Sonny Knight | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Joseph Coleman Smith |
| Also known as | Joe Smith Joseph C. Smith |
| Born | May 17, 1934 Maywood, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | September 5, 1998 (aged 64) Maui, Hawaii, U.S. |
| Genres | Pop, rhythm and blues |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, pianist, author |
| Years active | 1954–1997 |
| Labels | Aladdin, Specialty, Vita, Dot, Aura, Original Sound, Fifo, World Pacific |
Joseph Coleman Smith (May 17, 1934 – September 5, 1998), who performed and recorded under the name Sonny Knight, was an American singer, songwriter and author. His biggest hit was "Confidential", which reached the pop and R&B charts in 1956, and he continued to record into the 1960s. In 1981, using his real name, he wrote The Day the Music Died, a fictionalised account of racism in the American music business in the 1950s.