How in the world did I miss original Grand Funk Railroad manager-producer-visionary Terry Knight, 61, being murdered back in November? I am stunned.
Today, Donald Alan Fair was found guilty of murder in the Nov. 1 in the stabbing death of Richard Terrance “Terry” Knight during a domestic dispute. Fair’s defense claimed he was wacked on methamphetamine when he stabbed Knight 17 times. Fair, 27, was the boyfriend of Knight’s daughter, and they all lived together in an apartment in Temple, Texas, about 60 miles north of Austin.
Although they had not talked in over 30 years, Grand Funk drummer Don Brewer told an area TV station that he was shocked” by Knights death. “Terry was very instrumental in creating and marketing Grand Funk Railroad.” Brewer had been a member, along with guitarist/singer Mark Farner, of Terry Knight and the Pack, the Knight-fronted band out of Flint, Michigan that had a hit in ’66 with “I (Who Have Nothing).”
After the Pack split, Knight helped put together Grand Funk Railroad with Brewer, Farner and bassist Mel Schacher in ’68, and was instrumental in their rise to fame — in 1971 they sold out Shea Stadium faster than the Beatles — until he was fired in ’72.
Barry Stoller did a remarkable interview with Knight in ’03.
It’s really kind of a toss up between Knight and Grand Funk. On one hand, he was instrumental in their early success and it’s possible that we never would have even heard of them without Knight’s management. On the other hand, he fucked them over royally.
oh well, karma?
I introduced Terry to his wife at my home on lake Fenton mich,Lisa scaffede,they had daughter Danielle never would have dreamed they would get married have daughter then daughters boyfriend kill him!!