Kyle Allen McCarty (born March 5, 1992), known professionally as Kyle Maack, is an American R&B and
soul
In many religious and philosophical traditions, there is a belief that a soul is "the immaterial aspect or essence of a human being".
Etymology
The Modern English noun ''soul'' is derived from Old English ''sāwol, sāwel''. The earliest attes ...
singer and podcaster most known for being the first artist signed to
Otis Williams
Otis Williams (born Otis Miles Jr.; October 30, 1941) is an American baritone singer.Ribowsky, Mark (2010). ''Ain't Too Proud to Beg: The Troubled Lives and Endearing Soul of the Temptations''. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. pp. 7–9 He is o ...
of the legendary
Motown
Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of ''moto ...
quintet
The Temptations
The Temptations are an American vocal group from Detroit, Michigan, who released a series of successful singles and albums with Motown Records during the 1960s and 1970s. The group's work with producer Norman Whitfield, beginning with the Top ...
. Maack's debut release, ''Shakey Ground'', was noted for his cover of The Temptations' 1984 single "Treat Her Like a Lady" which featured the 2017 version of the group singing background vocals.
Military and music career
Maack grew up
Berlin, New Jersey
Berlin is a borough in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States census, the borough's population was 7,588, and sang in different groups and bands throughout elementary and high school. At age 19, he enlisted in the
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal ...
where he auditioned for and joined the branch's elite entertainment unit,
Tops in Blue
Tops in Blue was a touring performance ensemble made up of active duty members of the United States Air Force formed in 1953. For 63 years, Tops in Blue traveled to more than 20 countries to perform more than 120 times each year for airmen and fam ...
, in 2014. After an impromptu audition for Otis Williams in October 2016, Maack signed a recording contract with Williams' label, ''10/30 International.'' Maack's sole release on the label was an EP featuring covers of Temptations songs including the title track "
Shakey Ground
"Shakey Ground" is a 1975 R&B single by The Temptations. It was co-written by Funkadelic guitarist Eddie Hazel, who plays lead guitar on the song.
Background
Original Funkadelic bassist Billy "Bass" Nelson also plays on the song.
Personnel
* ...
", "Treat Her Like a Lady" featuring the Temptations, and "All I Need" featuring Otis Williams and fellow Air Force vet, Tops In Blue alum, and current Temptations member
Terry Weeks
Terry Wayne Weeks (born December 23, 1963) is an American R&B and soul singer who is currently one of the lead singers of the legendary Motown quintet The Temptations.http://www.thetemptations.com/ Temptations Official Website
Early life
Weeks ...
. ''Shakey Ground'''s last track, "Here I Am", is the only original song on the project and was co-written by Maack and Williams. The project was produced by
Dave Darling
Dave Darling, (born in 1958 in San Francisco CA), is an American record producer, songwriter, mixer, and multi-instrumentalist. He relocated to Los Angeles, California in 1980 while recording an album project and decided to stay in Los Angeles t ...
who would later go on to produce The Temptations' 2018 album, ''All the Time''.
Radio and podcast
Maack gained further recognition as an intern on The Preston & Steve Show, which broadcasts weekday mornings on
WMMR
WMMR (93.3 FM, "93-3 WMMR") is a commercial radio station licensed to serve Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The station is owned by the Beasley Broadcast Group, through licensee Beasley Media Group, LLC, and broadcasts an active rock radio format. ...
in
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...
; singing and producing musical comedy bits and jingles for various segments. He created the ''TriJam Podcast'' in 2018 and currently hosts with fellow Philadelphia artists Shae Davis, Jo Rivers and standup comedian, Will Wright. ''TriJam'' is released weekly and live streams on Tuesday nights.