By Blamo Jaurey
Photo: Katty Rodroguez-Harrold
Commitment and a
passion for music is
required to play an
instrument. To be
a really successful
musician some would
say requires a gift from
God. Trumpeter and
Producer Keyon Harrold
has all that and more.
What is your earliest recollection of
your love of music?
I come from a musical family. I can
remember way back before I even started
playing an instrument, just watching Michael
Jackson performing on the Motown 25 special.
You know the one when he did the Moonwalk
for the first time. I can still remember that
and how exciting it was. That was one of the
things that made me want to do music and
perform.
How did you get into playing the
trumpet?
My grandfather was a police captain and
he started a Drum & Bugle core. He started
it in the 1970s as an outlet for youth. I would
see people play at parades and was always
waiting for my turn. I started in the marching
band when I was 6 years old
and played until I was17.
Producing music is the
perfect transition from
playing an instrument.
When did you get your
start?
My first professional gig
was working and touring
with Common. That changed
my whole outlook on music.
When I first moved from St. Louis to New
York I was such a Jazz head. But working with
Common opened my eyes to a worldwide view
of music. The vibe of being open to accepting
all kinds of music, blending different genres,
and trying different things. After that I started
producing.
You’ve worked with everyone from
Beyonce, to Maxwell, to Mobb Deep.
How do the collaborations happen?
I just end up in situations because I play,
and I arrange, and I produce. I’m just a
musical person. I couldn’t do anything else,
even if I never got paid for it (music) I would
do it. It’s just a part of me. It’s my nature. I
always end up meeting people. They talk,
we speak, and it just ends up happening. I’m
blessed in that way. As for Mobb Deep, I met
one of the A&Rs at the beginning of my career
as a producer. I submitted some music and
got my first major placement on a Mobb Deep
record. That was big for me. It was amazing
because Havoc is a producer, and one of my
heroes, and he selected my track.
What projects are you working on now?
I worked on the theme song for The Queen
Latifah Show. I’ve just come off the Michael
Jackson Immortal World Tour. I’m also
currently working on my album... I would
love to work with Sting, Drake, and Kendrick
Lamar.
Where has your music taken you that
you never would have imagined?
I always wanted to work with Michael
Jackson but unfortunately he passed away
before I was able to. The irony in that was
as soon as he passed, I got the call to work
on the Michael Jackson Immortal Tour with
Cirque du Soleil. It is the first production of its
kind and I was honored to be a part of it.
The last few years has like been a dream.
I’ve been all over the world, hundreds and
thousands of miles. To see how audiences
respond to the music and performances is a
dream. I feed off them and they feed off me.
Look out for Keyon’s upcoming
album and follow him on
Instagram @KeyonBeyond and
Twitter @KeyonHarrold