Brian McKnight
By All Music Guide
By All Music Guide
After sending out numerous demos to various record companies, McKnights tape drew the interest of Mercury Records president Ed Eckstine (son of Billy Eckstine). Eckstine was so impressed with McKnights sound that the young artist was signed to a deal within two weeks. McKnights first release on Mercury was The Way Love Goes, peaking at number 11 after 19 weeks on the ~Billboard R&B charts. His two follow-up singles barely cracked the ~Billboard R&B Top 60, including Love Is, a duet with Vanessa Williams featured on #Beverly Hills 90210. Ironically, that single peaked at number three on the ~Billboard pop charts, introducing McKnight to a crossover audience.
In addition to being a singer, McKnight is a songwriter, multi-talented musician, arranger, and producer. The success he has achieved as producer and songwriter on his own projects has facilitated his popularity as a producer and songwriter for other artists. However, the Buffalo native retained the services of hip-hop producer Sean Puffy Combs on the release of his 1997 CD Anytime, which features the club-flavored single You Should Be Mine. A Christmas album, Bethlehem, followed in 1998, and a year later McKnight returned with Back at One. Superhero from 2001 kicked off with the surprisingly ock title track while 2003s U Turn was a fairly straightforward and allad-filled affair. A divorce and some time playing guard for the California ABA basketball team the Ontario Warriors kept McKnight out of the musical picture for a couple years before 2005s lush Gemini marked his return. Ten followed in 2006.
