THE DIGITAL REPOSITORY FOR THE BLACK EXPERIENCE
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, McKeever attended Harvard Law School where he earned his J.D degree in 1985.
After completing his studies, McKeever was hired by the law firm of Irell & Manella LLP in Los Angeles as an entertainment lawyer. While at Irell & Manella, McKeever helped launch the career of comedian Robin Harris by landing him a role in Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing. In 1991, McKeever became the senior vice president of artists and repertoire of Motown Records; while there he helped to expand the label's lineup and manage its already burgeoning list of stars. In 1992, McKeever created MoJAZZ Records, a subsidiary of Motown, where he continued to help launch the careers of rising stars. In 1993, McKeever was instrumental in the sale of Motown Records to PolyGram Records; he eventually left Motown to work on his own projects, and in 1998 founded Hidden Beach Recordings (HBR).
Hidden Beach Recordings went on to become a leader in the music industry, representing acts such as R&B performer Jill Scott, saxophonist Mike Phillips, singer Darius Rucker and others. McKeever also introduced a variety of progressive initiatives under the Hidden Beach name, including 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.
McKeever served 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.