Kim Bum-soo, Brian McKnight to sing duet at Korea music fest

Kim Bum-soo (left) and Brian McKnight (right) [Polaris Entertainment]

Korean singer Kim Bum-soo will sing a duet with top American R&B musician Brian McKnight at a music festival in Korea set for next month, informed Kim's agency Polaris Entertainment on Tuesday.

A statement by Polaris said that the collaboration will come during McKnight's segment of the music event set to take place on the second day of the Rainbow Music Camping Festival 2011, held on July 2 and 3 at Nami Island in the Gangwon Province.

McKnight chose Kim as his singing partner when organizers of the fest suggested he sing a duet with a Korean artist.

“The two are planning on giving a passionate performance, choosing the song they will sing together and practicing with live bands before they take to the stage,” an official at Polaris was quoted as saying in the press relese.

This is not the first time the two will perform together -- McKnight and Kim got acquainted in March of last year when McKnight appeared as a guest on a program hosted by Kim. At the time, McKnight played the piano while Kim sang.

McKnight, 42, is considered one of the best R&B musicians in the world who has sold over 20 million copies of his records worldwide. He can play nine instruments and has worked with many global musicians including Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Justin Timberlake, Nelly, Vanessa Williams and Quincy Jones.

He won the award for Best R&B/Soul Male Album at the Soul Train Awards in 1999 with “Anytime” and the award for Outstanding Male Artist at the Image Awards in 2000 with "Back At One." He also holds the record for being the artist who has received the most Grammy Award nominations -- 16 but without a win.

Kim, 32, debuted with his first album “A PROMISE” in 1996 and has since release numerous hit songs such as “A Day” and “I Miss You” and participated in soundtracks to various popular dramas such as “Hotelier” (MBC, 2001), “Empress Myeongseong” (KBS, 2002), “Damo” (MBC, 2003), “Staircase to Heaven” (SBS, 2003) “ and most recently “Giant” (SBS, 2010) and "Secret Garden" (SBS, 2011).

He is the winner of the grand prize at the 2004 KBS Music Award and is set to release his seventh regular album “SOLISTAL Part 2” on June 16.

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