Jordan Nathaniel Marcel Knight (born May 17, 1970) is an American singer-songwriter best known as a singer in the boy band, New Kids on the Block (NKOTB), and actor which 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 continued a solo career. He released 4 Top 40 singles, most famously for his hit song "Give It To You" in 1999 but since then he has failed to reach the Billboard Hot 100 again, Jordan has also done two studio albums, one remix album and 1 EP.

Early life and career

Knight was born in Worcester, Massachusetts. He was just close to 15 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 keyboard instruments and writing songs. Maurice Starr, the New Kids' producer, who also 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.

1999 comeback/solo debut

Jordan 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 singles, 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. 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.

The Remix album

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

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.

Jordan was also a celebrity appearing on Identity, hosted by Penn Jillette.

The Fix

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.

Love Songs

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.

New Kids On The Block reunion

In 2008, New Kids On The Block officially reunited and recorded a new single "Summertime". On May 16 they performed live for the first time in 15 years on Today's Show where they announced a reunion tour and CD release. They performed again on the Today Show on September 4, 2008 to kick off their tour. They have continued to tour in the U.S. Canada and Europe. The second single from their new release, "The Block" called "Single", a collaboration with Ne-Yo has reached the top 10 of several charts including the VH-1 Top 20 Countdown.

Personal life

Jordan is the youngest son of Allan Knight and Marlene Putman. Other siblings: David, Sharon, Allison, Chris and Jonathan. Jordan stated on his website that because his parents were Canadians he held dual citizenship until he was 18 when he chose to be a U.S. citizen.

Knight's first child, Dante Jordan, was born in August 1999. In 2004, he wed Evelyn Melendez. Knight's second son, Eric Jacob was born in February 2007.

Discography

New Kids on the Block albums

• New Kids on the Block (1986) #25 US, #6 UK (Nov 1990)
• Hangin' Tough (1988) #1 US, #1 UK
• Merry, Merry Christmas (1989) #9 US, #13 UK
• Step by Step (1990) #1 US, #1 UK
• No More Games: The Remix Album (1990) #10 US, #15 UK
• Face the Music (1994) #37 US, #36 UK
• Greatest Hits (1999) - #22 US
• The Block (2008) #2 US

Solo albums

• Jordan Knight (1999) #29 US (Gold)
• Jordan Knight Performs New Kids on the Block: The Remix Album (2004) N/A
• The Fix (2005)
• Love Songs (2006) N/A

EPs

• 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) #31 US Top 40 Mainstream
• "Where Is Your Heart Tonight" (2005) #12 US Adult Contemporary
• "Say Goodbye" (Duet with Deborah Gibson) (2006) #24 US Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks

Other songs

• Can I Come over Tonight? [Data Track] [*] [Multimedia Track]
• My Heart's Saying Now (Snow Day soundtrack)

References

External links

• (US)
• (UK)
• Trans Continental Records