About Brian McKnight
Brian Kainoa Makoa McKnight Sr. is an American singer-songwriter, actor, record producer, radio personality, and multi-instrumentalist. An R&B performer, he is recognized for his strong head voice, high belting range, and melisma.
His first hit song, "Love Is" was recorded for the Beverly Hills, 90210 soundtrack in 1993, and peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. That same year, his single "One Last Cry" peaked at number 13 on the chart and spawned from his eponymous debut studio album , which was released by Mercury Records the year prior and received platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America . His 1997 single, "You Should Be Mine " peaked within the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 and led his third album, Anytime —his final release with Mercury before he signed with Motown. His 1999 single, "Back at One" peaked at number two on the chart and remains his highest-charting song; it preceded the album of the same name , which was the first of four of his albums—Superhero , U Turn , and Gemini —to consecutively debut within the top ten of the Billboard 200. His ninth album, Ten marked his final major label release.
His work has earned him 16 Grammy Award nominations, third only to Zubin Mehta and Snoop Dogg for the record of most nominations for the award without a win.
McKnight was born in Buffalo, New York to Claude McKnight, Jr. and Ruth Elaine Willis. His music experience began in childhood when he became a member of his church choir, which was directed by his grandfather. McKnight explored different genres of music, and in his early teens he started musical ambitions by composing instrumental material while learning to play several 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.
McKnight's older brother, Claude V. McKnight III , signed a record deal with Warner Brothers subsidiary Reprise Records in 1987, releasing their self-titled debut in the Spring of 1988. This encouraged McKnight to shop his own demo tapes, and by the age of 19 he signed his first recording deal with Mercury Records subsidiary, Wing Records. His self-titled debut album Brian McKnight was released in 1992, and peaked at number 58 on the Billboard 200 chart. His first release was "The Way Love Goes", which peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album also featured the ballad and Top 20 single, "One Last Cry". It was followed by two more albums for Mercury, I Remember You and Anytime . Anytime, McKnight's final album with Mercury, sold over two million copies and was nominated for a Grammy. The video for "Anytime", directed by Darren Grant, was nominated for Best Male Video at the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards. In 1997, McKnight recorded "Remember the Magic" for Walt Disney World's 25th anniversary. After the release of his self-titled debut album, McKnight was part of the group Black Men United alongside Gerald Levert, his then-labelmate Joe, Christopher Williams, Boyz II Men, and others for the song "U Will Know", featured on the soundtrack to the film Jason's Lyric, released in late 1994, in which he produced it with D'Angelo.
McKnight signed with Motown in 1998 and released a Christmas album, Bethlehem, the first of five albums he released on Motown.
Map & Directions To Venue
