Brian McKnight

State Theatre New Jersey presents The Brian McKnight 4 on Saturday, March 12 at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $35-$95. 

Contemporary musician McKnight is a singer, songwriter, producer, radio-host, and multi-instrumentalist. His hits include “Back at One,” “One Last Cry,” and “Anytime.”

Starting as a young child in his church choir, McKnight was quickly recognized for his high vocal range. At the age of 19, he submitted demo tapes and signed a recording contract with Wing Records, releasing his first album with them, Brian McKnight, in 1992. 

McKnight’s debut album peaked at number 58 on the Billboard 200 chart and has since been certified Platinum by RIAA. He released two more albums, 1995’s I Remember You and 1997’s Anytime before signing with Motown Records in 1998. Under Motown Records, McKnight released Back at One, his bestselling album to date. The album has sold over 3 million copies in the U.S. He continued to release albums with Motown records including 2001’s Superhero, 2003’s U Turn, and 2005’s Gemini, his highest charting album.

McKnight appeared in the Broadway show, Chicago; as a host of his own radio show, The Brian McKnight Morning Show; and as a red carpet host for Extra! TV. He trained himself in the skills of nine musical instruments, including piano, guitar, bass, drums, percussions, trombone, tuba, flugelhorn, and trumpet.

In recent years McKnight has signed with SoNo Recording Group to release his last two albums. 2017’s Genesis quickly reached the Top 25 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Chart and was played on radio stations nationwide. 2020’s Exodus, which McKnight said is his final album of original material, peaked at 86 on the Billboard U.S. Current Album Sales chart.

McKnight also recently competed in the The Masked Dancer, placing seventh and hiding his identity as “Cricket.”

Visit STNJ.org for tickets and information. The State Theatre New Jersey is at 15 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick.