Brian McKnight

I think social media has given everyone a voice. Social media makes everyone a celebrity on some level. I think that diminishes the power of an artist who bases their trade on their talent, that’s one of the downfalls. But the good thing is that you can connect with your fans all the time.

I started as a writer and when I sent my demos out everyone wanted to know who was singing and if that person wanted a record deal.

I’m the fifth generation of Seventh Day Adventists and the youngest of four brothers. When I was still very small, we formed a gospel quartet.

I am a writer – that is what I am before being a performer or musician. I love waking up in the morning and then going to sleep that night with something that did not exist.

I’m not sure if Donald Trump is the answer, but I do think that the departure from traditional politicians may be the answer. I’m not sure if he is, but I like the idea of getting away from career politicians.

The fans dictate to you when you’re done!

There’s a sadness to all kinds of music if you want to hear it. There’s also happiness to it if you want to hear it.

Jazz is like wine. When it is new it’s only for the experts, but when it gets older everybody wants it.

I still do what I love, and I don’t really think about it. I try to make a beautiful show, so people go home happy. That’s my biggest aspiration: to make people happy.

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.

You have to practice improvisation, let no one kid you about it!

First I was working on classical music that didn’t move me at all. I hated it. So I decided to discover the kinds of classical music that did move me—like Chopin, Satie, Beethoven, and certain Mozart songs. Mozart would play a counterpart with his left hand while using his right to mock it. It was blue, dark, shadowy and it made me feel something. That’s when I realized music was inside me.

Your ear is the final judge to what sounds right and what sounds wrong.

It’s very difficult for me to dislike an artist. No matter what he’s creating, the fact that he’s experiencing the joy of creation makes me feel like we’re in a brotherhood of some kind… we’re in it together.

Don’t bullshit, just play.

People involve themselves with the superficiality of Jazz without digging for its soul.

I don’t care if a dude is purple with green breath as long as he can swing.

People will always need love, romance, a tender touch and really personal and deeply felt music.

Any particular style of playing which represents an authentic way of musical feeling is genuine expression.

The guitar chose me.

My improvisations are a beguiling mixture of the vertical and the horizontal.