Al McKay
Encyclopedia
Al McKay is a guitarist, songwriter, producer and former member of the American funk
band Earth, Wind & Fire
. Al used to lead his own group Al McKay's L.A. All Stars with former EWF members Johnny Graham
, Fred White (younger brother of EWF founders Maurice White
and Verdine White
), Rahmlee Michael Davis
and Michael Harris
of the former Phenix Horns
, and Andrew Woolfolk
.
An album, entitled Al Dente, from this group was released through import.
Throughout most the 70's and 80's, Al has been hired for numerous studio sessions from different artists, and produced/composed for various projects, including The Temptations
(Truly for You
- 1984 / Motown
), A Taste of Honey
(Ladies of the Eighties - 1982 / Capitol
), Finis Henderson (Finis - 1982 / Motown), among many others. His instructional video for Star Licks Productions appeared on VHS
in the mid-80's. With a re-designed video-sleeve it was re-issued again on VHS during the 90's.
He now performs with his band The Al McKay Allstars, performing a show called The Earth, Wind & Fire Experience and tours along the major jazz festivals in the world with this fourteen-piece ensemble. There is also a live-DVD from this project, which is filmed in Eastern-Europe.
Al is a left-handed guitar player.
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
band Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire is an American soul and R&B band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969 by Verdine and Maurice White. Also known as EWF, the band has won six Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards. They have been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of...
. Al used to lead his own group Al McKay's L.A. All Stars with former EWF members Johnny Graham
Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire is an American soul and R&B band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969 by Verdine and Maurice White. Also known as EWF, the band has won six Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards. They have been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of...
, Fred White (younger brother of EWF founders Maurice White
Maurice White
Maurice White is a Grammy Award–winning American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, arranger. He is the older brother of Verdine White and Fred White and the leader and founder of the band Earth, Wind & Fire...
and Verdine White
Verdine White
Verdine White is the bassist for Earth, Wind & Fire and the younger brother of fellow band member Maurice White. White is known for his high energy and dancing while playing his bass guitar during Earth, Wind & Fire concerts.-Early life:...
), Rahmlee Michael Davis
Phenix Horns
are Earth, Wind & Fire, Phil Collins and Genesis's brass main section. The four members were Don Myrick on saxophones, Louis "Lui Lui" Satterfield on trombone, Rahmlee Michael Davis on trumpet and Michael Harris on trumpet.-The Pharaohs:...
and Michael Harris
Phenix Horns
are Earth, Wind & Fire, Phil Collins and Genesis's brass main section. The four members were Don Myrick on saxophones, Louis "Lui Lui" Satterfield on trombone, Rahmlee Michael Davis on trumpet and Michael Harris on trumpet.-The Pharaohs:...
of the former Phenix Horns
Phenix Horns
are Earth, Wind & Fire, Phil Collins and Genesis's brass main section. The four members were Don Myrick on saxophones, Louis "Lui Lui" Satterfield on trombone, Rahmlee Michael Davis on trumpet and Michael Harris on trumpet.-The Pharaohs:...
, and Andrew Woolfolk
Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire is an American soul and R&B band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969 by Verdine and Maurice White. Also known as EWF, the band has won six Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards. They have been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of...
.
An album, entitled Al Dente, from this group was released through import.
Throughout most the 70's and 80's, Al has been hired for numerous studio sessions from different artists, and produced/composed for various projects, including The Temptations
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
(Truly for You
Truly for You
Truly for You is a 1984 album by The Temptations for the Gordy label, featuring the debut of new lead singer Ali-Ollie Woodson in Dennis Edwards' place...
- 1984 / Motown
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
), A Taste of Honey
A Taste of Honey (band)
A Taste of Honey was the name of an American recording act, formed in 1971 by associates Perry Kibble and Donald Ray Johnson. In 1978 they had one of the best known chart-toppers of the disco era, "Boogie Oogie Oogie"...
(Ladies of the Eighties - 1982 / Capitol
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
), Finis Henderson (Finis - 1982 / Motown), among many others. His instructional video for Star Licks Productions appeared on VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
in the mid-80's. With a re-designed video-sleeve it was re-issued again on VHS during the 90's.
He now performs with his band The Al McKay Allstars, performing a show called The Earth, Wind & Fire Experience and tours along the major jazz festivals in the world with this fourteen-piece ensemble. There is also a live-DVD from this project, which is filmed in Eastern-Europe.
Al is a left-handed guitar player.
External links
- Official Website
- Al McKay at soultracks.com
- Al McKay Interview by Robert Decker | April 2000