The HistoryMakers

Music producer and executive Steve McKeever was born in Chicago, Illinois. After graduating from St. Ignatius High School, McKeever attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he graduated in 1982. From there, he attended Harvard Law School and earned his J.D degree in 1985.

After graduating from Harvard Law School, McKeever was hired by the law firm of Irell & Manella LLP in Los Angeles as an entertainment lawyer. While there, he discovered comedian Robin Harris, and helped him land a role in Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing. In 1991, McKeever joined Motown Records as senior vice president of artists and repertoire, where he expanded the label's line-up with people like Queen Latifah, while at the same time managing blockbuster acts like Boyz II Men and Stevie Wonder. The following year, he launched MoJAZZ Records, a subsidiary of Motown, where he launched a number of new artists. In 1993, McKeever played an instrumental role in the sale of Motown to PolyGram Records. McKeever left Motown in 1995 to work on his own projects, and in 1998, he founded Hidden Beach Recordings (HBR).

Today, Hidden Beach Recordings is a leader in the music industry, with acts such as R&B; performer Jill Scott, saxophonist Mike Phillips, singer Darius Rucker and others. McKeever has also introduced a variety of groundbreaking initiatives under the Hidden Beach banner. In particular, he began the College Internship Program, an international effort that provides college students with hands-on music business experience. This program boasts nearly 400 members and has become a model for the entertainment industry.

He serves on the boards of directors of several organizations, including the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences, the Northern Trust DreamMakers Forum and City of Hope, a Los Angeles-based cancer research foundation.

McKeever was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on November 17, 2004.

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