Obituary of Larry Knight

Larry Knight, 90, of Clermont, FL, died peacefully August 14, 2012, in his home. A native of Jamestown, he was born February 11, 1922, a son of the late Sotir Michael and Nuna Vasil Karapantso, who immigrated to America form Albania in the early 1900s. He served as an altar boy and was in the choir of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. Larry attended Jamestown Public Schools where his exceptional vocal talent made him a favorite guest soloist at many local churches. He also performed as "Little Joe" in a variety of local supper clubs. He was a recipient of the Mozart Scholars Award and spent two summers as a member of the Chautauqua Opera Company. With gratitude, Larry often recalled those influential high school teachers who nurtured his talent; music teacher Barbara Baldwin and voice teacher, Margaret Hillary, also Eileen Swift. They brought him tickets and provided transportation to the local concert series and to the great performances at Chautauqua. Harold Crissey gave him piano lessons and provided many hours of free accompaniment as Larry practiced operatic arias. "They encouraged me to continue my music education, to maintain the dedication and discipline required to develop one's talents, take risks and never five up on any dreams of a successful singing and entertainment career," Larry said. He received a personal music scholarship from Mrs. Thomas Edison and studied for a career in concert and opera at Curtis School of Music in Philadelphia with Clarence Reinhert until interrupted by WWII. During the war, Larry served in the Army Air Corps for 1943-46 as a telegraph/radio operator in the Asia-Pacific Theater. After the war, he continued his studies at Julliard School of Music in New York City and began his musical career there. Larry experienced the last of Vaudeville as an entertainer in "Helzapoppin", on a 9 month cross country train tour with "Olson and Johnson." He also enjoyed touring the US, Canada and Europe as the tenor in the well known duo, the "Impressionaires." From 1950 to 1960 they appeared many times in Las Vegas. They also played New York City at the Palace Theater, the Latin Quarter, the Starlight Room at the Waldorf Astoria and Frank Daly's Meadow Brook. The appeared two times on the Ed Sullivan Show. In 1955 they set a record for the longest playing variety act at the New York Hippodrome with audiences numbering 6000 at the Elliot Murphy's Aqua Show with the Fred Waring Orchestra. They later toured on year in the US with first Ice Skating Variety shows. Often they were booked as the opening act for the great comics, Alan King, Red Buttons, Buddy Hackett and others. From 1960 to 1968, Larry developed a second dynamic singing/comedy duo with Donna Tomko. They toured Playboy Clubs and a variety of night clubs around the country and Caribbean as well as UASO Shows in Europe. In 1969, he relocated to the Orlando, FL area. He taught himself to play guitar and continued his entertainment career for the next 25 years as a successful solo act known as, The Romantic Songs and Soft Guitar of Larry Knight - for a Knight to Remember. Often he returned to Jamestown for summer bookings at local supper clubs, such as the Holiday Inn, Sword and Shield, Dynasty and Ironstone. He retired in 1993 following surgery and a stroke. From 2005 until his death, he enjoyed spending 6 months a year in his hometown. Mr. Knight was a member of the American Guild of Variety Artists and the American Federation of Musicians for over 40 years. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Teresa and three nephews Tom, Jim and Bob Karapontso. Besides his parents he was preceded in death by a brother Starvos Karapontso. The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Monday in St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. Rev. George Zervous will officiate. Burial will be in Lake View Cemetery. Friends will be received from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Sunday in the Lind Funeral Home where a Trisagion Prayer Service will be led at 5:30 followed by a Celebration of Life from 6-6:30 p.m. You may light a candle in remembrance of Larry at www.lindfuneralhome.com