Brian McKnight - Biography

Brian McKnight was born in Buffalo, New York to Claude McKnight, Jr. and Ruth Elaine Willis. He was introduced to music as a child by joining his church choir, which was directed by his grandfather. After forming a band and performing original songs locally, he left for Los Angeles around the age of 19.

At the age of 19, he signed his first recording deal with Wing Records, a subsidiary of Mercury Records. His self-titled debut album spawned his first hit song, "One Last Cry", which reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. His final release with Mercury, the 1997 album Anytime, went on to sell over two million copies and earned a Grammy nomination.

In 1999, McKnight released Back at One, which became his most successful album and sold more than three million copies. The title track peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, remaining his highest-charting song. Throughout his career, he has earned 16 Grammy Award nominations.