Brian McKnight

I think the one thing that I’ve learned is that you cannot predict what’s going to happen. You can’t sit back and try to figure out what people want or leave it up to them to decide. When we all started in this business we would dictate to the audience what was great and they picked up on that based on the fact that we believed that it was great. But that’s all changed. What’s happened in the last ten years or so because is that the technology now means that everyone with a computer can make music and I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not.

The only award I’ve ever worked for or wanted really were the ones that were given to me by the fans. So, whether it’s a platinum record or hit songs, those are the ones that last the most.

Lionel Richie told me forget about the critics. But if you come back with hit after hit, you don’t have to worry about anything.

I’ve been a jazz artist playing pop and R&B my entire career.

There’s only one thing that everyone in this world has in common: whether you want to love somebody and you want to be loved in return.

I listen to all kinds of songs. There’s something to be learned from every type of music and from the one making it, whether it’s pop or jazz or hip-hop.

The blues tells a story in itself. It can make you happy or give you a feeling to swing.

The other day I came across a recording I made of a night at my apartment when I was living with Kris Kristofferson. Bob Dylan had been around earlier and we were all passing around the guitar. Whenever it came to my turn I would run into the kitchen and say I’d left the coffee on the stove or something. Shyness. Scared to perform.

All this is saying is, OK I see now, the ‘hood does not quite want Shirley Bassey yet, so let me still give them this. Crack Music was made after Diamonds. After black people were like, ‘I don’t know about this one.’ It was like me reaching too high for the cookie jar.

There’s a sadness to all kinds of music if you want to hear it. There’s also happiness to it if you want to hear it. Blues was started by the slaves and I think everybody thinks that it all should be sad… even some of the slaves had fun with it.

Music making is the most joyful activity possible, the most perfect expression of any emotion.

Oh, my darling, it’s incredible, that someone so unforgettable should think I am unforgettable, too.

It is Jazz’s very nature to change, to develop and adapt to the circumstances of its environment.

I’ve never known a musician who regretted being one. Whatever deceptions life may have in store for you, music itself is not going to let you down.

I’m always looking to create new avenues or new visions of music.

The melody is generally what the piece is all about.

The expression of freedom that is Jazz improvisation mirrors the ethos of the best parts of society.

How do I know why Miles walks off the stage? Why don’t you ask him? And besides, maybe we’d all like to be like Miles, and just haven’t got the guts.

I guess you can look at me, and tell I’m the old man. My name is BB King.

Damn it, when I’m bombastic, I have my reasons. I want to be bombastic: take it or leave it.

A lot of singers think all they have to do is exercise their tonsils to get ahead. They refuse to look for new ideas and new outlets, so they fall by the wayside… I’m going to try to find out the new ideas before the others do.