Brian McKnight is an American R&B singer-songwriter, arranger, producer and musician. He is a multi-instrumentalist who plays eight instruments including piano, guitar, bass guitar, percussion, trombone, tuba, flugelhorn and trumpet. Brian grew up in a family where music came naturally. With a gospel upbringing, McKnight explored other genres of music. Still in his early teens, he exercised his writing ambitions by penning instrumentals (soft jazz, easy listening). He formed a band and began performing his originals at local venues. By the age of 18, McKnight had secured a publishing deal. His calling to the national scene manifested itself when his older brother Claude and the group he was a member of, Take 6, signed a recording contract with a major label.

After sending out numerous demos to various record companies, the young artist was signed to a deal within two weeks. McKnight’s 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.

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.

McKnight has appeared on the celebrity Apprentice and recently hosted a syndicated radio show, The Brian McKnight Morning Show, in Los Angeles, CA.

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