(March 14, 2023) - "I grew up listening to all of those songs," said keyboardist Myron McKinley about the cover songs like The Carpenters' "Close to You" and Nat King Cole's "Will You" that are on his debut solo album "Sound Alchemist."

The "Sound Alchemist" project features Verdine White (Earth, Wind and Fire) on bass; Grammy winning Gerald Albright on sax; Gary Bias on sax; Reggie Hamilton on bass; Munyungo Jackson on percussion; Morris O'Connor on guitar; Reggie Young on Trombone, and vocalists Danny McClain, Isabella Chiappini and Denaine Jones.

When I asked the veteran musician why debut with a solo album now after all these years, he laughed a little and said, "It takes a while anytime you're a perfectionist and work around perfectionists."

"I grew up with musicians pushing the boundaries...outside the box," he added about his style.

"It has different genres of music...styles of music. Different influences from different people," McKinley said about what the solo debut has to offer.

He launched the "Sound Alchemist" debut album at The Miracle Theater in Los Angeles with Earth, Wind & Fire's Verdine White on bass and Gary Bias on sax.

Trained in Classical and Jazz, Myron grew up influenced by the Hip-Hop culture. He can also play fluently R&B and Funk. McKinley said that the album offers the kind of music you want to listen to over and over again, "because you just like the song." www.MyronMcKinley.com