Brian McKnight

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.

Jazz is about improvisation and the moment in time, doing it this way now and you’ll never do it this way twice.

In my family on my mother’s side we’re all church musicians first so I don’t remember a time when we weren’t doing something musical. My brothers and I sang in a little quartet, my aunts and uncles sang and my grandfather was a minister of music in our church, so walking and talking was like doing music for us.

When the label came to me to say, ‘would you like to do another record,’ I said, ‘Well I got these sixteen songs sitting here, so let’s do it.’ And that was pretty much it… I never stopped writing, it’s just the way that the business is now; you just try to find a different model.

I do not wear my emotions on my sleeve; I write about them.

I became a singer to sing my songs. They’re so hip who else is going to sing them?

Jazz without the Blues is like BBQ without the sauce.

I regard singing pretty much like acting. Each song is like playing a different role. I get very involved with my material. I feel a responsibility for the emotion it brings out in the listener.

I don’t try to please when I play. I try to cure.

Jazz is all about improvisation and it’s about the moment in time, doing it this way now, and you’ll never do it this way twice. I’ve studied the masters. Why would I want to play ball after the guys who sit on a bench? I want to play like Michael Jordan.

My neighbors always listen to very hip Jazz… whether they like it or not.

I never really thought about becoming a professional musician.

I think that it is important to try to sound like someone, especially early in your development.

Jazz is the big brother of Revolution. Revolution follows it around.

Dog spelled backward is God. That’s pretty heavy.

To stop the flow of music would be like the stopping of time itself, incredible and inconceivable.

Jazz music can relax, soothe and uplift the mind when you absorb it.

If you have something to say of any worth then people will listen to you.

After the music is over it’s gone in the air. You can never capture it again.

Your daddy’s rich and your ma is good lookin’ So hush little baby don’t you cry.