It's been a decade, but the R&B loverman is back, back on these shores...

Brian Mcknight is hitting the aussie shores this week with performances in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane. He is bringing along a 16 piece band (mmmm yeh!) and guest supports from my favorite neo soul singer Dwele and local boy Barry Southgate.

Now, I've mentioned to people that I am attending this gig, and I was surprised to hear the responses: "Who's Brian Mcknight?" or "Is that, that 'Back at one' fella"?. This is just shameful folks....I mean how can you not know Brian McKnight!?

....well, never mind - School is in order.

Brian started off in 1992 releasing two albums for Mercury records, which "did not go so well". In 1997, BK followed his previous 2 albums with Anytime which sold over two million copies and was nominated for a Grammy. It was also his last album with Mercury Records; by 1998, McKnight had moved on to Motown Records. In 1999, McKnight released Back at One which sold over three million copies. Superhero from 2001 kicked off with the surprisingly rock title track while 2003's U Turn was a fairly straightforward and ballad-filled affair.
McKnight's vocal style draws from Stevie Wonder and Kenny Loggins. His music production sensibilities especially his penchant for piano based pop ballads, method of background vocal recording and melismatic voice inflections all draw heavily from previous soul singers. Brian McKnight also has the uncanny ability to mimic the vocals and style of other singers such as Nat King Cole, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and Prince.

A divorce and some time playing guard for the California ABA basketball team the Ontario Warriors kept McKnight out of the musical picture for a couple years before the lush Gemini from 2005 marked his return, then in 2009 with Evolution of a Man.
Now the Loverman is back on tour promoting his new LP "Just Me" which is set to release this year.

Now, that was that R&B lover guy....but "Who is Dwele?"
I can understand how the 'middleground' people don't know about Dwele. He is heavily underrated and underpromoted. Most mainstream folk only know him for his part in Kanye's 'Flashing Lights' - which does not give this 'soul star' any justice.
The smooth toned Dwele has been on my radar since his major label debut in 2003 (Subject). I, alongside a few millions across the world have been following him ever since. He is my "Headliner" for this gig - Grown folk music.

Some notable tracks to check out would be: "I'm Cheatin', 'Weekend Love',  'Whats not to Love', 'Find a way', 'Old Lovas', 'Few Reasons', 'If You Want to', 'I Wanna ft. DJ Quik' and 'My Lova' amongst others!

Look at this bloke in action - Cannot wait!


Keep on the look-look for the Post-event review.

Posted in: Facts,RandB