18岁Brian McKnight随哥哥Claude所在的的Take 6乐团在布法罗及周围的地区表演自创的作品,他的表演引起了Mercury Records唱片公司的注意，他在这家唱片公司录制了他的第一张个人专辑，进入了美国蓝调音乐专辑排行榜的前20名。

　　第二张唱片《I Remember You》大卖50多万张，其中有5首单曲进入蓝调歌曲排行榜的20名。他在歌坛的声望和地位确立之后，Mercury唱片公司及时推出他的第三张专辑《Anytime》,也进入了排行榜的前20名。

　　随后McKnight与Motown唱片公司合作录制他的圣诞节专辑《Bethlehem》。接着推出的专辑《Back At One》获得了极大的成功，标题曲“Back At One”蝉联流行单曲榜亚军达8周之久。

　　2001年，Brian McKnight推出了他的第五张专辑《Superhero》。专辑虽然延续了他一贯擅长的浪漫中板R&B情歌风格，但也体现出敢于创新改变的另一面。在第44届格莱美中，Brian McKnight凭借这张专辑入围最佳流行男歌手、流行合唱、R&B男歌手、R&B歌曲等五项提名。

　　BORN: June 5, 1969, Buffalo, NY

　　Brian McKnight grew up in a family where music came naturally. He was a member of the church choir along with his immediate family; his grandfather was the director. 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, McKnight's tape drew the interest of Mercury Records president Ed Eckstine (son of Billy Eckstine). Eckstine was so impressed with McKnight's sound that 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, which included "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. ~ Craig Lytle, All Music Guide