Al McKay
Albert Phillip McKay (born February 2, 1948) is an American guitarist, songwriter, and record producer. He is a former member of The Watts 103rd Rhythm Street Band and Earth, Wind & Fire. He has also worked with artists such as Gene Harris, Patrice Rushen, The Temptations and Ramsey Lewis.
Al McKay

Thomas Andersen · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Name
- Al McKay
- Born
- 2 February 1948
- Birthplace
- New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
- Occupation
- Musician, songwriter, record producer
- Nationality
- United States
- Fields
- funk · disco
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Documentary summary
Albert Phillip McKay (born February 2, 1948) is an American guitarist, songwriter, and record producer. He is a former member of The Watts 103rd Rhythm Street Band and Earth, Wind & Fire. He has also worked with artists such as Gene Harris, Patrice Rushen, The Temptations and Ramsey Lewis.
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Al McKay (born 1948) is a composer, guitarist and record producer, among other activities, of American nationality. The composer was born in New Orleans. The work spans disco and funk.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 01 October 2026
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wikidata · Q2636166 · wikipedia · Al McKay
In this article
Biography
Biography
McKay also leads his own band called the Al McKay All Stars.

Earth, Wind, and Fire in a press photo dated to 1977. Photo itself was taken the same year or earlier
Distributed by Columbia Records · Ebay Archived
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Al McKay • Born — 2 February 1948 • Birthplace — New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. • Occupation — Musician, songwriter, record producer • Genre — Funk, jazz, R&B, soul • Years Active — 1960s–present • Label — CBS, ARC, Star Licks, VideoArts (Japan) • Associated Acts — Earth, Wind & Fire, Phenix Horns, Ike & Tina Turner, Patrice Rushen, Ramsey Lewis, The Temptations • Website — almckay.com
Biography
Biography
Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, McKay's first professional gig was as a guitarist for the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. He then went on to become a member of The Watts 103rd Rhythm Street Band. McKay later joined up with the band Earth, Wind & Fire in 1973. He eventually was fired from the group in 1981. 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.
Solo work
Solo work
McKay performed on Gene Harris's 1976 album In a Special Way and his 1977 release Tone Tantrum. Along with 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, 1978's Patrice, 1979's Pizzazz and her 1980 studio album, Posh. As well, McKay performed on Ramsey Lewis' 1980 LP Routes, Herbie Hancock's 1981 album Magic Windows and A Taste of Honey's 1982 LP Ladies of the Eighties. He later produced Finis Henderson III's single, "Skip to My Lou", as well as his 1983 album Finis. McKay also co-produced The Temptations on their 1984 studio LP Truly for You, and produced Shirley Jones on her 1986 album, Always In the Mood. He then played on Norman Brown's 1992 album Just Between Us and Ramsey Lewis' 1993 LP Sky Islands. McKay later appeared on Wild Orchid's 1997 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 and Incognito's 2010 album Transatlantic R.P.M.
Songwriting
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 R&B chart-topping songs, "Sing a Song" in 1975 for Earth, Wind & Fire, and "Best of My Love" in 1977 for The Emotions, the latter also reaching #1 on the pop chart.
Identity and overview
Identity and overview
The following is established of the heading itself.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Al McKay was born in New Orleans.
Birthplace
New Orleans.
Birth place
Legacy
Spin placed McKay in their list of the 30 most famous left-handed guitarists of all time. 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.
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Al McKay”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q2636166: Al McKay
General reference · Wikidata
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Peters, Daniel. 10 Questions with Al McKay of the Earth, Wind & Fire Experience. bandwagon.asia. Bandwagon Asia. 2015-12-21.
- 2.Al McKay. soultracks.com. 5 May 2007.
- 3.Session Days - 1983 Finis Henderson – Finis
- 4.Cash Box. Reviews (Singles). 10. May 7, 1983.
- 5.AllMusic. Al McKay.
- 6.Harrison, Lindsey. The 30 Most Famous Left-Handed Guitarists. spin.com. Spin. June 7, 2024.
- 7.McStea, Mark. "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. guitarplayer.com. 2024-03-12.
- 8.The 50 Greatest Rhythm Guitar Players of All Time. Guitar Player. 2022-12-27.
References
Citations
References
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reference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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