Keith Harris is an American record producer, songwriter and musician. Grammy Award-winning record producer, songwriter, music director, touring drummer, multi-instrumentalist and music veteran Keith Harris is the DaVinci behind many of the top recording and live acts on the pop scene today. Producing or writing hits "Meet Me Halfway" and "Imma Be" by The Black Eyed Peas, "It's My Birthday" by Will.I.Am, "American Boy" by Estelle, "Feel Good" by Robin Thicke, "Can't Stop Won't Stop" by Usher, and "Gang Bang" by Madonna, "Be Okay" and "Let's Rock" by Chrisette Michele are just a few of the many songs that platinum selling artists entrusted to Keith for his composing and producing skills.
Early life
Harris was born and raised in Chicago's South Side. He began his music career playing with the city's New Friendship Baptist Church gospel choir. Recalling to Modern Drummer Magazine how he started: "Harris survived being thrown to the lions thanks in part to how he got his start behind the kit – playing drums in his church’s band. “I come from a Gospel background,” he explains. “Having to learn songs fast is part of the everyday life of a church musician doing Gospel music. A lot of times we would do concerts where there was no sheet music and we had thirteen songs in different styles. So just being able to absorb music quickly and keep it locked in is how I’ve learned to approach music.” "At Chicago’s Curie performing arts high school, Harris picked up more important tools of the trade, building his sight-reading chops, honing the keyboard and bass skills he’d picked up in church, mastering concert percussion, and performing blazing drum solos with the advanced jazz band and stage bands. After high school, Harris attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, graduating with a degree in production and engineering. Armed with the skills and know-how to succeed 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."
Career
"Producer, songwriter and musician Keith Harris is the driving force behind many top 10 singles and Grammy Award winning hits. "Meet Me Halfway" and "Imma Be" by The Black Eyed Peas and Grammy winners "American Boy" by Estelle and "Be Okay" by Chrisette Michele are just a few. A Chicago native, Harris is best known for his drumming chops that round out the sounds of multi-platinum selling recording artists The Black Eyed Peas and Fergie. In addition, Harris' album credits read like a who's who of the music industry including Michael Jackson, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Chris Brown, Pussycat Dolls, Earth Wind and Fire, John Legend and many more." DRUM! Magazine says of Harris: "the hottest drummer in hip-hop.. pocket provider." "Harris produced three tracks on the Peas' smash CD The E.N.D., including the Top Ten hit "Meet Me Halfway," which went Number One on the UK Singles Chart, and "Ring-A-Ling.""Imma Be" is the third single from the Peas record-breaking The E.N.D. to hit Number One. He worked on Fergie's 2006 solo smash The Dutchess. In 2007 Harris released the album entitled "The Band Behind The Front" with Bucky Jonson on the BBE label.
Filmography
; Be Cool Cast: Black Eyed Peas ; La La Land Cast: Cole
Discography
;Fergie – Double Dutchess
"Life Goes On"
;Nicki Minaj – The Pinkprint
"Grand Piano"
;will.i.am – It's My Birthday
"It's My Birthday"
; Goapele – Strong As Glass
"Strong As Glass", "Hey Boy", "My Love", "Powerful", "Truth Is"
; Leah McFall – Name of the album TBA
"Home"
;Robin Thicke – Blurred Lines
"Feel good"
;Britney Spears – Britney Jean
"Perfume"
;will.i.am – #Willpower
"Love Bullets"
;Usher – Looking 4 Myself
"Can't Stop Won't Stop"
;Madonna – MDNA
"Gang Bang"
; The Black Eyed Peas – The E.N.D. 2010 Grammy Winner for Best Pop Album
