Veteran session player, sideman and in-demand instrumentalist, both on stage and in the studio. A bandleader of International renown.

Over the course of the extraordinary career that is now entering its fifth decade of uninterrupted music-making, Al McKay has established a reputation as one of the most innovative and influential artists of his generation. A musician's musician, McKay's professional portfolio puts him front and center in many of the pivotal moments on modern music history and even if his name doesn't immediately ring a bell, there's no mistaking his unique and distinctive sound. Simply put, Al McKay is the real McCoy.

That legend began early for Al McKay. Born in the musical melting pot of New Orleans, both his mother and father were accomplished artists in their own right. But it was his uncle who introduced the five year-old Al to his first guitar and, after seeing Elvis Presley in Loving You, the fledgling musician's career path was set. With influences that ranged from Freddie King to Duane Eddy; The Everly Brothers to James Brown, Al took his talent and ambition with him when he relocated to Southern California to live with an aunt after his mother took ill.

Continuing to polish his guitar chops, Al landed his first professional gig at the tender age of eighteen, not long after his high school graduation. Al has recorded and toured with such artists as the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, Charles Wright and The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, Sammy Davis Jr., Andy Williams, Pearl Bailey, The Sylvers and Isaac Hayes.

In 1973, Al was approached by a freshly minted band out of Chicago with a whole new music approach, who called themselves Earth, Wind & Fire. The rest, as they say, is history. From 1973, when he first joined the group, up until 1981, Al was responsible not only for a lion's share of the group's instantly recognizable sound, but was also writer and co-writer on some of their most enduring hits such as “September,” “Singasong” and co-wrote The Emotion’s smash hit “The Best Of My Love.”

Today, as the front man for what has become variously known as The Al McKay Allstars, he fashions a large and revolving cast of supporting players to fully explore new musical territory, as they help to celebrate Al's incredible history with performance highlights from his years with Earth, Wind & Fire. The Al McKay Allstars are a major concert attraction throughout the world. Al released his first solo project “Al Dente” in 2001 and in 2006, released his “Live In Europe” 2-CD set and DVD.