AL MCKAY’S EARTH WIND & FIRE EXPERIENCE

Veteran, Grammy Award winning and multi-platinum recording artist Al McKay has a long history of creating songs that feel good to the body and soul.  The former Earth, Wind & fire guitarist teamed with group founder Maurice White to pen the band’s seminal hits “September” and “Sing A Song” and honed his chops playing with Ike & Tina Turner and Sammy Davis Jr.

McKay continues in his tradition with “Heed the Message”, his latest offering from his band Al Mckay Allstars.  In the spirit  iof McKay’s eight years in Earth,Wind and Fire from 1973 to 1981, “Heed the Message” is rich with impressive harmonic backing vocals, ample moving saxophone runs, driving funk bass grooves and uplifting lyrics: “Don’t think twice when your feeling is right,” “Try meditation” and “Love is the calling”.

McKay credits the late Maurice White with encouraging him to become a songwriter.  White would begin writing lyrics as he listened to McKay improvising on his guitar. McKay describes White as his best songwriter partner and was saddened by White’s passing to Parkinson’s disease in 2016. McKay is working on a new album.  In addition to working with some of his bandmates, he’s also in talks to collaborate with a few of the music business’ hit making, award winning songwriters and producers.

The Al McKay Allstars lineup includes: McKay (leader, guitar), Tim Owens (vocals), DeVere Duckett (vocals), Claude Woods (vocals), Freddie Flewelen (bass guitar), Ben Dowling (keyboards), Dean Gant (keyboards), Rayford Griffin (drums), David Leach (percussion), Ed Wayne (saxophone), Luis Gonzales (trumpet), Omar Peralta (trumpet) & Justin Kirk (trombone).