Melvin C AKA Blaqmel

Melvin McKnight means soul. Melvin McKnight means funky rhythm. Melvin McKnight means acoustic and electric guitar and full-bodied vocals. Melvin McKnight means stage and studio experience.On the professional music scene for ten years Melvin feels a sense of history has emerged from his playing. "I want to show people that I respect where I came from while at the same time giving them something new to think about." Mr. McKnight has been doing just that with own band, Malicious Soul, which has been playing the New Jersey circuit for the past three years.Malicious Soul, the funky quartet fronted by Mr. McKnight, is an incestuous marriage of soul music and R&B. The New Brunswick-based group consistently packs the house, and its monthly residency at Makeda's brings fans from all over the state. Mr. McKnight's catchy originals are woven seamlessly into the fabric of classic material from Prince, Bill Withers, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and Donny Hathaway. Malicious Soul, which is composed of students and alumni of the Julliard School, Berklee School of Music, and Mason Gross School of the Arts, provides a stunning display of musicianship as well as laying down pure, unadulterated funk.But Malicious Soul is not all that Mr. McKnight has to offer. He has a flourishing solo career as well, performing explosive acoustic sets at cafes and similar venues. His songwriting shows a mature social understanding with a symbiotic balance of strength and timidity. His lyrics are accessible and his textured arrangements aren't overstated.Mr. McKnight is also an experienced studio session musician, having laid guitar tracks for TM Stevens, Pras of the Fugees, and Lil' Flip. Mr. McKnight has also performed with TM Stevens' touring band, the Trammps, and most recently, John Legend.Studio, stage, history, future, electric, acoustic, guitar, vocals: you find it all in Melvin McKnight. And you find Melvin McKnight in all that he does.