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Casey, Harry Wayne (31st January 1951-Present)

He is a singer-songwriter, keyboard player and producer born in Hialeah, Florida, who began by learning the piano as a child and performing at his church and then appearing with local bands where he would sing too.  He attended the Miami-Dade Community College to study music and during his part-time work at a record store during those years he would deliver to TK Records, which would eventually be where he would end up working.

When he did join that company he teamed up with Richard Finch to write songs and also with him and several others to form KC & The Sunshine Band in 1974.  With them he saw major chart success on both sides of the Atlantic from 1975 throughout the rest of the decade and into the beginning of the 1980s with hits that include “Get Down Tonight”, “That’s The Way (I Like It)”, “Boogie Shoes” and “Keep It Comin’ Love”.

His first No. 1 however, was “Rock Your Baby” which although initially co-written by him and Richard Finch for him and the Sunshine Band to perform, was taken to the top of the charts in 82 countries by George McCrae.  This songwriting collaboration was also sought after by many other artists such as Jimmy “Bo” Horne and Betty Wright, who he would also produce.

He disbanded KC & The Sunshine Band in the first year or two of the 1980s and then in 1982 he had a horrific car accident that left him suffering from partial paralysis and in a wheelchair.  After a long convalescence he was back playing the piano and singing again and his solo release “Give It Up” topped the charts in the UK.

His career has seen him appearing on many albums which include Rock Your Baby and We Did It by George McCrae, Hard to Stop by Betty Wright, So There by Five o’Clock Shadow, Rockin’ Chair by Gwen McCrae, Gimme Some!: The Best of the TK Years by Jimmy Bo Horne and The Sound of Sunshine, Oh Yeah!,  Part 3 and All In a Night’s Work with the Sunshine Band.

He retired for a while in 1985 but during the ’90s he reformed The Sunshine Band and now internationally tours with them playing many dates each year.

Often heard on the screen, his work can be heard on television and in over 49 films such as Saturday Night Fever, Eyes of Laura Mars, Carlito’s Way, Forrest Gump, Space Jam, Any Given Sunday and Doctor Dolittle.

George McCrae recordings
It’s Been So Long (Harry Wayne Casey/Richard Finch)
You Got To Know (Harry Wayne Casey/Richard Finsh)

Sources:

  1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Wayne_Casey
  2. http://www.classicbands.com/HarryCaseyInterview.html
  3. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1241044/
  4. http://www.answers.com/topic/harry-wayne-casey?cat=technology
  5. http://www.who.com/who/magazine/article/0,19636,7401040802-672010,00.html
  6. https://www.discogs.com/artist/153243-Harry-Wayne-Casey?filter_anv=0&type=Credits
  7. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/harry-wayne-kc-casey-mn0000668469