Doc McKinney

Last updated
Doc McKinney
Birth nameMartin McKinney
Born (1971-08-27) August 27, 1971 (age 53)
Canada
Origin Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Occupations
  • Record producer
  • songwriter
Formerly of

Martin "Doc" McKinney (born August 27, 1971) is a Canadian-American record producer and songwriter. [1] He was formerly one half of the duo (now solo act) Esthero. McKinney is widely credited with developing The Weeknd's sound as well as producing his mixtapes House of Balloons and Thursday ; [2] and executive producing and producing the majority of his third album Starboy (2016), which earned McKinney the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album. [3] [4]

Contents

Life and career

Born in Canada and raised in Minneapolis, McKinney was exposed to the Twin Cities indie scene. [5] During his adolescent years, McKinney played in various punk rock and hip hop based groups. While the cities' most influential contributions came out of the 1980s, McKinney was immersed in the music scene of that decade. [5]

McKinney settled in Toronto in 1994, as an aspiring producer. McKinney was introduced to Jenny Bea Englishman – now known as "Esthero" [6] – which led him to becoming one half of the then duo. [7] The introduction was headed up by then EMI Publishing President, Michael McCarty. After producing and writing all the music to their entire breakthrough album Breath From Another, [8] McKinney left the group and Esthero kept the groups name and became a solo act. She remained with Sony until 2000 when she was released from contract and went on to sign with Warner/Reprise where she was ultimately released again from the contract. [7] McKinney went on to produce Res – and co writing her critically acclaimed album, How I Do , alongside Santi White (Santigold). [9] McKinney has since worked with Santi White (Santigold) on various projects, including her 2008 release of her Solid Gold Mixtape. [10]

Since then, McKinney has had the opportunity to work with Sting, Drake, Kelis, Dr. Dre, G-Love, Raphael Saadiq, Mary J. Blige, [11] Sinéad O'Connor, [11] [12] Alice Smith, Amanda Blank, Trouble Andrew, Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest), [13] Hawksley Workman [14] as well as Latin artists Belinda, RBD and Debi Nova.

Personal life

McKinney is a supporter of War Child (charity), GEM's – Girls Educational and Mentoring Services, and Red Hot Organization (AIDS Awareness). [15] As an appreciation of his support, he donates his work as a producer/songwriter/engineer.

Selected production discography

Release DateAlbum TitleArtistSong TitlesLabel
1995Single k-os Rise Like The SunIndependent
1998 Breath from Another Esthero All SongsWork/Sony Music
2001 How I Do RES All SongsMCA/Universal
2002Red Hot and Riot Kelis So Be It
Red Hot
MCA
2002Instant Vintage Raphael Saadiq Tek 2
Pookie
Universal Music
2002Sex Sells Stiffed Wathca Gonna Go
Nighttime Lovin
Coolhunter/Ryko
2003Lover, Fighter Hawksley Workman Smoke BabyIsadora Records/Universal Records
2003Peace Songs k-os Livin In A World CorruptIsadora Records/Universal Music
2004Sacred Love Sting (musician)
feat. will.i.am
Stolen Car (Remix)Interscope Records/Universal Music
2005 Wikked Lil' Grrrls Esthero Wikked Lil Grrrls
If Tha Mood
Fastlane
Bad Boy Clyde
Reprise/Wea
2005Burned Again Stiffed (band) RunOutlook
2006Utopia Belinda (entertainer) Contigo O Sin TiEMI/Televisa
2007Buck The WorldYoung Buck
feat. Chester Bennington (Linkin Park)
Slow Ya RollG-Unit/Interscope Records/Universal Records
2008Solid Gold Mixtape Santigold Guns of BrooklynDowntown Records/Universal Records
2008Between The Beautifuls Hawksley Workman Prettier Face
Piano Blink
Isadora Records/Universal Records
2008Los Manlicious Hawksley Workman Pretty Girls
Lonely People
In My Blood
Fatty Wants to Dance
Prettier Face
Piano Blink
Isadora Records/Universal Records
2009Call and Response Maroon 5 Best That We Break (Remix)Interscope Records/Universal Records
2009Shame On Me Amanda Blank I Love YouDowntown Records/Universal Records
2009Para Olvdarte De Mi RBD Camino Al SolEMI/Telivisa
2009Girls Educational and Mentoring Services Mary J. Blige and Sinéad O'Connor This Is To Mother YouIndependent
2010Luna Nueva Debi Nova We Were Young
Don't Wanna Forget
Decca Records/Universal Records
2010Dreams of a Troubled ManTrouble AndrewStop Me
Condition
Wasted
Cadillac
Flaunts It
Oh No
Virgin Records
2010Stray Bullets Cee Lo Green "Champain"Mixtape
2011House of Balloons The Weeknd ProducerIndependent
2011Thursday The Weeknd ProducerIndependent
2011Take Care Drake "The Ride"Young Money, Cash Money, Universal Republic
2011Shake It Out Florence and The Machine "Shake it Out" The Weeknd RemixIsland Records
2011Free Download The Weeknd "Trust Issues" The Weeknd RemixIndependent [16]
2012TBDYadi" Guillotine Remix"Warner UK
2012Trilogy The Weeknd Producer/Executive ProducerXO,Universal Republic
2014Free Download Spooky Black "Reason"Independent
2016Starboy The Weeknd Executive ProducerXO, Universal Republic
2019Non-album track JoJo SabotageWarner Records, Clover Music
2020 Good to Know JoJo So Bad
Lonely Hearts
Warner Records, Clover Music

References

  1. "Doc McKinney". Grammy.com. 2020-05-19. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
  2. "The Weeknd ... House of Balloons". Silencenogood.net. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  3. Interview with Doc McKinney Paul Tingen. Retrieved on March 31, 2018
  4. "Award Winners Best Urban Contemporary Album". GRAMMY.com. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  5. 1 2 Gawle, Darren. "Mis-Quote Me and I'll Kill You! - Interview". Dropd.com. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  6. "Esthero". Freebase.com. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  7. 1 2 "Breath from Another: Esthero: Music". Amazon.com. 1998. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  8. "Esthero - Biography". AllMusic . Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  9. "Res - How I Do". Btmon.com. Retrieved 20 May 2006.
  10. "Martin McKinney". Discogs.com. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
  11. 1 2 "This is to Mother You | Girls Educational & Mentoring Service (GEMS)". Gems-girls.org. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  12. "Fashion By The Finest". Fashionbythefinest.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  13. "Q&A: Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Doc McKinney - Boards". 28 March 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-03-28. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  14. "Hawksley Workman: Information from". Answers.com. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  15. "Call + Response". 8 January 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-01-08. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  16. "Martin McKinney Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-08-10.