Brian McKnight

Artist Image: Brian McKnight
Attribution
Image Credit: Gage Skidmore (Own work), CC BY-SA 3.0

Biography

Brian McKnight (born June 5, 1969 in Buffalo, New York) is an American singer, songwriter, arranger, producer and one of the prominent singers of his years, specializing in pop and R&B. He is a multi-instrumentalist and plays the piano, guitar, and trumpet. Embracing an effortless eloquence and cocoa butter smooth persona, the music of Brian McKnight has defined the true meaning of an American soul-man since 1991. Like his spiritual Motown godfathers, this upstate New York native has a velvety voice and silky style that captures the vibe of vintage soul without being old fashion. On his latest disc Ten, that blend can be clearly heard. While Brian’s aspirations might have seemed like a lofty ambition, the longevity of his career is a testament to the purity of his vision. With the release of Ten, McKnight’s first disc for his new label Warner Bros Records, the Grammy-nominated singer could not be more pleased with the outcome. Without a doubt, the landscape of soul music has gotten younger, but that fact did not hinder McKnight’s creative process. After 16 million albums sold since his self-titled debut, it would have been too easy for McKnight to simply follow the R&B template of rote romanticism. But on Ten, the artist in him felt the need to be more revealing. Though McKnight has been friends with producers Tim & Bob for over ten years, this is the trio’s first collaboration. Though Brian has never been the kind of singer/songwriter that one would call political that didn’t stop him from penning “Red, White & Blue,” a heart wrenching ode for the men and women currently at war, teaming up with country star Rascal Flatts.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1969
Number of Albums 31
Record Label
Website
Wikipedia Brian McKnight on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Trivia

How many consecutive Top Ten albums did McKnight have for Motown?

four

...m & Bob, McKnight has enjoyed moderate commercial success highlighted by four consecutive Top Ten albums for Motown without ever quite becoming a supe...
How many Grammy nominations does Brian McKnight have without a win?

17

...rial, has helped McKnight longevity. The singer holds a Grammy record for 17 nominations without a win. A Buffalo native, Brian McKnight grew up in a ...
Who directed McKnight's church choir?

his grandfather

...e family members, he was in the church choir, which was directed by his grandfather . McKnight explored other genres of music at home. In his early tee...
In his teens, what did he compose and learn to play?

instrumental material

...his early teens, he exercised his musical ambitions by composing instrumental material and learned to play several instruments. He formed a band and b...
What did McKnight write and learn to play?

several instruments

... ambitions by composing instrumental material and learned to play several instruments . He formed a band and began performing his originals at local ve...
Where did he perform his originals?

local venues

... instruments. He formed a band and began performing his originals at local venues . After sending out demos to various record companies, McKnight's tap...
What was McKnight's first release on Mercury?

The Way Love Goes

...s signed within two weeks. McKnight's first release on Mercury was The Way Love Goes , which in 1992 peaked at number 11 on Billboard's R&Bhiphop chart...
When did The Way Love Goes peak at number 11 on Billboard's R&Bhiphop chart?

1992

... signed within two weeks. McKnight's first release on Mercury was The Way Love Goes, which in 1992 peaked at number 11 on Billboard's R&Bhiphop chart....
What was McKnight's grandfather's job?

director

...McKnights grandfather was a director , and his older brother had his band. Since early childhood, McKnight was interested in music and soon joined the ...
What was his older brother's band?

Take 6

...riting skills. Music Career McKnights older brother Claude and his band Take 6 signed a records deal with Warner Brothers in 1990. This achievement en...
When was he interested in music?

Since early childhood

... grandfather was a director, and his older brother had his band. Since early childhood , McKnight was interested in music and soon joined the local chu...
How old was Brian when he signed the record deal?

19

...er Brothers in 1990. This achievement encouraged young Brian, at the time 19 years old, to create his demo tapes and send them to various companies. N...
How many albums has Brian McKnight released to date?

15

... has earned himself a spot in contemporary music history. He has released 15 albums to date, with several going 2 and 3x platinum, and he has sold ove...
Who was nominated for a Grammy?

Anytime

...album Brian McKnight was released followed by I Remember You (1995) and Anytime (1997). Anytime sold over two million copies and was nominated for a G...
What record did McKnight release in 199?

Back at One

...llion copies and was nominated for a Grammy. In 199 McKnight released Back at One on Motown Records, which sold over three million copies. He has cros...
When did Brian start hosting his own radio show?

2009

...ve Smooth Jazz radio station, was a Top 5 rated show 2 years running. In 2009 Brian started hosting his own radio show The Brian McKnight Show which r...
What was Brian's national syndicated TV show called?

The Brian McKnight Show

... Radio. Brian also hosted his own nationally syndicated TV show The Brian McKnight Show McKnight has also used his vast industry knowledge as a red ca...
What label did Brian sign with at the tender age of 19?

Mercury Records

...been many and varied during the past nine years, after signing with Mercury Records at the tender age of 19 in 1989. A gifted singer known primarily a...
What was the name of the single from his 1997 album?

You Should Be Mine

...this style on his 1997 album, Anytime, which includes the single, You Should Be Mine , with rapper Mase. This departure from the romantic crooning hear...
What was the name of McKnight's 1993 duet with Vanessa Williams?

Love Is

... attention of the mainstream after his 1993 duet with Vanessa Williams, Love Is , from the Beverly Hills 90210 soundtrack, which hit number three on th...
What number did Love Is reach on the Hot 100?

three

...iams, Love Is, from the Beverly Hills 90210 soundtrack, which hit number three on the Hot 100. McKnight has proven that although he sped up the music ...
What instruments does McKnight play?

piano, trumpet, and bass

...le artist plays a number of instruments as well, including the piano, trumpet, and bass . Additionally, McKnight has produced and coproduced many other...
Along with the piano and bass, what musical instrument is McCnight a great producer?

trumpet

...tile artist plays a number of instruments as well, including the piano, trumpet , and bass. Additionally, McKnight has produced and coproduced many oth...
What did he think was as natural as walking and talking according to an online interview?

singing and playing music

.... Coming from a highly musical family, McKnight always thought singing and playing music were as natural as walking and talking according to an online...
What was the name of the city he was born in?

Buffalo

...were as natural as walking and talking according to an online interview. He was born in Buffalo , New York, on June 5, 1969, the youngest of four boys....
When was Brian Kelly Mcknight born?

June 5, 1969

...nymous album, see Brian McKnight (album). Brian Kelly McKnight (born June 5, 1969 ) is an American singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, radio ho...
How many Grammy Awards nominations has he earned?

16

...Knight (platinum debut), Anytime and Back at One. His work has earned him 16 Grammy Awards nominations, third only to Zubin Mehta and Snoop Dogg for t...
Who is the only other artist to have had more Grammy nominations without a win?

Snoop Dogg

...arned him 16 Grammy Awards nominations, third only to Zubin Mehta and Snoop Dogg for the record of most Grammy nominations without a win. His music ex...
At what age was he offered a contract to play a band?

18

...veral instruments. McKnight formed a band and began performing his original songs at local venues. By the age of 18 , he was offered a publishing deal....
Brian McKnight's smooth vocal stylings and talent for writing and producing a stirring piece of music have earned him what?

a devoted, largely female fan base

...nd one devoid of even a hint of the risquéhave earned him a devoted, largely female fan base . Yet McKnight works hard to earn new admirers as well: fo...
What kind of fan base does McKnight have?

female

...e devoid of even a hint of the risquéhave earned him a devoted, largely female fan base. Yet McKnight works hard to earn new admirers as well: for his...
As a teen, what sport did he enjoy playing?

football

...e grew into an avid and able athlete as a teen. He was a member of the football , basketball, and track teams, and even dreamed of turning pro. Yet mus...
Who inspired him to take up the trumpet?

Wynton Marsalis

... up the trumpet and found inspiration in the career of horn prodigy Wynton Marsalis ; he was also a great admirer of the music of Stevie Wonder. He had...
What year was Brian McKnight born?

1969

...Biography Brian McKnight (born June 5, 1969 ) is an American R&B singersongwriter, arranger, producer, and musician. McKnight is perhaps most recognize...
When did McKnight's musical career begin?

childhood

... of most Grammy nominations without a win. His musical career began in childhood when he became a member of his church choir. In 1990, McKnight's olde...
What was McKnight's first record deal?

Mercury Records subsidiary, Wing Records

...e age of 19, he'd signed his first recording deal with Mercury Records subsidiary, Wing Records . In 1992, Brian McKnight was released, and his selftit...
In what chart did Brian Mcknight's debut peaked at fiftyeight?

Billboard 200

...t was released, and his selftitled debut peaked at fiftyeight in the Billboard 200 chart, which primarily featured the ballad (and top twenty single) ...