The Mid-Knights

The Mid-Knights, also known as Richie Knight and the Mid-Knights, was a Canadian rhythm and blues band, active in the 1960s. Part of the Toronto Sound scene of that era, the band are best remembered for their single "Charlena", which was a number-one hit on the CHUM Chart for two weeks in 1963.

The band was formed in 1959 by vocalist Rich "Richie Knight" Hubbard, guitarist George Semkiw and pianist Barry Lloyd. By 1961 they had added saxophonist Mike Brough, bassist Doug Chappell and drummer Barry Stein, comprising the lineup who would be featured on "Charlena". The song was a cover of a 1961 single by the Los Angeles R&B group The Sevilles, although the Mid-Knights' recording was significantly more successful. They were the first Canadian band ever to have a #1 hit on the Canadian charts.

The band recorded the followup single "The Joke" in late 1963, following which Lloyd left the band and was replaced by Ray Reeves. The band released a number of further singles between 1963 and 1966, although none were as successful as "Charlena". Brough and Hubbard left the band in 1966, and were replaced by Richard Bell on keyboards and Richard Newell on vocals. They changed their name at this time to The Mid-Knights, but Bell stayed with the band for only a short time before leaving to join Ronnie Hawkins's band. The band then added Dave Stilwell and Rick Cairns on trumpet, Jerry Shymansky on sax, Mark Smith on trombone and Bill Pinkerton on drums, recording one further single, "Soul Man", before Newell left in 1968 to join Hawkins's band. He was replaced by vocalists Frank Querci and Karen Titko; this final lineup recorded several songs, but none were released as singles before the band broke up.

The original members played a reunion show in 2013 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of "Charlena" topping the charts.

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