Jimmy Sohns, Who Sang ‘Gloria’ With Shadows of Knight, Dead at 75.
Jimmy Sohns, lead singer of the 1960s band Shadows of Knight—best known for the hit “Gloria”—has died at the age of 75 after suffering a stroke earlier in the week.
Shadows of Knight, based in Chicago, put out three albums in five years, and their big single—originally written and recorded by Van Morrison and later by Laura Branigan—hit No. 10 on the Billboard charts.
They had a few other lesser hits before the group all but disintegrated, leaving Sohns to re-form it and carry on. They put out one more album in 1970—and then again during a comeback of sorts in 2006.
Sohns was inducted into the Chicago Rock ’n Roll Hall of Fame in 2005 and later told an interviewer he could not believe his dreams had come true.
Jimmy Sohns Cause of Death
Jimmy Sohns, lead singer for the 60’s band The Shadows of Knight, is dead after suffering a stroke.
Jimmy and his band are most remembered for their iconic, singalong hit “Gloria” … which was a top 10 hit in 1966. Not to be confused with Laura Branigan’s 80s hit of the same name, Jimmy and co.’s famous chorus spelled out the name … G-L-O-R-I-A.
“When I was really young, and you’re growing up and the relatives come over at Thanksgiving and Christmas and always ask you what you’re gonna be when you grow up,” he said. “I always told them a baseball star or a rock ’n roll singer. And, it was weird that it happened.”
He said Shadows of Knight went from playing for teen clubs in Chicago to the big time almost overnight.
Jimmy Sohns Death Autopsy Report
“We were a teen club band. Teen clubs and concerts. We had this huge following. The record was taken over to the radio station before there was any printed acetates of it,” he said. “It was taken over on a reel-to-reel tape and it sold over 100,000 copies in 10 days. The rest is rock ’n roll history.”
Rest in Peace Jimy Sohns. We are truly going to miss you. I will never forget how excited I was when Patty Prendergast got you to perform at our first Concert for Jimmy Zito which was my brother’s memorial concert. You were a Rockstar in my eyes! And then, in the years to follow, you became a friend.
You came to Nick’s 65th birthday and performed with his band, and you helped us out at many St. Jude Concerts. In fact, the last concert on May 1, 2023 at The Arcada Theatre, I actually got to sing back up with you on “Gloria” on the stage! You would call us on a week night.
and we would just put you on speaker as we sat on the couch and you told us story after story…..and you didn’t hold back! LOL You were fun, funny and such a nice, nice person. Nick and I will be here to support Kathy, who is a treasure. We love you, Jimy.
If there’s a Rock ‘N Roll Heaven, well you know they’ve got a hell of a band