Brian McKnight - The Summary

Brian McKnight rose to stardom through hard work and sacrifice. At a young age he diligently studied all sorts of music, played numerous instruments and spread his interests throughout numerous musical genres.  He recorded his first song at age 19 and has even played some acting roles on TV.  Today Brian McKnight plays in concerts throughout the world.  There is no mistake knowing how Brian McKnight got to where he is today; he got there the old fashioned way - through hard work.  Editor

One of the most talented musicians and vocalists in the world of pop and r & b is Brian McKnight.

Born in Buffalo, New York in 1969, he immersed himself in music as a young boy, singing in the church choir and taking part in a band at High School. He is a versatile instrumentalist, playing guitar, drums, piano, trombone, tuba, French horn and trumpet. Vocally adept, he has an impressive four-octave range and very often sings falsetto. McKnight grew up listening to Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye. He has an interest in different musical genres including jazz.

His first recording contract came when he was just nineteen years old and his first album was released in 1992. He's had a string of album and singles hits since, developing as a songwriter and producer. Many of his singles have reached the top twenty spot in the pop and the r & b charts. His third album from 1997 Anytime was nominated for a Grammy Award. In 1998, Brian McKnight released a Christmas album, titled Bethlehem. This delightful collection contained standards such as Let It Snow, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and The First Noel. The recent 2006 album, Ten has a country flavor to the tracks.

This artist enjoys a lot of respect amongst his colleagues in the business and he has collaborated on numerous projects. Vanessa Williams recorded a duet with him in 1993 called Love Is and it was heard on the hit show, Beverley Hills 90210.  Other joint ventures have included working with Puff Daddy, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera and the legendary Quincy Jones. Brian McKnight has also ventured into acting in various television episodes. He played the black activist, Stokely Carmichael in an episode of the series, American Dreams, which depicted the social history of the 1960s and 1970s. He also played Joe in the dramatic 2005 movie, Leverage.

The r & b star is divorced and has two children. His elder brother, Claude McKnight is a founding member of the a cappela gospel group, Take 6, who are an influential Grammy winning group. Brian McKnight performs all over the world, including concerts in Africa and Latin America and says his favorite destination is Brazil. As his photo shoots show, he keeps in shape by playing basketball and football. His enduring appeal is down to hard work and a professional integrity. He went into music as a long-term career and has reaped the benefits.

Additional Resources for Brian McKnight:

Latest News | Brian McKnight Official site. Includes photos, bio, audio, tour and news

E-Spire Entertainment News: Brian McKnight "10" Interview - "10" has to be one of Brian McKnight's best albums to date. Shelia Goss caught up with Brian McKnight two weeks ago while he was promoting his album as well as enjoying some time on the golf course.

Brian Mcknight Lyrics - Lyrics for Brian McKnights songs.