Brian McKnight can truthfully say he’s written the songs that make the whole world sing.

Since his debut in 1992, the multitalented singer/songwriter/musician has created some of the most memorable love songs in the R&B genre. From “Anytime” to “Love of My Life” to “Back At One,” he’s gotten more than few folks married and is probably responsible for a whole lot of kids being born.

McKnight’s syndicated radio show can be heard in 47 markets, and recently he expanded his repertoire to include “The Brian McKnight Show,” also in syndication. But his fans have nothing to fear, as music remains his main gig. His new CD, “Evolution of a Man,” comes out on Oct. 27, and you can listen to his first single, “What I’m Waiting For,” right here.

Via some of his interviews over the years, here’s what he’s had to say on a few things like life, love and of course, music.


ON PERFORMING

“Performing live is fruition that the songs I have written have reached the audience because until then I don't really know. Unfortunately, I can't be there when they take the shrink wrap off CDs and see their reaction when they listen to it. You know people have bought it, you see Soundscan on Tuesday. But you get to the show, and you play that new song, and it's not necessarily the single, and they get it. Man, there's no feeling like that.”

- ThaBiz.com (2006) 


ON GENRES
 
“I don't think they're very different, Country and R&B. The people think they are. The way that Gary [LeVox of Rascal Flatts] sings, he's probably the most soulful white boy around. The problem with music today is that there's so many categories. When I was growing up, music was just music. You could hear all kinds of music on the same station."

- About.com (2006)


ON THE CURRENT STATE OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY

“There are a lot of factors that have made music where it is today - the artists have nothing to do with it. It's unfortunate, but in a lot of ways,  the evolution of hip-hop - I don't want to say it's killed the R&B singer, but it has, to a certain extent.

"It's funny, you can have a successful hip-hop artist almost into his 40’s, and he's still considered hip. As an R&B singer, if you are in your late 20s, or early 30s, you are automatically adult, no matter what. No matter how much talent you got - talent has kind of gone out the window, as far as really being able to push people's buttons and touch them emotionally. Just like everything in life, because of the internet and the technology, everything is 'right now.' Translate that into the music industry, where there are so many factors, which being talented is probably one of the last things on the list ... It wasn’t that way when I first came out. I truly believe that if I was 19 and trying to do this now, I probably wouldn’t make it. I play, I sing, I don't do all the dancing around, I haven’t stabbed anybody, or shot anybody, and I actually sound like my record live.”

- Vibe.com (2006)


ON HIS CHILDREN FOLLOWING IN HIS MUSICAL FOOTSTEPS

“I think both professionally and personally, I'm just so proud that my children have not only embraced their talents, but they're actually using it the way that it was intended. A lot of people think that, because I do what I do, my .....

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