View source for Al McKay

{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = Al McKay
| image           = Al mckay.jpg
| image_upright   = 1.2
| caption         = McKay  at Hamar Music Festival 2011
| birth_name      =
| birth_date      = {{birth date and age|1948|2|2}}{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}
| birth_place     = [[New Orleans, Louisiana]], U.S.
| occupation      = Musician, songwriter, record producer
| genre           = [[Funk]], [[jazz]], [[R&B]], [[soul music|soul]]
| years_active    = 1960s–present
| label           = [[Columbia Records|CBS]], [[ARC Records|ARC]], [[Star Licks Productions|Star Licks]], VideoArts (Japan)
| associated_acts = [[Earth, Wind & Fire]], [[Phenix Horns]], [[Ike & Tina Turner]], [[Patrice Rushen]], [[Ramsey Lewis]], [[The Temptations]]
| website         = {{URL|almckay.com}}
}}

'''Albert Phillip McKay''' (born February 2, 1948) is an American guitarist, songwriter, and record producer. He is a former member of [[Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band|The Watts 103rd Rhythm Street Band]] and [[Earth, Wind & Fire]]. As a member of EW&F, during 2000, he was inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]. He has also worked with artists such as [[Gene Harris]], [[Patrice Rushen]], [[The Temptations]] and [[Ramsey Lewis]]. McKay also leads his own band called the Al McKay All Stars.<ref name=Allmusic /><ref name=Bio /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Daniel |date=2015-12-21 |title=10 Questions with Al McKay of the Earth, Wind & Fire Experience |url=https://www.bandwagon.asia/articles/10-questions-al-mckay-earth-wind-fire-experience |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=bandwagon.asia |publisher=Bandwagon Asia |language=en}}</ref>

== Biography ==
Born and raised in [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]], United States, McKay's first professional gig was as a guitarist for the [[Ike & Tina Turner|Ike & Tina Turner Revue]]. He then went on to become a member of [[Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band|The Watts 103rd Rhythm Street Band]]. McKay later joined up with the band [[Earth, Wind & Fire]] in 1973. He eventually left the group in 1981.<ref name=Allmusic /><ref name=Bio />

McKay now performs with his band, The Al McKay Allstars, performing a show called The Earth, Wind & Fire Experience. During 2001, the group released a studio album entitled ''Al Dente''. A live album called ''Live at Mt. Fuji'' was also issued in 2003.<ref name="Allmusic" /><ref name="Bio">{{Cite web|url=https://www.soultracks.com/al_mckay.htm|title=Al McKay|website=soultracks.com|date=5 May 2007}}</ref>

== Solo work ==
McKay performed on [[Gene Harris]]'s 1976 album ''[[In a Special Way (album)|In a Special Way]]'' and his 1977 release ''[[Tone Tantrum]].'' Along with [[Eddie Henderson (musician)|Eddie Henderson]]'s 1977 LP ''[[Comin' Through]]'' and [[Harvey Mason]]'s 1977 album [[Funk in a Mason Jar]]. He also played upon [[Patrice Rushen]]'s 1977 LP ''[[Shout It Out (Patrice Rushen album)|Shout It Out]]'', 1978's ''[[Patrice (album)|Patrice]]'', 1979's ''[[Pizzazz]]'' and her 1980 studio album, ''[[Posh (album)|Posh]]''. 
As well, McKay performed on [[Ramsey Lewis]]' 1980 LP [[Routes (album)|Routes]], [[Herbie Hancock]]'s 1981 album ''[[Magic Windows]]'' and [[A Taste of Honey (band)|A Taste of Honey]]'s 1982 LP [[Ladies of the Eighties]]. He later produced [[Finis Henderson III]]'s single, "[[Skip to My Lou (Finis Henderson song)|Skip to My Lou]]", as well as his 1983 album ''[[Finis (album)|Finis]]''.
McKay also co-produced [[The Temptations]] on their 1984 studio LP ''[[Truly for You]]'', and produced [[Shirley Jones (R&B singer)|Shirley Jones]] on her 1986 album, [[Always In the Mood]].<ref>Session Days - [https://www.sessiondays.com/2014/12/1983-finis-henderson-finis/ 1983 Finis Henderson – Finis]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1983/Cash-Box-1983-05-07.pdf|title=Reviews (Singles)|date=May 7, 1983|page=10|publisher=[[Cash Box]]|access-date=January 8, 2025}}</ref><ref name=Allmusic>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/al-mckay-mn0000612556/|title=Al McKay|publisher=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref>

He then played on [[Norman Brown (guitarist)|Norman Brown]]'s 1992 album ''[[Just Between Us (Norman Brown album)|Just Between Us]]'' and Ramsey Lewis' 1993 LP ''[[Sky Islands (Ramsey Lewis album)|Sky Islands]]''. McKay later appeared on [[Wild Orchid (group)|Wild Orchid]]'s 1997 [[Wild Orchid (album)|self titled debut album]], [[Celine Dion]]'s 1997 LP [[Let's Talk About Love]], [[CeCe Winans]] 1998 album His Gift, [[Dave Koz]]'s 1999 LP [[The Dance (Dave Koz album)|The Dance]] and [[Incognito (band)|Incognito]]'s 2010 album [[Transatlantic R.P.M.]]<ref name=Allmusic />

== Songwriting ==
McKay is a prolific songwriter, mostly as a collaborator with [[Maurice White]] and other members of Earth, Wind & Fire, but is best known for two [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B chart]]-topping songs, "[[Sing a Song (Earth, Wind & Fire song)|Sing a Song]]" in 1975 for Earth, Wind & Fire, and "[[Best of My Love (The Emotions song)|Best of My Love]]" in 1977 for [[The Emotions]], the latter also reaching #1 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|pop chart]].

== Legacy ==
[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] placed McKay in their list of the 30 most famous left-handed guitarists of all time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harrison |first=Lindsey |date=June 7, 2024 |title=The 30 Most Famous Left-Handed Guitarists |url=https://www.spin.com/2024/06/the-30-most-famous-left-handed-guitarists/ |access-date=October 25, 2024 |website=spin.com |publisher=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]}}</ref> [[Guitar Player]] also ranked McKay at No. 25 on their list of the 50 greatest rhythm guitarists of all time. As well guitarists such as [[Lenny Kravitz]] have claimed McKay as a major influence.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McStea |first=Mark |date=2024-03-12 |title="People used to show up in the parking lot and ask the crew to tell me that they had guitars to sell... One guy was facing trial and needed money for his lawyer. That's how I got my goldtop Les Paul": Lenny Kravitz on recording, and unlikely gear finds |url=https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/lenny-kravitz-blue-electric-light |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=guitarplayer.com |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-12-27 |title=The 50 Greatest Rhythm Guitar Players of All Time |url=https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/the-50-greatest-rhythm-guitar-players-of-all-time |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=Guitar Player |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Earth, Wind & Fire}}
{{Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band}}
{{2000 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McKay, Al}}
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Rhythm and blues musicians from New Orleans]]
[[Category:African-American guitarists]]
[[Category:African-American record producers]]
[[Category:Record producers from Louisiana]]
[[Category:African-American songwriters]]
[[Category:Songwriters from Louisiana]]
[[Category:American session musicians]]
[[Category:Earth, Wind & Fire members]]
[[Category:Songs written by Al McKay]]
[[Category:Kings of Rhythm members]]
[[Category:Ike & Tina Turner members]]
[[Category:Guitarists from Louisiana]]
[[Category:American male guitarists]]
[[Category:20th-century American guitarists]]