponds were the things that
made his eyes light up as a young boy. Lloyd gleams when
talking about weekend camping trips with his Daddy and two
brothers, “We would pitch a tent on the sandbar of the
river, set out limb lines and just wait for dinner. A fresh
caught meal cooked over a gas Coleman stove was better than
any restaurant”. He speaks fondly of deer hunts down in Ft.
Stewart, GA. where his little feet froze sitting up in a
deer stand by himself, not hitting nearly as many deer as
were shot at, but treasuring the time around the camp fire
with his family.
Lloyd went to a small K-12 school in Vidalia where, in high
school, he was the tailback for the Toombs Central Yellow
Jackets. Also, as a member of the high school concert band,
he played trombone, trumpet and saxophone, assisting the
band in claming the state trophy every year. “We had a lot
of fun in high school. On weekends, my best friends and I
would run around from farm to farm filling bags with
“borrowed” Vidalia Onions to turn in for “party money”.
After the football games, we would all head down to the
river to party at the sandbar, drink a little beer, and
chase the pretty girls. Back then, the cheerleaders got to
ride home from the games with the team. That was alright! We
were a little mischievous, but just after some small town,
harmless fun.”
At the age of 21, Lloyd was invited up on stage in a local
bar and grill and sang a few George Strait songs. That
experience and the excitement of the crowd, lead to his band
assembly and regular act at Carrigan’s. Lloyd fell in love
with singing like never before and was booked in local
venues 52 weekends a year. Eventually, one of the club
owners talked him into trying out for The Colgate Country
Showdown and he won! He went on to win the state competition
and placed fourth out of fifty-two at the national level. He
decided to take his singing career to the next level and
went out on the road singing covers like “Fast As You” by
Dwight Yoakam, “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” from Brooks and Dunn,
and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama” on the weekends.
During the week, Lloyd served in law enforcement as a
Sergeant with the Sheriff’s Department. In 2002, he visited
Nashville in search of a guitar player for his band. While
listening to a set at Legends Bar and Grille on Broadway,
Lloyd was picked up by a record label and moved to Nashville
six months later.
Lloyd Knight has toured extensively since the early 90s,
including such places as Georgia (of course), Alabama,
Colorado, Florida, New Mexico, North and South Dakota, South
Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Wyoming. Some of his gigs
include:
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Music City Marathon in Nashville, TN
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Vidalia Onion Festival in Vidalia, GA
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Windows on the Cumberland 2005 CMA Music Festival in
Nashville, TN
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Midwest Radio Tour with his single “Hello Beer”
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National Anthem & pre-game concert for Nashville Sounds
in Nashville, TN
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Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville, TN
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SIR during 2006 CRS Week in Nashville, TN
National Anthem & 7th Inning Stretch Show for the Rock
Hounds in Midland, TX
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Red Iguana in Nashville, TN
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Cotton Eyed Joe’s in Knoxville, TN
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The Palace in Nashville, TN
Now signed to Rustic Records, Inc. for a little over two
years, Lloyd’s singles “Wishing I Was Home”, “Was It Good
for You”, and “That’s What a Redneck Is” have all done well.
These songs are included on his debut album, “Takin’ It
South”, which was released on November 7, 2006 and is
available through all online distributors (CD Baby, iTunes,
Rhapsody, etc.) as well as the Rustic Records, Inc. web
site. Also released in 2006, was the album “Still Believing
in Christmas”. This holiday compilation features Lloyd’s
version of “Winder Wonderland” as well as some other
Christmas favorites by Lorrie Morgan, Porter Wagoner, Little
Jimmy Dickens, and several Grand Old Opry stars.
Lloyd starts work on new material on May 15, 2007 putting
him back in the studio and back out on the road beginning in
June 2007. Look for Lloyd to be featured on an outdoor
hunting TV program with “Outdoors Dan” this August. The five
day antelope hunt in Montana will be aired on Fox Sports
this fall.
Lloyd's life long goal has been to sing onstage for a packed
house at The Grand Ole Opry. “I want this for my parent’s
satisfaction as much as my own. They’ve always encouraged me
and fed this dream of mine. I hope to give them that
gratifying mark of “makin’ it” before too long.” He still
holds the same visions in his head and dreams in his heart
that he had as a child; work hard, sing and perform for
anyone that loves country music, and make time to hunt and
fish. Catch Lloyd Knight on stage when you can! His unique
style and live performance is not to be missed. |