BRIAN MCKNIGHT On Fame, Family and Female Fans

Ebony, July, 2000 by Aldore Collier

BRIAN McKnight has it all--good looks, smoldering sex appeal, smooth sophistication and an abundance of talent. He knows what it's like to be an international heartthrob, one who is the desire of thousands of swooning, fantasizing females, and onstage, he turns up the heat with each swivel of his hips and suggestive bumps and grinds.

But that Brian McKnight--the sensuous, suave balladeer on stage--is nothing like the one you'll find at his sprawling home near Los Angeles. He's a low-key, dedicated family man, married and the father of two sons. His attire is likely to be jeans and a T-shirt, not the leather so evident during his performances. The customary guitar is replaced by video games he plays with his sons. And the only swooning fan around is his wife, Julie, with whom he often takes hand-in-hand to enjoy the spectacular views surrounding the home.

Even with this domestic scenario, McKnight, like many entertainers, has found that his stage persona prompts some frenzied, female fans to believe they can "get lucky" with him. "You just have to let them know how you feel about marriage and family," says the 31-year-old singer/songwriter. "I do think you become more attractive [to women after you're married], but they [have to] understand your situation. My family is too important."

Born near Buffalo, N.Y., and raised in Orlando, Fla., McKnight first topped the charts in 1992 with the song "One Last Cry," and he hasn't looked back or slowed down since. That was followed by "Anytime" and "Love Is," a duet with Vanessa L. Williams. Fans, especially the female variety, embraced him immediately. Their numbers increased as more and more heard and fell in love with such songs as "The Only One for Me" and "Crazy Love." He's currently enjoying the tremendous success of his fifth album, Back at One, which many listeners say is the best work he has done.

During McKnight's relatively brief career, his soothing style has been compared to that of Nat King Cole and Stevie Wonder, and his talents have resulted in all five of his albums going platinum, an amazing feat that several other veteran artists haven't achieved. He is thankful for that blessing and continues to work long, hard hours to further perfect his craft.

Since music has been a part of McKnight most of his life, he spends much of his time either writing and recording at home or traveling the globe to perform in concert. With that in mind, he knew it was important to have a home that was as comfortable and relaxing as possible. And it is. The home Brian, Julie and their two sons, BJ (Brian Jr.), 10, and Cole Nikolas (Niko), 7, have lived in for the last year is in a gated community of hillside homes just northwest of Los Angeles. Their home, at the very top of the winding hills, offers panoramic views. The front of the home looks out on massive red-rock canyons and mountains, and the rest of the home offers sweeping views of the sprawling San Fernando Valley section of Los Angeles.

"The builder of this house was half done when I came out and saw it," McKnight recalls. "I saw the view and said, `Man, I have to wake up every morning and see this.' I looked at houses that were bigger. Some places even had elevators. I was sold on the view." Julie nods in agreement. "We love it," she says. Both add that they love the fact the house is in an area far away from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, but close enough that they can get to most business and social events in 30 minutes to an hour.

The development where the home is built is near horse-riding trails and a driving range that's perfect for one of Brian's relaxing activities--golf. In addition to the home's view, location and calm surroundings, the singer says he needed the additional garage space the home has so that he could house his other loves--six cars and four motorcycles. "I've always been into automobiles," he says with a nod. "I did things early in my life to be able to afford the things I wanted. That is what I enjoy."

Even though McKnight spends time in rooms throughout the airy home that has floor-to-ceiling windows in several areas, he frequently finds himself stuck in his office/playroom. That's where he actually got the inspiration for "Back at One." "I was sitting here trying to figure out how to work my DVD. The manual tells you if you make a mistake, go back to step one," he recalls. "The ideas in the song are definitely romantic themes, but the concept of the song came from something very systematic, like a manual. Not to make a relationship like a manual, but if you work at it like that, it's the only way it's going to work."

Brian's face lights up as he points out how much can be done from this one, single room, where he watches television on a massive screen, keeps track of his favorite sports teams (Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Red Whigs, Atlanta Braves and "whatever team Scottie Pippen plays on"). "This room has everything I need," he says. "I can even shop for food on the Web here."

The home also has a video arcade, a game room and a waterfall-like swimming pool. BJ has his own music studio in his bedroom. Like his dad, he writes music and also shares his father's love of sports. Niko is musically inclined as well and has a drum set in his bedroom, but house rules prohibit him from playing before 11 a.m.