Brian McKnight

Infobox musical artist
Name = Brian McKnight

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Img_capt =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Brian McKnight
Alias = "Vocal Sex"
Born = Birth date and age|1969|6|5|mf=y
Died =
Origin = Buffalo, New York, United States
Instrument = Vocalist, Piano, Guitar, Trumpet
Genre = R&B, pop, soul, quiet storm
Occupation = Singer, Songwriter, Producer
Years_active = 1991– present
Label = Mercury (1991–1997) Motown (1998–2005) Warner Bros. (2006–)
URL = [http://www.bmcknight.com/ Official site] [http://www.myspace.com/brianmcknight 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. [cite web |url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_9_55/ai_63165399/pg_3 |title=BRIAN MCKNIGHT On Fame, Family and Female Fans |accessdate=2007-01-08 |format= |work=FindArticles.com |month= July | year= 2000 ]

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 subsidiary Wing Records. However, He ended up recording his albums for Mercury, 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, Ivete Sangalo, Kirk Franklin, For Real, Canibus, Quincy Jones, Boyz II Men, Christina Aguilera, Shoshana Bean, Mariah Carey, Regine Velasquez, Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, Rascal Flatts and Josh Groban (on his 2007 #1 Christmas album "Noël").

In 1999, McKnight was confirmed to be in negotiations to pose nude for Playgirl Magazine. However, the talk fizzled and the status of such negotiations is unknown (though not officially canceled).

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 uncanny 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 (Brian Jr. 18 and Niko 16) and currently lives in Los Angeles, California.cite web |url=http://www.bmcknight.com/bio.htm |title=Brian McKnight: Official Fan club Site (Biography) |accessdate=2007-01-08 |format= |work=Brian McKnight's Official Fan site ]

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

Discography

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: ""
*2003: "U Turn"
*2005: "Gemini"

;Warner Bros. Records releases:
*2006: "Ten"
*2008: "Life Has Changed"

ingles

;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:
*1999: "Back at One"
*2000: "6, 8, 12"
*2000: "Stay or Let It Go"
*2000: "Win"
*2001: "Love of My Life"
*2001: "Still"
*2002: "What's It Gonna Be"
*2003: "All Night Long (With Nelly)"
*2003: "Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda"
*2005: "What We Do Here"
*2005: "Everytime You Go Away"

;Warner Bros. Records releases
*2006: "Find Myself In You"
*2006: "Used To Be My Girl"

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)

References

http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/12044291 <-- Confirms his playgirl rumors

External links

* [http://www.brian-mcknight.com Brian McKnight official website]
* [http://www.brianmcknight.org Brian McKnight Fan Page]
* [http://www.bmcknight.com Official Brian McKnight Fan Club]
* [http://www.brianmcknightfans.com BrianMcknightFans.com] - A Brian McKnight Fan Site!!
* [http://www.brianmcknightfans.com Brian Mcknight Fans] - Biography & Videos
* [http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/mcknight_brian/bio.jhtml Brian McKnight's Biography] from VH1
* [http://www.vibe.com/celebs/feature.html?id=163 Brian McKnight's Profile] from VIBE