Brian McKnight

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Brian McKnight

Background information
Birth name	Brian McKnight
Also known as	"Vocal Sex"
Born	June 5, 1969 (1969-06-05) (age 38)
Origin	Buffalo, New York, United States
Genre(s)	R&B, pop, soul, quiet storm
Occupation(s)	Singer, Songwriter, Producer
Instrument(s)	Vocalist, Piano, Guitar, Trumpet
Years active	1991– present
Label(s)	Mercury (1991–1997) Motown (1998–2005) Warner Bros. (2006–)
Website	Official site Official MySpace

Brian McKnight (born June 5, 1969) is a Grammy-nominated American singer, songwriter, arranger, producer, pop and R&B musician. He is a multi-instrumentalist who can play nine instruments: piano, guitar, bass guitar, drums, percussions, trombone, tuba, French horn and trumpet.^[1]

1 Biography
2 Discography
- 2.1 Albums
- 2.2 Singles
3 Awards/Nominations
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Biography

McKnight's musical career began with a musical childhood, in which he was a member of a Seventh-day Adventist Church choir and a band leader in high school at Sweet Home High School in Amherst, New York. Encouraged by his older brother Claude's band, Take 6, getting a record deal, McKnight sent out demo tapes and, at the age of 19, signed his first recording deal with Mercury Records. He released his first album, Brian McKnight, in 1992. He went on to release three more albums for Mercury records before moving to Motown Records. His final album with Mercury Records, Anytime sold over two million copies and was nominated for a Grammy.

In 1999, McKnight released [[Back at One]] (his second release from Motown; after the Christmas album Bethlehem), which sold over three million copies. Throughout his career he has collaborated with a variety of musicians including Mase, Sean "Puffy" Combs, Mary J. Blige, Justin Timberlake, Nelly, Vanessa Williams, Kirk Franklin, For Real, Canibus, Quincy Jones, Boyz II Men, Christina Aguilera, Shoshana Bean, Mariah Carey, Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, Rascal Flatts and Josh Groban (on his 2007 #1 Christmas album Noël).

McKnight’s vocal style is his own. He does however draw heavily (particularly in his use of melisma) from Stevie Wonder and Michael Sembello. Echoes of Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins and Take 6 founder Claude V McKnight can also be heard in McKnights voice.

Mcknight also has an un-canny ability to mimic the timbre and style of other singers . He can do a spot on imitation of Nat King Cole, Stevie Wonder, Prince and feels comfortable singing songs written in higher keys.

McKnight is divorced and has two sons and currently lives in Los Angeles, California.^[2]

Brian currently hosts a radio show, The Brian McKnight Morning Show with Pat Prescott on KTWV The Wave in Los Angeles, CA. The show is also simulcasted on KHJZ-FM, Smooth Jazz 95.7 The Wave in Houston, TX from 6am-9am CST. In October 2007, McKnight had his debut on Broadway in the show Chicago.

[edit] Discography

Main article: Brian McKnight discography

[edit] Albums

Mercury releases

1992: Brian McKnight
1995: I Remember You
1997: Anytime

Motown releases

1998: Bethlehem (Christmas album)
1999: Back at One
2001: Superhero
2002: From There to Here: 1989-2002
2003: U Turn
2005: Gemini

Warner Bros. Records releases

2006: Ten
2008: Life Has Changed

[edit] Singles

Mercury releases

1992: "The Way Love Goes"
1992: "Goodbye My Love"
1993: "One Last Cry"
1993: "After the Love"
1993: "Love Is" (Vanessa Williams and Brian McKnight)
1995: "Crazy Love"
1995: "On the Down Low"
1995: "Still in Love"
1997: "You Should Be Mine (Don't Waste Your Time)"
1998: "Anytime"
1998: "Hold Me"
1998: "The Only One for Me"

Motown releases

Warner Bros. Records releases

2006: "Find Myself In You"
2006: "Used To Be My Girl"

[edit] Awards/Nominations

American Music Awards
- 2001, Favorite Male R&B/Soul Artist: (Winner)
- 1999, Favorite R&B/Soul Album: Anytime (Nominated)

BET Awards
- 2007, BET J Cool Like Dat: (Nominated)

Grammy Awards
- 2005, Best R&B Male Vocal Performance: "What We Do Here" (Nominated)
- 2004, Best R&B Male Vocal Performance: "Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda" (Nominated)
- 2003, Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group: "All the Way" w/ Kenny G (Nominated)
- 2002, Outstanding Song Written for a Motion Picture of Television Series: "Win" from Men of Honor (Nominated)
- 2002, Best Male Pop Vocal Performance: "Still" (Nominated)
- 2002, Best Pop Collaboration w/ Vocals: "My Kind of Girl" w/ Justin Timberlake (Nominated)
- 2002, Best R&B Song: "Love of My Life" (Nominated)
- 2002, Best R&B Male Vocal Performance: "Love of My Life" (Nominated)
- 2001, Best Male Pop Vocal Performance: "6, 8, 12" (Nominated)
- 2001, Best R&B Male Vocal Performance: "Stay of Let It Go" (Nominated)
- 2001, Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group: "Coming Back Home" w/ Bebe Winans & Joe (singer) (Nominated)
- 2000, Best R&B Album: Back at One (Nominated)
- 2000, Best Short-Form Music Video: "Back at One" (Nominated)
- 1999, Best R&B Male Vocal Performance: "The Only One For Me" (Nominated)
- 1999, Best Male Pop Vocal Performance: "Anytime" (Nominated)
- 1994, Best Pop Collaboration w/ Vocals: "Love Is" w/ Vanessa L. Williams (Nominated)

Image Awards
- 2002, Outstanding Male Artist: Superhero (Nominated)
- 2001, Outstanding Male Artist: "Stay of Let It Go" (Nominated)
- 2000, Outstanding Male Artist: "Back at One" (Winner)

MTV Video Music Awards
- 2000, Best R&B Video: "Back at One" (Nominated)
- 1998, Best R&B Video: "Anytime" (Nominated)

Soul Train Awards
- 2002, Best R&B/Soul Male Single: "Love of My Life" (Nominated)
- 2000, Best R&B/Soul Single Male: "Back at One" (Nominated)
- 2000, Best R&B/Soul Male Album: Back at One (Nominated)
- 1999, Best R&B/Soul Male Album: "Anytime" (Winner)