Quick Facts
Biography
Carlos McKinney (born January 10, 1978) is a Grammy Award winning American record producer and jazz pianist.
Biography
McKinney was born into an eminent Detroit jazz family; he is a nephew to pianist Harold McKinney, bassist Ray McKinney, trombonist Bernard McKinney (Kiane Zawadi), and drummers Earl McKinney and Walter Harris. He is a cousin to drummer Ali Jackson and trumpeter Khalil Jackson. His mother, Carolyn McKinney, is a singer, and sister Shani McKinney is a pianist. His younger sister Thema "Tayma Loren" McKinney is an aspiring solo vocalist. Carlos began studying piano at age four with uncle Harold; his first professional appearances were with the R&B group Identity Band when he was 12. He studied classical music at the Center for Creative Studies from 1983 to 1991. He also studied harp under Patricia Terry-Ross, of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. After studying with Harold and Ray McKinney and Marcus Belgrave, he played with the Legacy Quintet (1989–93) and then attended The New School in New York City (1991–95). He played with Winard Harper (1992–93), Antonio Hart (1992–95), Buster Williams (1993), Wallace Roney (1994–96), Sonny Rollins, Elvin Jones, Steve Turre, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Kenny Garrett and Charnett Moffett. He has played jazz festivals in Europe (from 1992), Senegal (1994), Iceland (1995), and Turkey (1997). His first disc as a bandleader was 2000's Up-Front, on Sirocco Jazz.
McKinney has also worked as an arranger and producer. He was assistant composer to James Mtume for the TV show New York Undercover from 1995. He then received a contract from Def Jam, where he worked with musicians such as NIKKO, Case, Keithian, Ciara, Rihanna, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Montell Jordan, Kandace Love, Babyface, and Redman. He has also produced for artists such as The-Dream, J. Holiday, Bobby Valentino, and Jamie Foxx, among others. He produced the hits Shawty Is Da Shit by The-Dream, Bed by J. Holiday and I Invented Sex by Trey Songz featuring Drake in 2009.
He won a Grammy Award for his credits and production on the Rihanna Unapologetic album in 2013.
Discography
As sideman
with Elvin Jones
- The Truth: Heard Live at the Blue Note (Half Note, 1999)
with Buster Williams
- Joined at the Hip (TCB, 1998)
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Artist | Album | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | US Rap | US Pop | UK | CAN | NZ | ||||
| 2002 | "Relax Your Mind" (featuring Faith Evans) | — | 52 | — | — | — | — | — | Boyz II Men | Full Circle |
| "Episode" (featuring Shells) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Lyric | Lyric | |
| 2003 | "Hot & Tipsy" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007 | "Bed" | 5 | 1 | — | 26 | 32 | 92 | 11 | J. Holiday | Back of My Lac' |
| "Shawty Is a 10" (featuring Fabolous) | 17 | 6 | — | 45 | — | — | 36 | The-Dream | Love Hate | |
| 2008 | "Can't Find the Words" | — | 88 | — | — | — | — | — | Karina Pasian | First Love |
| "Trading Places" | 45 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | Usher | Here I Stand | |
| 2009 | "Hands on Me" | — | 88 | 56 | — | — | — | — | Bobby Valentino | The Rebirth |
| "Rockin' That Shit" | 22 | 2 | — | 50 | — | — | — | The-Dream | Love vs. Money | |
| "Walkin' on the Moon" (featuring Kanye West) | 87 | 38 | — | 74 | — | — | — | |||
| "My Love" (featuring Mariah Carey) | 82 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "I Invented Sex" (featuring Drake) | 42 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | Trey Songz | Ready | |
| 2010 | "Love King" | 92 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | The-Dream | Love King |
Credits
2007
J. Holiday – Back of My Lac'
- 01. "Bed"
Chris Brown – Exclusive
- 07. "You"
The-Dream – Love Hate
- 01. "Shawty Is a 10"
- 03. "Fast Car"
- 07. "Playin' in her Hair"
- 08. "Purple Kisses"
- 10. "Luv Songs"
2008
Rantz – "Different Positions"
Unknown – "Red Light"
JC – "Breath"
O'Keith Stewart – "Ooow Girl"
Karina Pasian – First Love
- 03. "Can't Find the Words"
Sean Garrett – Turbo 919
- 10. "6 in the Morning" (Featuring Rick Ross)
Midwest City – "Show Me Something"
Mayrina Chebel – "Tant D'amour A Donner"
Usher – Here I Stand "Trading Places"
2009
Ne-Yo – Unreleased
- 00. "Start A Fire"
Bobby Valentino – The Rebirth
- 03. "Butterfly Tattoo"
- 05. "Hands on Me"
Electrik Red – How to Be a Lady: Volume 1
- 06. "9 to 5"
- 09. "Friend Lover"
Jamie Foxx – Intuition
- 07. "Intuition Interlude"
Chrishan
- 00. "Red Jeans"
The-Dream – Love vs. Money
- 02."Rockin That Shit"
- 03. "Walkin' on the Moon" (Featuring Kanye West)
- 04. "My Love" (Featuring Mariah Carey)
- 05. "Put It Down"
- 13. "Kelly's 12 Play"
Mariah Carey – Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel
- 04. "Candy Bling"
Trey Songz – Ready
- 03. "I Invented Sex" (Featuring Drake)
Mario – D.N.A.
- 04. "Soundtrack to mMy Broken Heart"
R. Kelly – Untitled
- 07. "Like I Do"
R. Kelly – Unreleased from Untitled
- 00. "Number #1 Fan"
2010
Jazmine Sullivan – "Don't Make Me Wait"
Kelly Rowland – "Geronimo"
R. Kelly – "Speakin' My Language"
Monica – Still Standing
- 02. "One in a Lifetime"
The-Dream – Love King
- 01. "Love King"
- 06. "Yamaha"
- 07. "Nikki Part 2"
- 08. "Abyss"
- 10. "Turnt Out"
- 13. "Veteran"
- 14. "Priceless"
- 18. "Love King (Remix)" (Featuring Ludacris)
The-Dream – Unreleased from Love King
- 00. "Veteran (Remix)" (Featuring R. Kelly)
Fantasia Barrino – Back To Me
- 04. "Who's Been Lovin' You"
2011
Beyoncé – "Schoolin' Life"
2012
Melanie Fiona – The MF Life
- 07. "Change the Record" (Featuring B.o.B)
Rihanna – Unapologetic
- 10. "Nobody's Business" (Feat. Chris Brown)
- 11. Love Without Tragedy/Mother Mary"
2013
The-Dream – IV Play
- 03. "Equestrian"
- 11. "Self-Conscious"
- 12. "Holy Love"
Kelly Rowland – Talk a Good Game
- 06. "Dirty Laundry"
- 13. "Sky Walker"