Brian McKnight facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brian McKnight
|
|
|---|---|
McKnight at the 2019 Celebrity Fight Night in Phoenix
|
|
| Born |
Brian Kelly McKnight
June 5, 1969 Buffalo, New York, U.S.
|
| Education | Maynard Evans High School Oakwood College (no degree) |
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 1988–present |
|
Works
|
|
| Spouse(s) |
Julie McKnight
(m. 1990; div. 2003)Leilani Mendoza
(m. 2017) |
| Children | 5 |
| Awards | Full list |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | Orlando, Florida, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Instruments |
|
| Labels | |
Brian Kainoa Makoa McKnight Sr. (born June 5, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is famous for his smooth R&B music and his powerful singing voice. He is also a multi-instrumentalist, meaning he can play many different instruments.
McKnight became famous in the 1990s. His first big hit was "Love Is," a duet with Vanessa Williams from 1993. It reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 music chart. His song "One Last Cry" was also a top 20 hit that same year.
His most successful song is "Back at One," which climbed to number two on the charts in 1999. The album with the same name was also a huge success. Many of his albums have been in the top ten on the Billboard 200 chart.
Over his career, McKnight has been nominated for 16 Grammy Awards. This makes him one of the most nominated artists to have never won the award.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Brian McKnight was born in Buffalo, New York. His family was very musical. He started singing in his church choir, which his grandfather directed. When Brian was about 10, his family moved to Orlando, Florida.
He learned to play several instruments and started writing his own music as a teenager. His older brother, Claude, was in a successful band called Take 6. This encouraged Brian to pursue his own music career. By the time he was 18, he was offered a deal to write songs. A year later, he moved to Los Angeles to start his career.
Music Career
First Albums with Mercury Records
At age 19, McKnight signed his first record deal with Wing Records, a part of Mercury Records. In 1992, he released his first album, called Brian McKnight. It included the hit songs "The Way Love Goes" and "One Last Cry".
He released two more albums with Mercury: I Remember You (1995) and Anytime (1997). The album Anytime was very popular, selling over two million copies. The music video for the title track "Anytime" was nominated for an MTV Video Music Award.
Success with Motown Records
In 1998, McKnight moved to the famous Motown record label. He released a Christmas album called Bethlehem. That same year, he recorded the duet "Whenever You Call" with superstar Mariah Carey.
His next album, Back at One (1999), was his most successful ever. It sold over three million copies and reached number 7 on the Billboard 200 album chart. The title song, "Back at One," became his signature hit.
Later Career and Other Projects
In the 2000s, McKnight continued to release popular albums like Superhero (2001) and U Turn (2003). In 2005, he signed with Warner Bros. Records and released the album Ten.
Besides making music, McKnight has been involved in many other projects.
- He hosted radio shows in Los Angeles and New York.
- He appeared on the TV show Celebrity Apprentice to raise money for charity.
- He made his debut on Broadway in the musical Chicago in 2007.
- He has often sung the national anthem at major sporting events, like the NBA All-Star Game and the World Series.
In 2012, McKnight released a parody song on YouTube. He later explained that he wrote the song to comment on the changing state of R&B music at the time.
Independent Music
Starting in 2015, McKnight began releasing music on his own record label. He released the album Better in 2016.
In 2017, he released the album Genesis, which featured the popular songs "Everything," "Forever," and "I Want U." The album was nominated for two NAACP Image Awards. In 2021, he appeared as the character "Cricket" on the TV show The Masked Dancer.
Personal Life
McKnight was married to Julie McKnight from 1990 to 2003, and they have two sons, Brian Jr. and Niko. He also has a daughter from a previous relationship. Sadly, his son Niko passed away from cancer on May 30, 2025.
In 2017, McKnight married Leilani Malia Mendoza. She has two children from a previous relationship. Together, Brian and Leilani have a son, Brian Kainoa Makoa Jr., born in 2022. To match his son's name, McKnight legally changed his own name to Brian Kainoa Makoa McKnight Sr.
McKnight grew up in a religious family as a Seventh-day Adventist. His grandfather was a church pastor, and he sang in a gospel group with his brothers.
Discography
Studio albums
- Brian McKnight (1992)
- I Remember You (1995)
- Anytime (1997)
- Bethlehem (1998)
- Back at One (1999)
- Superhero (2001)
- U Turn (2003)
- Gemini (2005)
- Ten (2006)
- Evolution of a Man (2009)
- More Than Words (2013)
- Better (2016)
- Genesis (2017)
- Exodus (2020)
Filmography
McKnight has appeared as himself or as an actor in many movies and TV shows.
Notable TV Appearances
- Martin (1994, 1996)
- Sister, Sister (1998–99) - He had a recurring role as a college professor.
- My Wife and Kids (2002)
- American Juniors (2003) - He was a guest judge.
- The Apprentice (2009) - He was a contestant.
- The Masked Dancer (2021) - He competed as "Cricket."
- American Idol (2021) - He appeared as a guest performer.
Awards and Nominations
Brian McKnight has been recognized many times for his music. Here are some of his major awards and nominations.
- American Music Awards: 2 nominations
- Grammy Awards: 16 nominations
- MTV Video Music Awards: 2 nominations
- NAACP Image Awards: 1 win, 4 nominations
- Soul Train Music Awards: 1 win, 3 nominations
See also
In Spanish: Brian McKnight para niños
