ArtistInfo

Wil Key
Globetrotter: Side A

Album 2018 on Larimar Records label
R&B/Soul (Contemporary R&B)

Soul singer and multi-instrumentalist, Wil Key, has traveled the world to write and record his latest release which is aptly entitled “Globetrotter (Side A).” The album, which includes 11 new original songs, is the fourth studio release for the artist who has worked with a wide variety of international talent for the project. Each song on the new CD was either written, recorded (or both) in a different country of the globe. The project has been in the works for over 4 years and has taken the artist to over 11 different countries including Norway and Ireland, where Key wrote and recorded in the British Isles. He also traveled to several parts of Australia and to places as remote as Vanuatu and Fiji which are known for their lush green landscape and underwater treasures. Key says that the title of the project, “Globetrotter” is actually two-fold in that it refers not only to the different places it was written and recorded, but also to the sonic footprint of the songs themselves which, like the famed Harlem basketball stars, reach back to the sounds and writing styles of the late 70s and 80s when artists like Stevie Wonder & Prince were at their peak. In fact, the closing song on the CD, “D.O.V.E.S” is actually a tribute to the music of the late Prince and features several musicians and singers who have worked directly with that artist himself including bassist Raymond McKinley (Sheila E.) and guitarist Jairus Mozee (BJ the Chicago Kid). For the album, Key has enlisted a large and diverse ensemble of talent from several different countries and musical backgrounds. For “Red Light,” an upbeat, funk song about an Italian dancer working in Europe, Wil tapped African-born singer Keeniatta “Empress K” Baird (Italian Idol) to play the title role. The song was partially recorded on the tiny island of Ischia, Italy, off the coast of Naples, earlier this year. On another song, “Marena,” Spanish jazz singer and voice-over actor, CeCe K., is featured. Vocalist Ramona Dunlap (Pieces of a Dream), premier Italian bassist Mario Guarini (Vinnie Caliutta) as well as the engineering talents Grammy-winner Joel Numa (Christina Aguilera, Pharrell, Madonna) are also heard on the project. The project is part of a larger collection of songs that will continue with a second CD release entitled “Globetrotter (Side B),” due out in late 2019. Wil performed a short set of the new material, Thursday, June 7 at the Gibson Theater in Beverly Hills. For the full line up of musical talent featured on the CD and to hear more about the project, head over to www.wil-key.com

Musicians

	Wil Key , lead vocals, bass guitar, acoustic guitar, drums, synthesizer, electric guitar, engineer, composed by, album by
	Cecil Thomas, Jr bass guitar
	Mario Guarini b, eb, bass guitar
	Maurice Ellis dr, perc, bass guitar
	Raymond McKinley b, US bass guitar
	Edoardo Tancredi dr, drums
	Gordon Campbell dr, US drums
	Isaih Williams-Dismuke drums
	Reggie Johnson b, *1940 US drums
	Tony Austin dr, drums
	Vincent Fossett Jr. drums
	Jairus Mozee g, US electric guitar
	Kendall Gilder electric guitar
	Yohei Nakamura eg, acg, electric guitar
	Darrell Crooks g, guitar
	Andrae Alexander keyboards
	Andre Washington ts, lead vocals
	Candace Coles lead vocals
	Maritri Garrett voc, bvoc, lead vocals
	Ramona Dunlap lead vocals
	Angela Coleman lead vocals, backing vocals
	Benjamin Bush , lead vocals, backing vocals
	L. Young voc, US lead vocals, backing vocals
	Laura Key bvoc, voc, lead vocals, backing vocals
	Skyler Jordan lead vocals, backing vocals
	Vince Durrell lead vocals, backing vocals
	Juice E.T. Hugo rap
	Jeff Clayton as, fl, *1954 US saxophone
	Rastine Calhoun key, US soprano saxophone
	Sebastian Gosnell translated by
	William Artope Jr. tr, US trumpet
	Cece K. voice actor
	Keeniatta Baird voice actor
	Nadia Turner voc, *1977 US voice actor
	Warren Killebrew voice actor

Producers

Composers

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