Carlos McKinney

Carlos McKinney
Birth name Carlos McKinney
Also known as Pryceless, Los da Mystro
Born (1978-01-10) January 10, 1978
Detroit, Michigan, United States
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[1] 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.[2] 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

with Buster Williams

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'

Chris Brown – Exclusive

The-Dream – Love Hate

2008

Rantz – "Different Positions"

Unknown – "Red Light"

JC – "Breath"

O'Keith Stewart – "Ooow Girl"

Karina Pasian – First Love

Sean Garrett – Turbo 919

Midwest City – "Show Me Something"

Mayrina Chebel – "Tant D'amour A Donner"

Usher – Here I Stand "Trading Places"

2009

Ne-Yo – Unreleased

Bobby Valentino – The Rebirth

Electrik Red – How to Be a Lady: Volume 1

Jamie Foxx – Intuition

Chrishan

The-Dream – Love vs. Money

Mariah Carey – Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel

Trey Songz – Ready

Mario – D.N.A.

R. Kelly – Untitled

R. Kelly – Unreleased from Untitled

2010

Jazmine Sullivan – "Don't Make Me Wait"

Kelly Rowland – "Geronimo"

R. Kelly – "Speakin' My Language"

Monica – Still Standing

The-Dream – Love King

The-Dream – Unreleased from Love King

Fantasia Barrino – Back To Me

2011

Beyoncé – "Schoolin' Life"

2012

Melanie Fiona – The MF Life

Rihanna – Unapologetic

2013

The-Dream – IV Play

Kelly Rowland – Talk a Good Game

References

http://www.champmag.com/2010/08/26/behind-da-boards-los-da-mystro-exclusive-interview-w-champ-mag/

  1. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 26, 2013. Retrieved 2012-11-19.
  2. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on August 13, 2009. Retrieved 2009-08-12.
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