By 17, I had a whole band that would go in and play. It was called Spontaneous Inventions, after a Bobby McFerrin album. Brian McKnight More Quotes by Brian McKnight More Quotes From Brian McKnight Jazz is all about improvisation and it's about the moment in time, doing it this way now, and you'll never do it this way twice. I've studied the masters. Why would I want to play ball after the guys who sit on a bench? I want to play like Michael Jordan. Brian McKnight balls guy play I decided I am not going to say things I do not mean anymore. Brian McKnight decided mean People don't like when you point out to them and remind them that they're not very smart. Brian McKnight very-smart smart people There's only one thing that everyone in this world has in common: whether you want to love somebody and you want to be loved in return. Brian McKnight return want world It doesn't matter the genre or type of art, if it's authentic there's an apparent beauty to it and as an artist, that's very inspiring. Brian McKnight type matter art I grew up in a time where anything was possible. Brian McKnight grew grew-up I'm creating music - it doesn't matter if anyone else likes it. Brian McKnight creating likes matter I just want people to take a step back, take a deep breath and actually look at something with a different perspective. But most people will never do that. Brian McKnight perspective different people I was brought up to be a gentleman. That means you know how to walk, talk and dress the part. Brian McKnight gentleman dresses mean I'm constantly being courted by labels and their backing. Obviously the market is there when you talk about the economics and the numbers, but it's hard to give up the freedom of being able to do whatever you want. Brian McKnight labels giving-up numbers Back in college, when I got kicked out of school, I was still in school, I'd just written the song that got me my record deal. If I hadn't gotten kicked out of school I wouldn't be where I am now. Three months after that, I got my record deal and the rest is history. Brian McKnight college song school I do not wear my emotions on my sleeve; I write about them. Brian McKnight sleeves emotion writing The guy comes up to the plate, there's always a chance where he can get a grand slam and everybody forgets about all the times he missed. Brian McKnight guy chance forget When it's your chance to step up to the plate, just hit it out of the park, and everybody will forget about everything that came before. Brian McKnight parks chance steps A fine timepiece is part of dressing like a gentleman. When I first made a little money, I bought my first watch which was a Rolex Daytona. It was just one of those things that said I was successful. Brian McKnight gentleman money successful He knows I rip him off every day. He's the godfather for me. Nobody can say they aren't influenced by what Stevie Wonder has done. Brian McKnight rip done wonder It is great to have your own label; you can cultivate your own artists I've worked with pretty much everyone I wanted to. Brian McKnight labels artist wanted I went back and listened to the first three albums I made and tried to figure out what was special about them, why people keep going back to them. I think it was because I didn't know what I was doing. I had no idea if they were going to play it on the radio or anything. All I did was write songs, so that's what I got back to. Brian McKnight writing song thinking For me able to do the records I want to do and not have to worry about this producer or that producer or that trend, I'm not really interested in that. Brian McKnight records trends worry There's no substitute to being successful on an actual chart. Brian McKnight being-successful substitutes successful
