After studying music at the University of N.C. School of the Arts, McKay’s music career has spanned decades of performing in front of countless audiences, recording in studios, and creating music in homes, hotel rooms, clubs, and beyond. His deep love for songwriting and recorded sound led him to the world of record production. In 1994, after submitting several song demos from N.C., he was signed to a label in California as a singer/songwriter and was promptly relocated to Los Angeles, where he worked for 15 years. There, he was given the opportunity to work in some of the best studios in the world as an artist or producer for other talented music makers.

As a producer, engineer, mixer, multi-instrumentalist, or composer, he has worked on records for other artists and producers such as J Dilla, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mike Shinoda (Linkin Park), Michael Bublé, Dead & Co., Rick Rubin, and Ariel Rechtshaid. His music and collaborations have been purchased and streamed worldwide. His work has also been licensed in films such as the Transformers movie and Playstation video games, and scores of television shows such as America’s Next Top Model, Grey’s Anatomy, and many more.

After running two recording studios in LA for many years producing and mixing records, McKay moved to the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area where he continues making records in stereo and, the new exploding music format, Dolby Atmos. He is a dedicated member of the music community and a participant in many mentor programs. As an elected volunteer leader, he served two terms as co-chair of the (Grammys) Recording Academy SF Chapter Producers and Engineers Wing, and as a Governor on the Recording Academy board.

McKay strives to bring attention to experimental, innovative, as well as traditional music voices within the industry. He is an active champion for diversity and the celebration of our differences as an asset to music and humanity.