KC Porter

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KC Porter is a multi-grammy winning producer, famous for crossing over many artists, especially Ricky Martin.

1 Early life
2 Recent Career
3 Other Interests
4 References
5 See Also

[edit] Early life

The path to his current success began at an early age for Porter, who was born in Southern California and resides there now. He first experienced a passion for Latin music and polyrhythms when his family moved from Woodland Hills, CA to Guatemala when he was just seven years old. In the decade that he came of age there, Porter learned Spanish, arranging and piano, became well-versed in both traditional and popular Latin music as well as hits from the States, and developed a creative and multi-cultural sensibility that would change the course of his life. Porter returned to California to study music in college, and quickly landed a gig as staff arranger at Hollywood’s esteemed A&M Records. While there, he had the opportunity to record artists including Lani Hall, Luis Angel and Maria Conchita Alonso. Porter started to produce as well, and soon demonstrated a unique style and uncanny ability to transform Latin pop music into an accessible sound that American audiences embraced wholeheartedly, a skill that helped break Luis Miguel, Emmanuel, Ana Gabriel and Barrio Boyzz on three continents.

[edit] Recent Career

Porter began working with Puerto-Rican pop artist Ricky Martin in what would become a long and fruitful association. They first collaborated on Martin’s third album, A Medio Vivir, the artist’s first major commercial triumph. Subsequently, he produced the groundbreaking follow-up, Vuelve, which topped the Latin charts, sold eight million copies, and garnered the 1998 Grammy for Best Latin Pop Album. Martin’s spectacularly successful eponymous English-language debut on Columbia Records – which has sold upwards of twenty million copies worldwide and is more than seven times platinum in the U.S. alone—features the Porter-produced and co-written hit “Maria,” and on Martin’s latest album, Sound Loaded, Porter produced the track “Cambia La Piel.” In late 2001, Sony Discos released La Historia, a 17-song collection celebrating the best of Martin’s first six albums—with well over half the tracks produced by Porter.

[edit] Other Interests

Porter, a member of the Bahá'í faith, is also the Creative Director for Oneness, the non-profit organization he co-founded in 1999 with a mission of eliminating racism and promoting racial unity through the healing power of music and the arts. Since its launch, Carlos Santana, BB King, Macy Gray, Sarah McLachlan, Luther Vandross, Brian McKnight, Angelique Kidjo, Quincy Jones, Ricky Martin and Jimmy Jam are among the many who have already contributed their time and talents.

Oneness holds annual Power of Oneness awards, recognizing individuals who have fostered meaningful change in the area of race relations. 2002 winners included Edward James Olmos, Nancy Miller, Nile Rodgers, Jonathan Butler, Leila Steinberg, and Joy Enriquez.^[1] In 2003 winners included Michael Jackson, Ed Begley Jr., The Jim Henson Company, Dr. Joy DeGruy-Leary and Brad Gluckstein for their contributions to Racial Harmony.^[2] The annual Songwriters' Summit for Oneness features the teaming of over 50 producer/songwriters at a one day event to create songs of social justice, racial unity and change.^[3]