Carlos McKinney | |
---|---|
Birth name | Carlos McKinney |
Also known as | Pryceless, Los da Mystro |
Born |
Detroit, Michigan, United States |
January 10, 1978
Genres | R&B, Pop, jazz |
Occupation(s) | Producer, songwriter, musician |
Instruments | Piano |
Years active | 1995–present |
Associated acts | The-Dream, Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, Rihanna, Trey Songz, Usher, Babyface, Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men, J. Holiday, Lyric, Exit 21, Helly Luv |
Carlos McKinney (born January 10, 1978) is a Grammy Award winning American record producer and jazz pianist.
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.