Brian McKnight

If the best indicator of a love song’s enduring power is a steady spot on wedding playlists, then Brian McKnight’s “Back at One” is surely a tune for the ages. A deeply heartfelt and timeless expression of devotion and gratitude, McKnight’s 1999 hit showcased both his supple tenor voice and his emotionally direct songwriting style. One of R&B’s most skilled balladeers, McKnight—born in 1969 in New York—developed his talents by singing in his church choir. While still a teenager, he made his first steps into the music business with help from his older brother, Claude, a member of the vocal group Take 6. Released in 1999, along with its heart-melting title track, Back At One was the first of McKnight’s string of U.S. Top 10 albums for Motown. Later releases, like 2001’s Superhero and 2005’s Gemeni, saw McKnight make further refinements to his sumptuous sound and sensitive approach to core fundamentals of soul, gospel and R&B. Likewise, the impeccably classy slow jams that filled 2020’s Exodus proved the lasting appeal of McKnight’s soaring falsetto and gentlemanly manner when it comes to matters of romance.