Jordan Knight Biography

Jordan Nathaniel Marcel Knight (born May 17, 1970) is an American singer-songwriter best known as the lead singer in the boy band, New Kids on the Block (NKOTB), and actor, who rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s. He is best known for his distinctive falsetto style of singing, influenced by The Stylistics. After New Kids On The Block disbanded, Jordan launched a solo career. Jordan's first solo album, released in 1999 and his latest solo album, released in 2011 reached the Top 50 on the US Billboard 200. As of 2011, he released four Top 40 singles; the most well known being "Give It To You" in 1999. He has released three studio albums, one remix album and one EP. Jordan had sold over 1.5 million records worldwide as a solo artist. On May 31, 2011 he released a new studio album, entitled "Unfinished".

Early life and career

Knight was born in Worcester, Massachusetts. He is the youngest of 6 children: Allison, Sharron, David, Christopher, Jonathan. He was close to 14 in 1984 when he joined New Kids On The Block. The band was assembled in Boston by producer Maurice Starr. His fellow members included his brother, Jonathan Knight, as well as Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg and Danny Wood. Over the next few years Knight began teaching himself piano and keyboard instruments and writing songs. Maurice Starr, the New Kids' producer, who wrote much of the New Kids material, was reluctant to add the teenager's work to the band's repertoire.

New Kids on the Block sold over 70 million albums worldwide, generated hundreds of million of dollars of concert revenues, and paved the way for later boy bands like Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC. New Kids on the Block disbanded in 1994, but reunited in 2008.

Solo career

Knight made a comeback in 1999 by releasing his first solo single "Give It To You". The single reached #10 on Billboard Hot 100, it went Platinum selling over a million copies and was nominated for the 1999 MTV Video Music Award for Best Dance Video, though he lost to Ricky Martin's Livin' La Vida Loca. He was also nominated for Favorite Male Singer at the 2000 Kids' Choice Awards. The single also peaked at #35 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. The album Jordan Knight won an Aspire Music Award for Best Male Album (Pop). Jordan's self-titled debut album was then certified gold for sales of over 500,000 copies in the US on July 7, 1999. The album peaked at #29 on The Billboard 200 and #9 on the Top Internet Albums chart. In 2008 the NKOTB reunited and released 2 top 40 hits and went on a successful tour. As of fall 2010 the NKOTB has teamed up with the Backstreet Boys (BSB) creating the biggest boyband in history NKOTBSB and are touring in summer 2011.

Knight released a remix album Jordan Knight Performs New Kids on the Block in 2004.

In 2005, Knight released a new EP entitled The Fix with the lead single "Where is Your Heart Tonight" which reached its peak at #12 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart. He continued to tour extensively in 2005-2006 promoting his EP The Fix.

In September 2006, Knight's latest album Love Songs was released by Transcontinental Records. The first single was "Say Goodbye", a duet with Deborah Gibson, that peaked at #24 on Billboard's Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart.

In May 31, 2011, Knight released his third solo album "Unfinished", the album reached #8 in the US Billboard Independent Albums Chart, #48 in the US Billboard 200 and #55 in Canada. Knight announced his plans to start his "Live & Unfinished" Tour on December 11, 2011. Knight performed the announced dates with Boston based band, Elevation Theory.

Television

Knight was a judge on the American Idol spin-off, American Juniors. He was a third season cast member on the VH1 reality television series The Surreal Life with other celebrities in 2004. He later appeared in the 2007 spin-off The Surreal Life: Fame Games, but left during the filming of the premiere episode because of the death of his maternal grandmother.

In 2005, Knight appeared on the British show Hit Me Baby One More Time, where he performed "Give It To You", as well as a cover of "Let Me Love You" by Mario.

In September 2005, he also starred in a British documentary on five in the UK called Trust Me - I'm A Holiday Rep. Six celebrities spent 10 days in the role of an Olympic Holidays holiday rep in Ayia Napa, Cyprus. He initially lacked enthusiasm for the role, which he blamed to some extent on his shyness, but came to enjoy it. In his final debriefing he earned praise from the head reps, who said they would (hypothetically) offer him a job as a children's and transfer rep.

Knight also appeared on Identity, hosted by Penn Jillette.

In September 2011 he was a judge on the CBC show Cover Me Canada.

Personal life

Knight is married to Evelyn Melendez and has two children. The couple's first son, Dante Jordan, was born on August 25, 1999. Their second son, Eric Jacob, was born on February 21, 2007.

Discography

New Kids on the Block albums

• New Kids on the Block (1986) #25 US (3"? Platinum), #6 UK (Silver)
• Hangin' Tough (1988) #1 US (8"? Platinum), #1 UK (2"? Platinum)
• Merry, Merry Christmas (1989) #9 US (2"? Platinum), #13 UK (Gold)
• Step by Step (1990) #1 US (3"? Platinum), #1 UK (Platinum)
• No More Games: The Remix Album (1991) #19 US (Gold), #15 UK
• H.I.T.S. (1991)
• Face the Music (1994) #37 US, #36 UK
• Greatest Hits (1999) - #22 US
• The Block (2008) #2 US, #1 CAN (Gold)
• NKOTBSB (2011)
• 10 (2013)

Solo albums

• Jordan Knight (1999) #29 US (Gold)
• The Fix (2005)
• Love Songs (2006) N/A
• Unfinished (2011) #48 US, #8 US (Independent), #55 CAN

Remix Albums and EPs

• Jordan Knight Performs New Kids on the Block: The Remix Album (2004) N/A
• The Fix (2005)

Singles

• "Give It To You" (1999), #5 UK Singles Chart #10 US Billboard Hot 100 (Platinum), #11 Canadian Singles Chart, "Give It To You" (October 1999) #14 (US Top 40 Mainstream)
• "I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man" (1999) #37 US Top 40 Mainstream
• "Close My Eyes" (1999)
• "Where Is Your Heart Tonight" (2005) #12 US Adult Contemporary
• "Say Goodbye" (Duet with Deborah Gibson) (2006) #24 US Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
• "Let's Go Higher" (2011)
• "Stingy" (feat. Donnie Wahlberg) (2011)
• "One More Night" (2011)

Other songs

• Angel Of Love feat. Ana
• Can I Come over Tonight? [Data Track] [*] [Multimedia Track] (Also a bonus track on the UK edition of Jordan Knight)
• My Heart's Saying Now (Snow Day soundtrack)
• Your Vibe (PopStar Soundtrack)