User:Edwin "Cornell" McKnight

Edwin "Cornell" McKnight (born September 28, 1985) is an American born Basso Profundo.

Early Life
Born in Durham, North Carolina. Cornell was the second of three children. He began singing at the age of 3 in the church choir and became fascinated with the bass voice of his great uncle Joseph Estes. His parents divorced soon after the birth of his younger brother, Courtney Leigh and they relocated to New Jersey. Courtney Leigh, at the age of three, was diagnose with a terminal muscular disease and Cornell became his primary caregiver. At the age of 7,Cornell fed his brother through a feeding tube. The strain of Courtney's disease caused his mother to become mentally unstable and eventually led to Cornell being sent to go live with his father in North Carolina. `The role of caregiver followed him south. His father was a diabetic amputee and required Cornell to dress his wounds daily among other house hold duties. In June 1997 tragedy shook up the life of the McKnight family. The youngest of three Courtney Leigh died after an six year struggle with his illness. This catastrophe sent Cornell into a deep depression. Struggling with thoughts of suicide stemming from grief and physical abuse at the hands of his father, Cornell took refuge in music. Heavily influenced by gospel, he idolized bass singers such as Jimmy Jones of the Harmonizing Four, Isaac Freeman of the Fairfield, Willie Bobo of The Dixie Hummingbirds,and J.D. Sumner. At the age of 14 Cornell's voice plummeted overnight. He began performing in school plays and recitals. In 2002, the abuse became evident to school officals and Cornell moved away to New Jersey to help care for his ill mother.