Keith Harris – A Prodigy Destined for Greatness

BY SYDNEE WALCOTT

His extraordinary musical talent shone brightly, setting him apart as a prodigy destined for greatness. With an innate ability to craft melodies that resonate deeply and a unique sound that captivates the soul, his work quickly caught the attention of industry superstars. Today, his genius is not only recognized but celebrated, as his compositions have been embraced by the very icons who define the music world.

With our Classic Man Keith Harris gearing up to release new music this fall, and preparing to tour with the Black-Eyed Peas, this edition we are going to look back at Harris’ journey within the music industry.

Growing up playing music within the church, along with seeing other musicians there, is what inspired Harris to want to pursue a career in the music industry. At the age of 10, Harris started playing the drums and keyboards. From there, he attended Curie High School of The Performing Arts in Chicago.

“I really want to do this full-time,” said Harris.

His experience at a performing arts high school pushed Harris to pursue a music career. During high school, Harris picked up important tools of the trade, building his sight-reading chops, honing the keyboard and bass skills he had picked up in church, mastering concert percussion, and performing blazing drum solos with the advanced jazz band and stage bands.

“My experiences are very expansive. I like to experiment with different genres — that’s what the Keith Harris Experience is all about.”

His flair for showmanship was evident, and was first witnessed when Harris played a solo at the end of his senior concert that included flipping his drumsticks into the audience in the middle of lightning-fast full-kit rolls, only to finish with a pair of sticks carefully hidden in the sleeves of his suit jacket. With this highlight reel in his back pocket,  he took the next step and attended the Berkley College of Music in Boston to be educated more about music and network with people, leading to him meeting the Black-Eyed Peas.

He graduated with a degree in production and engineering, and armed with his newly developed skills on both sides of the music-making process, he relocated to New York to work as an engineer for Bad Boy Records hit maker Richard “Younglord” Frierson. While in the Hit Man’s camp, Keith mastered the concept of crafting catchy tunes that can be appreciated by musicians and average listeners alike.

Since meeting the band 21 years ago, Harris accomplished his goal by seeing the world as an entertainer and watching his journey expand past what he wanted it to be. He also produced hit songs for them, such as “Imma Be,” and won Grammys for his work with other artists like: Mariah Carey, James Brown, Backstreet Boys, Meghan Trainor, Estelle, who is like a sister to him, Jully Black, who helped win his first Juno Award for Black’s 2007 album Revival, and Michael Jackson.

When working with the late Michael Jackson on his Thriller 25 album, Harris was over the moon excited at their first meeting. Growing up listening to his music, Harris noticed Jackson’s music had a percussive nature as someone who plays the percussion.

Although he did not get to work with Madonna in the studio, he was glad she chose the song “Gang Bang,” which he wrote for her for her 2012 album MDNA.

Working with these undoubtedly legendary iconic artists is the cherry on top of Harris’s career and allows him to say he’s done some amazing things and worked with people he looks up to.

Harris’s work led to him becoming a two-time Grammy Award winner and receiving countless other Grammy nominations, an OSCAR nomination, touring many countries globally, performing at world cups, Super Bowls and endless other events. Having written and produced for albums that have collectively sold more than 15 millions copies worldwide, this rising star has become an expert when it comes to talking about what sells records.

Along with touring with the Black-Eyed Peas, Harris will also be the opening act for them through his band, The Keith Harris Experience. For Harris, not only is it great for him to have the opportunity to work along with his good friends, but he’s also thankful to them for allowing him to share his platform on a bigger stage. He will be opening for the Black-Eyed Peas in early August on the eastside of America and Canada. He is looking forward to a great show and everyone having a great time. “I want people to vibe with the songwriting and music orchestrations.”

When talking about his upcoming project, Harris shared “I call my band the Keith Harris Experience because my experiences are very expansive. I like to experiment with different genres. My first project, ‘The Keith Harris Experience Vol 1,” gives an ode to where I grew up in the south side of Chicago. The dance-oriented project contains features from Jordan Sparks and Estelle.”

Through the Keith Harris Experience, Harris will release new music in the fall. The album will consist of pop-genre songs. Listeners can expect to hear mid-tempo, emotional and more rhythmic sounds along with some uptempo songs that will make them want to dance.