Eric McKain is not just a musician; he is a capricious instrumentalist who transfigures noise into ear candy. When he is positioned behind his vast percussion family of mixed drum sets, strangely concocted musical devices, oddly assorted bells and chimes, and a multifarious collection of sashaying sound makers, he mutates into a mesmerizing wizard of sound! Just ask anyone who witnessed the mythical Lion King production live on stage. McKain traveled with the tour for twelve years and was front stage in the orchestra as one of the show’s most prominent percussionists. Audiences witnessed him transport the storyline across exotic landscapes with his hypnotic rhythm making abilities.
McKain is a musical technician who has traveled the globe, performing, and recording with some of the music industry’s most iconic entertainers including Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Barry White and the legendary Pointer Sisters. Mastering genres that range from classical jazz to rock to R&B and hip hop, McKain is a devoted connoisseur of the percussion arts. His musical contributions have underscored commercials for decades, including ads for Coca Cola, Pepsi Cola, Nissan and Toyota and TV classics like the Tonight Show, The Arsenio Hall Show, St. Elsewhere, Fame, and Miss America Pageant.
McKain invokes whimsical spirits with his ability to conjure up entrancing tempos, captivating cadences, and enchanting beats. Amongst his bag of musical toys, he commands instruments that conjure a vast myriad of exotic sounds. His own personal entourage includes not only the ever-present Conga drums, but also the Brazilian Brimbau, the African talking drums and the jun jun, the Djembe, the Shakeree, a New Orleans wash board, a cabasa from Cuba, timbales, spring drums, the caxixi, a taiko drum, coconuts and even goat hooves!
McKain’s love for sound started in Los Angeles’ South Central community in the sixth grade at Miramonte Elementary School Los Angeles. He later joined the marching band at Edison Junior High School Los Angeles and then at John C. Fremont High School where he was introduced to jazz under the supervision of Reggie Andrews. He performed as a marching percussionist in the Florence Youth Marching Band, the LAPD marching band, the Velvet Night Drum and Bugle Corp and the Santa Ana California Band.
As a mentor, Reggie Andrews played an instrumental role in McKain attending the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, CA as a full percussion major under direction of John Bergamo. His eclectic performance resume dates to his early twenties, when he was a young theater musician at Caesars Palace for The Pointer Sisters in Las Vegas for 14 years, back when Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. were regulars.
As a songwriter and producer, McKain’s credits include the Lion King Christmas album; country western artist Jarod Saltes; blues artist Bird, the bailiff from Judge Judy; and hip hop artist Roxie Jade.
With an extensive background as a music professional, Eric plans to continue to share his educational wealth with the launch of his new podcast, “Back Beat with Eric McKain” an extension of his former broadcast, “Eric McKain Live at LA Live Podcast Studio.” The podcasts feature a diverse range of guests and will inform audiences about the behind the scenes of the music and entertainment industry. “Back Beat with Eric McKain” is housed on the Pantheon Podcast platform and available wherever podcasts are broadcast including Spotify . Catch the beat that Eric McKain is playing at and listen in!
Describe how you hear sound.
As a percussionist, I hear sound as vibrant colors! When I’m brought in on a project, my job is to augment and enhance the track of the recording or live music session without stepping in the way or competing with other musicians, such as the drums or the bass. I’m there to add to the blend. It’s like seasoning on food, I add the spice.
What makes music?
Organizing and developing sounds that invoke emotion, memories, personal gratitude, success, achievements, happiness, and unfortunately sometimes sadness and failures.
How was life with the orchestra?
Playing in the orchestra is very precise. I love playing with an orchestra as all the sounds are so rich and pure. Watching the conductor do their magic, no adlibbing, everything (the music) is right there on the paper! Also it’s very prestigious, yet demanding, but also fun.
What vision do you have for the future of your artistic endeavors?
You know that’s the hardest question you could ask anyone in the entertainment field. No one could really answer that. It starts with being certain about exactly what you want to do and where you want to go. My goal is exactly what I’m doing now. Producing new artists, doing my own personal recordings, writing songs, publishing, hosting my own podcast “The Backbeat with Eric McKain”, and thinking outside the box creating new ideas, sometimes outside the music business. But I always maintain my loyalty to the music world, which is the atmosphere of my dreams. I find that I have my hands in everything that involves the entertainment world.
Tell us about your most memorable encounters with stars and luminaries?
My most memorable moment was something that legendary Mr. Barry White once told me during a sound check. It was at the historic Shrine Auditorium and I was asking him about what I should do with my music. At the time, I felt that it wasn’t good enough and that everyone was doing it. He said “do you” and that there’s room for everybody in this business. I kept that in mind and today that’s exactly what I do. I do me I do music that I like. I have found that other people will follow as well, so you should never doubt yourself.
What lessons have you learned throughout your career?
Oh, the lessons! Patience is a big one! Keep your mouth shut is another. Make sure that you’re prepared. Never take a job that you cannot handle. All money is not good money so make sure you’re prepared. Always be very aware of your surroundings in your business ventures and work environment. And about your so-called friends, there’s a lot of haters out there!
What separates someone just starting out from a master such as yourself?
Well, first of all I don’t like that word, master, because music is an art, something that is a continuing learning process. So saying I’m a master, I’m nowhere close in my opinion. There is no such word as master when you’re constantly creating and developing yourself. I’m constantly trying to improve myself.
But I can give advice and that is you must believe in yourself – that’s very important. If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will. Learn your instrument. Learn who you are and be the best you possibly can. Keep the faith keep your mouth shut, lol!!
Tell us about some of your early experiences that inspired you.
Jazz – that music fulfilled me once I was in high school and I met my high school music supervisor, Mr. Reggie Andrews. Not only was he a teacher but also a professional musician. He took me under his wing and introduced me to the many facets of the music business.
I would help him on the weekends as his personal roadie! I would say the day he took me to the Lighthouse, a very famous jazz club on Pierre Avenue in Hermosa Beach was monumental. It was 1975 I think. There was an early sound check and of course I was too young to be out late – lol! Having that experience, I was stoked! I knew it then – I wanted to become a professional musician!
Is there any single guiding light in your music that you turn to time and time again?
Not really but let me rephrase that question. Inspiration for creating, I guess I could say that would come from my showers! When I’m showering, that’s when I’m most creative. People say I stay in the shower too long, lol, but my mind is going and going and I’m creating – coming up with ideas, hearing rhythms and melodies. Everything is done in the shower as far as my creativity – obviously I wash Up – lol!
What is one lesson you wish you could have taught yourself when you were younger?
Procrastination! I hate when I do that. A lot of time has been wasted by procrastinating. It brings to mind the old cliché, ‘I wish I knew what I knew now when I was 20.’ However we know that’s impossible. I believe I would have gone a lot further had I not procrastinated so much. Who knows maybe I would be a master now – lol!
Eric, how is a day in your life?
Very busy as of now. I have so many things on my plate. It almost seems like it’s not enough time in the day. Things I want to do, things that I’m obligated to, family and kids responsibilities, there’s no time for practice anymore! When an idea comes around, I write it down, however, with my personal career and the family business and publishing, they keep me very busy running all day.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
I like to play golf. I’m not good at it though, but it’s relaxing. I love reading books and going to museums. I also really enjoy being alone. I try to make time for that, but it seems impossible. I love old movies. I am an aficionado of an old films, like Alfred Hitchcock and TV shows such as the “Twilight Zone,” and “Perry Mason.”
Choose your favorite quote.
Get in where you fit in and every rabbit to its habit!
If you had the power to change just one thing in the world, what would it be?
I would love to change healthcare in this country. As a survivor of prostate cancer, I was very fortunate to have medical insurance. I thank the universe for that and I do appreciate that because so many of my male friends have passed on because of prostate cancer.
Everyone should keep a close eye on and monitor their health. Most importantly, men, especially men of color, should be checked for prostate cancer early. For men of color, what’s recommended is not necessarily true for all men. The recommendation is that men should be checked in their 40’s and 50’s. New research has proven that men of color should be checked in their 30’s, sometimes earlier. Either way, get it checked!
Anything else you’d like to add?
Just that I’d like to thank you for the interview. It gave me an opportunity for some deep reflection! Oh and of course, to your readers, tune in to my podcast on the Patheon Podcast platform, “The Backbeat with Eric McKain,” on all streaming platforms, including Spotify. I have some great conversations with some great people on the show.
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