Brian McKnight celebrating life through music

If one comes from a family of musicians and music buffs, it seems inevitable to find oneself playing an instrument or having a penchant for music.

This is true for singer Brian McKnight, a native of Buffalo, New York, whose grandparents, parents and siblings have devoted much of their time celebrating life through music. Music has even become a tradition of sorts that helped make possible Brian’s first steps toward fulfilling his musical dream.

"Everything that I know musically, I learned in Buffalo," Brian begins. "My family was involved in the church. My grandfather was in charge of the church’s Ministry of Music; he was the choir director. My other brothers would sing for the church and so did I."

His stints in the local church community intensified Brian’s passion for music. Fourteen years have seen his efforts bear fruit; Brian has finally found his niche in the music world.

Brian’s musical interest and soothing voice have given birth to such "thought-provoking" and "highly emotional" hits like One Last Cry, Crazy Love and Back at One, a string of hits that has made him one of the best balladeers of our time.

Brian has just wrapped up his second visit to the Philippines where he promoted his latest album, Superhero. The album features a new musical style that perhaps only Brian can get away with.

How does this album differ from his previous ones?

"I tried to come up with a new concept and a sound that will best combine all the records I’ve done in the past," Brian replies. "Plus, I’ve injected new ideas that I’ve never experimented on and tried before like rock.

"Although the songs are somehow the same with Back At One, the record is not a typical ballad (album). There are songs which are faster in tempo than the usual but not the typical hip-hop songs."

For this album, the artist in Brian has apparently pushed himself a bit more. His music this time is a fusion of pop, R&B, classic rock and jazz. In retrospect, Brian singles out Superhero as the culmination of his musical career.

This unique combination of musical styles is a homage of sorts to Brian’s long list of influences – David Sandler, Michael Franks, Kenny Loggins, White Snake, Chicago, Stevie Wonder, James Ingram and Michael McDonald.

Besides the cut-above-the rest music, the album’s one-word title is very catchy, too.

"I named the album after the song, Superhero, which is also included in the album," Brian says. "The title started from the concept of giving one’s self to others. This pays tribute to the modern-day super heroes who do things every day but go unrecognized – teachers, firemen, policemen, parents."

Has Brian ever tried doing something heroic at one point in his life?

"There are times I can be, but not in a traditional way," Brian replies. "In one of my concerts, there was this young lady fan who came and told me her story. She had been in a coma. I played a song for her. I was a superhero to her. I could really see that what I did really affected and delighted her. I believe one doesn’t have to save someone’s life to become a superhero."

Perhaps, one may well consider Brian’s music as heroic in its own way, because in one way or the other, it inspires people and makes a difference in their lives.

Besides singing, Brian has also explored other fields of music like writing, arranging and producing. Among these, he prefers writing.

"If I don’t write a song, I have nothing to sing, to produce and to arrange," he explains. "My passion is really in the creation of the song which I love the most."

What inspires Brian to create his masterpieces?

"Everything!" Brian says. "I have a little computer in my head that constantly absorbs everything that goes around me – feelings, hardships, triumphs."

To create a song, Brian says, "It may take five minutes, five days, five weeks, five months. The process varies."

Having a stable career and an enviable stature, Brian continues to reinvent himself, never resting on his laurels.

"Even though I’ve done well (so far), I think I haven’t reached yet my dream performance because if I have already reached that, what else do I have to shoot for?"

With the kind of response Brian is enjoying from his international followers, many may suggest that Brian should take things in stride for awhile. But Brian thinks otherwise.

"It’s still a long road ahead," he reckons. "People still have expectations I have to meet. I don’t mind meeting them because I love challenges."

Despite all the glamour and fame that his music has bestowed upon him, Brian, a Math-Computer Science degree holder, considers himself an ordinary citizen who laughs and cries just like everyone else does. "I’m a very ordinary person. I try not to be what people think of me. I live a regular life," he says.

Just like the rest of the world, Brian was terrified with the horrific tragedy at The World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington last Sept. 11.

"At that time, I was in Korea," he relates. "I just came back from a performance and I was listening to the radio. At first, it sounded like a joke. Even now, watching that footage and being this far away, it doesn’t seem real to me.

"The things that I thought were important five days (before the tragedy), don’t seem important now like singing, practicing, having interviews. What is important is what I can do to help somebody (during) this tragedy. I really feel silly getting up singing while there are people suffering somewhere. But the show must go on."

If he were a superhero, then, who would he be and what would be his first assignment?

"I would be Superman," Brian replies. "I really don’t know what I’ll do first. But one thing for sure – I’ll be somewhere finding a solution to this problem happening back home."