Brian McKnight

By calling his latest CD superhero Brian McKnight knows he might raise some eyebrows. But the chart topping, multi-platinum singer/songwriter/producer is quick to defuse any notion that he’s yet another musician with an unchecked ego. Rather than hyping the fabulous or the spectacular, with superhero, Brian shines a light on the quiet, unsung moments that make us all more complete. “There are people who do things every day that go unrecognized, like teachers, firemen, police, parents- that sort of grace is what I aspire to and what people should aspire to and these songs talk about those moments and frankly, the sort of man I hope to be,” reveals Brian. He goes on to say, “You can view this album as a diary of the past year of my life and these songs as a beacon for me to try to reach higher.”

His desire to be more than he can be extends itself to the adventuresome sound of the songs. For an artist who has always pushed himself creatively and refused to simply rest on his (considerable) laurels, superhero’s eclectic pop/R&B is exhilarating proof that five albums deep, Brian McKnight is possibly making the best music of his life. “I had a tremendous sense of fun making this album and I didn’t get all caught up in the notion of trying to duplicate past hits or necessarily sticking to “my sound.” This time I said, ‘Ok. What can I do to make things more fun? I’ve got this great support from the label and the fans, what can I do to push things a little?’”

The answer is on tracks like the explosive title song which finds Brian in no holds barred classic rock mode, inspired in some part from melodic but heavy acts like AC/DC, Van Halen and the Who. “Yeah, “Brian chuckles, “I’m sure people haven’t heard this side of me before, but I really wanted to showcase my guitar playing and kinda show a side of me that’s different.” Fueled by stinging riffs, impassioned lyrics and unfettered vocals “superhero” is potent and purposeful.

Yet another facet of Brian’s talent is the single “Love Of My Life,” which shimmers with sexiness. The song highlights Brian’s smoothed out falsetto and he freely admits that the sumptuous song is a shout-out to such idols as Marvin Gaye and Prince. “I can work that upper range and I know doing that is yet another aspect of my sound that folks may be surprised by. But I wanted to do something different. I just didn’t want to play it safe. That’s why I’m so into this album. More than I have in the past, I listened to my heart and my instincts.”

Brian’s musical hunches steered him in a direction that might be off the beaten path- namely a duet with NSYNC’s Justin Timberlake on the lush “My Kind Of Girl”. With Justin in mind, Brian wrote the breezy soft as a gentle rain mid-tempo song. “It was great to work with him, ” says Brian, adding that he produced a track on the fab five’s current CD. “I really wanted my core fans to realize that Justin is the real thing and this song definitely proves it.”

Another collaboration is “Don’t Know Where To Start,” a track you can’t help but groove to features macked out vocals from Nate Dogg and production from hot hand Battlecat (Snoop Dogg, Xzibit, Kurupt). “I dig listening to hip-hop. It’s so innovative and being that I live on the West Coast and surrounded by the sound, having Nate and Battlecat represent makes this album that much more personal.”

Brian steps things up a few notches when he gets slightly risqué with,” When You Want To Come.” Creatively done in a mature and melodic elegance that is classic Brian-ism, this sexy track takes it to the bedroom with its insistent groove and sly lyrical reference to 80’s favorite Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s “Relax.” “Sometimes you just have to say what’s on your mind when it comes to a woman, says the crooner.”

“Everything” is another luxurious mid temp aching heartfelt song. Laced with a gentle understated rhythm and an unabashed ode to true love, it glides by with grace.

On a more spiritual level and in keeping with his church roots Brian delivers, “When Will I See You Again” featuring one of his gospel heroes, the legendary Fred Hammond of Commissioned. “Growing up I played bass because Fred Hammond did. I was a huge Commissioned fan. Doing a song with him made it all come full circle.”

From ballads to uptempo, from gospel, to rock, funk and R&B, superhero finds Brian bringing more and more of his influences into play; which is part of the reason why he sees this album as perhaps his best. “I’m very happy with the album because it has the best elements of my four previous albums and it’s the most well rounded. This record is very special and that’s not to say my other albums weren’t, but this time I wanted to keep the record close to me. I’m always aware of what my role is as a songwriter and that’s not to tell only my story for myself, but to be able to speak to others. The greatest thing that someone can tell me is that listening to one of my songs got them through a tough time. That’s what writing should be about, that’s universality.”

Brian McKnight’s ability to speak to others and to make music that crosses barriers and genres has made him one of the premier artists of contemporary pop. The Buffalo New York native (whose older brother Claude is a founding member of the Jazz group Take 6) and multi instrumentalist was a bandleader in high school. By the age 19 he already signed his first record deal.

His 1992 debut Brian McKnight went platinum as did his 1995 follow-up I Remember You. In between solo projects, Brian produced the radio favorite single “U Will Know,” for the Jason’s Lyric soundtrack, worked with heavy hitters Boyz II Men, and enjoyed a top 3 hit with “Love Is,” a duet with Vanessa Williams. He also collaborated with Diana King on the title track of the Academy Award winning film, When We Were Kings and made numerous television appearances as both a presenter on award shows and as a guest star on popular Sister Sister.

In 1997 Brian released the collection that introduced him to a wider audience. The album Anytime sold over 2 million copies and boasted the top 20 single
“You Should Be Mine,” a collaboration with producer and rapper Sean “Puffy” Combs and Mase. While the smash title earned him 2 Grammy nominations, he went on to seize a Soul Train Award for “Best Male Singer.”

Bigger and better, Brian’s 1999’s hit Back At One reached triple platinum success. The title track stayed at the number two spot on Billboard Pop Singles chart for 8 weeks and the album earned Brian four additional Grammy nominations, an American Music Award, a Blockbuster Award, and a NAACP Image Award. To add to the praise, the soft-spoken star accomplished a feat no other songwriter has, he ranked #1 for the Hot 100 Songwriters, # 4 Hot Country Singles and Tracks Songwriters, and # 7 for Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles and Tracks Songwriter with Billboard’s Songwriters 2000.

While the theme song to the highly acclaimed film “Men of Honor” brought Brian into the movie theaters, his Grammy nominations continued. Along with label-mate Bebe Winans and fellow R&B crooner Joe, the trio went up for Best Duo or Group with, “Coming Back Home” from Bebe’s Motown Records debut, “Love & Freedom.” On top of all that, Brian recently completed a photo shoot with the world-renowned master photographer Herb Ritts.

Now with superhero, Brian McKnight makes his strongest statement to date. As befitting an artist whose album speaks to the unsung heroes, Brian is typically modest when asked to sum up the impact of his career. “Honestly- that I’m still making records and having the best success of my career now still baffles me. I’ve seen artists come and go and I’m very grateful that I’m still here and on top of my game, that I’m able to do something that I love to do, which is making music.”

Music that speaks to the hero in us all.