Carlos McKinney

Carlos McKinney
Carlos McKinney
Birth name	Carlos McKinney
Also known as	Pryceless, Los da Mystro
Born	January 10, 1978 (age 46); Detroit, Michigan, United States
Genres	R&B, Pop, jazz
Occupation(s)	Producer, songwriter, musician
Instruments	Piano
Years active	1995–present
Associated acts	The-Dream, Beyonce, Kelly Rowland, Rihanna, Trey Songz, Usher, Babyface, Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men, J. Holiday, Lyric, Exit 21, Helly Luv

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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

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
Year	Single	US	US R&B	US Rap	US Pop	UK	CAN	NZ	Artist	Album
2002	"Relax Your Mind" (featuring Faith Evans)	—	52	—	—	—	—	—	Boyz II Men	Full Circle
2002	"Episode" (featuring Shells)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Lyric	Lyric
2003	"Hot & Tipsy"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Lyric	Lyric
2007	"Bed"	5	1	—	26	32	92	11	J. Holiday	Back of My Lac'
2007	"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
2008	"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