Brian McKnight

I kinda went back to that period between '88 and '94 where I felt like I was the most creative, without being hindered by powers that be. I was no longer going to try to hinder myself to what I thought was going to be on the radio. ”

I keep these songs in my head until I get behind the microphone. I never spend more than 30 or 40 minutes singing the vocal or it will sound mechanical. There are always mistakes, but it's about feeling more than being perfect. ”

People don't like when you point out to them and remind them that they're not very smart. ”

I'm probably the furthest from being romantic that you've ever seen; I'm not even close to being romantic in any way until I have to be. ”

I was brought up to be a gentleman. That means you know how to walk, talk and dress the part. ”

I am just like all the jerks and idiots you know. I am just a guy that watches sports all day. ”

It's just exciting to be part of something that is brand-new. ”

I was a nerd academically. But I was also an athlete and a musician. I never wanted to be shut out of any situation. I think it was that more than anything. ”

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 am at my core a singer/songwriter a la James Taylor or a la Billy Joel. It's not that I don't want to work with people, but I do just love doing my own thing. ”