Jack Knight (songwriter)
Encyclopedia
Jack Knight is an American
songwriter
and producer. He is also a published author and founder of The Jack Knight Songwriters Academy.
in 1995. His voice was first heard on Monifah’s “Touch It”, but he has been a songwriter since 1994.
As the first songwriter signed to Sean “Diddy” Combs publishing company in 1998, Jack has written, recorded and produced hit records for artists like Usher
, Keyshia Cole
, Diddy
, Jennifer Lopez
, Christina Aguilera
, Biggie, Total
, Carl Thomas, Chico Debarge
, Rakim
, Monifah
, Blackstreet
, Faith Evans
, Tamia
and many others.
He also started Finding Your Way Worldwide, which has been implemented in Stockholm, Sweden, Canada
, East New York, Brooklyn and Richmond which is where it’s based. Finding Your Way is a music program that, through the art of songwriting, teaches kids the significance of incorporating and promoting social change in their homes, communities and environment.
In his 2006 book, The Art of Writing A Hit Song: The Urban Experience, Jack breaks down the process of creating and developing a hit song in seven formulated steps. He also offers online songwriting courses through The Jack Knight Songwriters Academy, which employs an intense curriculum to prepare up and coming songwriters for the main stream media.
In 1999, Knight decided to move into the realm of recording, releasing his debut album, Gypsy Blues on Universal Records. He was the first writer signed to Sean 'Diddy' Combs publishing company, the Writing Factory, where he continues to write, record, and produce on a regular basis.
More recently Knight has traveled to Europe and Africa to collaborate with musicians there and also to promote social change and education for young people around the world. He is completing a DVD of his travels called Finding Your Way: Through The Art of Songwriting to document his mission. In addition, he’s hard at work on new projects for Danity Kane, the New Making the Band 4 boy group and new solo artist Donny.
Knight is also working on another album he created on the journey that he’s calling Bipolar Monday.
Knight is now on the website Blazetrak seeking new artists, offering advice on business and the music industry and giving live-time feedback.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and producer. He is also a published author and founder of The Jack Knight Songwriters Academy.
Biography
Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Jack Knight moved with his grandparents to Virginia at the age of 17. As a teen he performed in a local rap group, and then signed as a solo artist to Def Jam RecordingsDef Jam Recordings
Def Jam Recordings is an American record label, focused primarily on hip hop and urban music, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as a part of The Island Def Jam Motown Music Group...
in 1995. His voice was first heard on Monifah’s “Touch It”, but he has been a songwriter since 1994.
As the first songwriter signed to Sean “Diddy” Combs publishing company in 1998, Jack has written, recorded and produced hit records for artists like Usher
Usher (entertainer)
Usher Terry Raymond IV , who performs under the mononym Usher, is an American singer-songwriter, and actor. He is considered around the world to be the reigning King of R&B. Usher rose to fame in the late 1990s with the release of his second album My Way, which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100...
, Keyshia Cole
Keyshia Cole
Keyshia Myeshia Cole Gibson born October 15, 1981) is an American singer–songwriter and actress. She gained nationwide acclaim when her 2005 debut album, The Way It Is went platinum. Her sophomore album Just Like You went into production shortly after that and was released in September 2007...
, Diddy
Sean Combs
Sean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally...
, Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...
, Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994...
, Biggie, Total
Total (band)
Total was an American R&B girl group and one of the signature acts of Sean Combs' Bad Boy Records imprint during the 1990s.-Emergence & Total:...
, Carl Thomas, Chico Debarge
Chico DeBarge
Jonathan Arthur "Chico" DeBarge is an American R&B singer and a younger brother of the members of the Motown family act DeBarge...
, Rakim
Rakim
William Michael Griffin Jr. , known by his stage names Rakim , Rakim Allah, R.A.K.I.M., and The Master, is an American rapper. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and most skilled emcees of all time. Eric B...
, Monifah
Monifah
Monifah is an American female R&B singer-songwriter.-Career:In 1996, her debut album, Moods...Moments was released. In 1997, she contributed the Heavy D. produced "I Still Love You" to the soundtrack of the film, Sprung. Monifah's second album was Mo'hogany. Released in the last quarter of 1998,...
, Blackstreet
Blackstreet
Blackstreet is an American R&B group founded in 1991 by Thomas Taliaferro and Teddy Riley, the inventor of New Jack Swing known for his work as a member of Guy. Chauncey Hannibal and Levi Little were signed under production and management contracts with Thomas Taliaferro and were merged into what...
, Faith Evans
Faith Evans
Faith Renée Evans is an American singer-songwriter, recording artist, record producer, actress and author. Born in Florida and raised in New Jersey, Evans relocated to Los Angeles during 1993 for a career with the music business. After working as a backing vocalist for Al B...
, Tamia
Tamia
Tamia Hill , and known professionally as Tamia, is a four-time Grammy-nominated Canadian R&B and soul singer, songwriter, record producer, composer, model, entrepreneur and philanthropist, as well as an occasional actress.She is best known for her 2000 hit "Stranger In My House" and Fabolous' 2003...
and many others.
He also started Finding Your Way Worldwide, which has been implemented in Stockholm, Sweden, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, East New York, Brooklyn and Richmond which is where it’s based. Finding Your Way is a music program that, through the art of songwriting, teaches kids the significance of incorporating and promoting social change in their homes, communities and environment.
"My calling is also giving, teaching and empowering the youth," he says. "This is something else I do on the side besides my job as a songwriter. It’s more than me that I am trying to help. It’s a group of youth that I’m trying to teach life skills through music. This program can revolutionize the way teachers teach urban youth and the way kids with a learning disability learn."
In his 2006 book, The Art of Writing A Hit Song: The Urban Experience, Jack breaks down the process of creating and developing a hit song in seven formulated steps. He also offers online songwriting courses through The Jack Knight Songwriters Academy, which employs an intense curriculum to prepare up and coming songwriters for the main stream media.
In 1999, Knight decided to move into the realm of recording, releasing his debut album, Gypsy Blues on Universal Records. He was the first writer signed to Sean 'Diddy' Combs publishing company, the Writing Factory, where he continues to write, record, and produce on a regular basis.
More recently Knight has traveled to Europe and Africa to collaborate with musicians there and also to promote social change and education for young people around the world. He is completing a DVD of his travels called Finding Your Way: Through The Art of Songwriting to document his mission. In addition, he’s hard at work on new projects for Danity Kane, the New Making the Band 4 boy group and new solo artist Donny.
Knight is also working on another album he created on the journey that he’s calling Bipolar Monday.
Knight is now on the website Blazetrak seeking new artists, offering advice on business and the music industry and giving live-time feedback.