Al McKay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Albert Phillip "Al" McKay
|
|
|---|---|
McKay at Hamar Music Festival 2011
|
|
| Background information | |
| Born | February 2, 1948 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Genres | Funk, jazz, R&B, soul |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, record producer |
| Years active | 1960s–present |
| Labels | CBS, ARC, Star Licks, VideoArts (Japan) |
| Associated acts | Earth, Wind & Fire, Phenix Horns, Ike & Tina Turner, Patrice Rushen, Ramsey Lewis, The Temptations |
Albert Phillip "Al" McKay (born February 2, 1948) is a super talented American musician. He plays the guitar, writes songs, and produces music for other artists. You might know him best as a former member of the famous band Earth, Wind & Fire. He was even inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with them! Al McKay has also worked with many other cool musicians like Patrice Rushen and The Temptations. Today, he leads his own band called The Al McKay All Stars.
About Al McKay
Al McKay was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1948. His first professional job as a guitarist was with the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. He then joined a group called The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band.
In 1973, McKay became a member of the legendary band Earth, Wind & Fire. He played with them until 1981. After leaving the group, he continued to make amazing music.
Today, Al McKay performs with his own band, The Al McKay Allstars. They put on a show called "The Earth, Wind & Fire Experience." In 2001, his group released an album called Al Dente. They also released a live album, Live at Mt. Fuji, in 2003.
Working with Other Artists
Al McKay is not just a great band member; he's also a talented solo artist and producer. He has played on many albums for other musicians. For example, he performed on Gene Harris's albums In a Special Way (1976) and Tone Tantrum (1977).
He also worked with Patrice Rushen on several of her albums. These include Shout It Out (1977) and Pizzazz (1979). McKay also played on Ramsey Lewis' 1980 album Routes.
Besides playing, Al McKay has produced music for other artists. He helped produce The Temptations' 1984 album Truly for You. He also produced Shirley Jones' album Always In the Mood in 1986.
His guitar playing can be heard on albums by many different artists. These include Herbie Hancock's Magic Windows (1981) and Celine Dion's Let's Talk About Love (1997). He also played on Dave Koz's The Dance (1999).
His Musical Impact
Al McKay is a very respected musician. Spin magazine included him in their list of the 30 most famous left-handed guitarists ever. Guitar Player magazine also ranked him as one of the top 50 greatest rhythm guitarists of all time.
Many musicians look up to Al McKay. For example, the famous artist Lenny Kravitz has said that Al McKay was a big influence on his own music. This shows how important Al McKay's contributions are to the world of music!
