Steve Knight (musician)
Encyclopedia
Steve Knight is an American
musician
best known as the keyboardist for Mountain
, a rock band of the early 1970s.
Knight was born in New York to artist parents. From 1938–1950, his family lived in Woodstock, New York
. In 1950, his father became a professor at Columbia University
and moved the family to New York City
. In 1952, Knight graduated from high school (New Lincoln School) and enrolled at Columbia later that year. He stayed at Columbia for most of the 1950s (1952–1959) studying art, music and psychology. He earned a B.S. degree majoring in psychology, and had one year of graduate work in psychology.
From 1959 to 1968, Knight recorded with or was a member of various bands including but not limited to The Feenjon Group, The Peacemakers, Devil's Anvil
and Wings
(not McCartney
's group). In 1969, producer/vocalist/bassist Felix Pappalardi
organized Mountain. The initial line-up included Leslie West
(guitar/vocals) and N.D. Smart (drums). Prior to release of Mountain's debut album, Climbing!
, Pappalardi, who had known Knight from prior musical affiliations, added him to the line-up on keyboards. Corky Laing
replaced Smart on drums. The band enjoyed a great deal of recording and touring success in the early 1970s including 3 gold albums, but called it quits in 1972. Knight then returned to traditional jazz. For the next 25 years, Knight worked in specialty engineering (as a door engineer), and as a songwriter, author and part-time musician.
In the mid-1990s, Knight left New York City and returned to Woodstock. In November 1999, he was elected to a seat on the Woodstock Town Board.
He was reelected to a second term in 2003. In 2007 Knight did not seek a third four-year term, instead choosing to focus on his personal life including several music projects.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
best known as the keyboardist for Mountain
Mountain (band)
Mountain is an American hard rock band that formed in Long Island, New York in 1969. Originally comprising vocalist and guitarist Leslie West, bassist Felix Pappalardi and drummer N. D. Smart, the band broke up in 1972 before reuniting in 1974 and remaining active until today...
, a rock band of the early 1970s.
Knight was born in New York to artist parents. From 1938–1950, his family lived in Woodstock, New York
Woodstock, New York
Woodstock is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 5,884 at the 2010 census, down from 6,241 at the 2000 census.The Town of Woodstock is in the northern part of the county...
. In 1950, his father became a professor at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
and moved the family to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. In 1952, Knight graduated from high school (New Lincoln School) and enrolled at Columbia later that year. He stayed at Columbia for most of the 1950s (1952–1959) studying art, music and psychology. He earned a B.S. degree majoring in psychology, and had one year of graduate work in psychology.
From 1959 to 1968, Knight recorded with or was a member of various bands including but not limited to The Feenjon Group, The Peacemakers, Devil's Anvil
Devil's Anvil
The Devil's Anvil was a hard rock/psychedelic band based out of New York City in the 1960s. They released one album entitled Hard Rock from the Middle East in 1967 showcasing a mix of 1960s hard rock and psychedelic sound with Turkish, Arab and Greek vocals and traditional instrumentals.-...
and Wings
Wings (1968 band)
Wings was a folk rock band from the late sixties . The band members were veterans from an assortment of other sixties bands. Initially, the band was made up of Oz Bach of Spanky and Our Gang on bass, Pam Robins of Serendipity Singers sang, and on guitar Eddie Simon, younger brother of Paul Simon of...
(not McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
's group). In 1969, producer/vocalist/bassist Felix Pappalardi
Felix Pappalardi
Felix A. Pappalardi Jr. was an American music producer, songwriter, vocalist, and bass guitarist.- Early life :Pappalardi was born in the Bronx, New York...
organized Mountain. The initial line-up included Leslie West
Leslie West
Leslie West is an American rock guitarist, singer and songwriter.-Biography:Originally named Leslie Weinstein, West was born in New York City, grew up in Hackensack, New Jersey, and in East Meadow, Forest Hills and Lawrence. After his parents divorced, he changed his surname to West...
(guitar/vocals) and N.D. Smart (drums). Prior to release of Mountain's debut album, Climbing!
Climbing!
-Personnel:Mountain*Leslie West – guitars on all tracks except 6; vocals on all tracks except 6 and 7*Felix Pappalardi – bass on all tracks except 6 and 7; piano on tracks 1, 2 and 9; rhythm guitar and vocals on track 7; production...
, Pappalardi, who had known Knight from prior musical affiliations, added him to the line-up on keyboards. Corky Laing
Corky Laing
Laurence Gordon "Corky" Laing is a Canadian rock drummer, best known as a longtime member of pioneering American hard rock band Mountain...
replaced Smart on drums. The band enjoyed a great deal of recording and touring success in the early 1970s including 3 gold albums, but called it quits in 1972. Knight then returned to traditional jazz. For the next 25 years, Knight worked in specialty engineering (as a door engineer), and as a songwriter, author and part-time musician.
In the mid-1990s, Knight left New York City and returned to Woodstock. In November 1999, he was elected to a seat on the Woodstock Town Board.
He was reelected to a second term in 2003. In 2007 Knight did not seek a third four-year term, instead choosing to focus on his personal life including several music projects.