The Bio: Al "T" McLaran

It was 1977 when Al “T” McLaran took his first steps down the path of his musical journey. Two Brooklyn based DJ crews, Jam Brothers Incorporated and Cozmic Sounds had decided to join Forces. JBI consisted of David “Dr. Freeze” St. Louis and Al “T”, then known as “DJ T-Connection”. Ben “Cozmo D” Cenac and cousin Pierre “Quadro” Angevine, were the duo that made Cozmic Sounds. With three of Brooklyn’s hottest up and coming mobile DJ’s and McLaran moving from behind the turntables and stepping up to the mic as MC Harmoney, this merger of mobile majesty formed the now legendary, Jam On Productions.

In the years to come, Jam on Productions grew to be one of the largest DJ crews in Brooklyn. At its pinnacle, boasted a roster of 11 DJ’s and 22 MC’s, Jam On was definitely a force to be reckoned with. Jam On Productions was the first DJ crew to incorporate new electronic music technology into their DJ sets. Mixing records with live impromptu drum programming on a Dr. Rhythm drum machine. This became an immediate hit amongst the crowd and even rival DJ crews. It was also a major turning point in the crew’s history. In retrospect, it’s easy to see that this was the birth of Newcleus.

By 1982 the Newcleus effort, driven by Cozmo D, was in full gear. Al “T” was slated to be one of the lead MC’s in the group but was still serving out his tour in the U.S. Army. McLaran would rejoin with the group whenever possible during furloughs, to do studio work and occasionally tour as a “hype man”. It was during one of these furloughs that McLaran recorded a song written and produced by Cozmo D and Chilly B called “Drunk Driving”. It was essentially a Newcleus record with Al “T” performing the rap. Then, Newcleus manager, Joe Webb, worked a deal with MCA for the release of the track under his childhood nickname, “Tuga.” While still serving in the military, Al "T" signed with MCA Records and to Joe Webb's management company. Unaware of Webb's unscrupulous business practices, McLaran suffered numerous setbacks while trying to release his first solo effort. The single was eventually released but the album never came to pass. This would become McLaran’s first true initiation into the recording industry.

After cutting ties with the schiester, Joe Webb, Al “T” had moved onward and upward into the industry. From hosting the infamous Amateur Night Tuesdays at the legendary Latin Quarter night club with Jam On Productions and the Awesome Two, to the position where his work became most recognized, as the head of A&R and Dance Music Promotions at Warlock Records.

During his tenure at Warlock, Al “T” was responsible for such releases as the ultimate NY dance complition, "WarParty", featuring tracks from Louie Vega, Kenny Dope, Marley Marl and many more NYC DJ/Producers. Royal House, "Can U Party", The Jungle Brothers “Straight Out the Jungle", Tuff Crew’s “Danger Zone” and "Back To Wreck Shop”. He discovered platinum recording artists such as Prince B (PM Dawn) and jazz saxophonist Kim Waters. He was influential in the development of Blackwatch’s X-Clan, Isis (aka Lynn Que) and Unique and Dashan. He brought Troy Taylor and Charles Farrar together who then became the multi platinum production team “The Characters”. He was also behind the importing of A Guy Called Gerald’s “VooDoo Ray”, Longsy D’s “This is Ska", The Stereo MC’s, Ritchie Rich and GoldTop. Also under his charge at Warlock, probably the most influential artist in dance music during the late 80’s early 90’s, Grammy nominated remixer and producer Todd Terry.

After leaving Warlock, Al “T” dedicated his efforts to production and artist management. Along with Baltimore’s number 1 DJ, Frank Ski, he co-produced the 2 Hyped Brothers and A Dog LP, which featured the single “Doo Doo Brown.” The team also remixed Luther Cambell’s, “I Wanna Rock (Doo Doo Brown)” and “Breakdown”. Also during this period, Al “T” produced “Tony’s Bitch Track” and the underground club smash “There’s Some Whores In This House” which was featured on Frank Ski's Club Trax Vol. II. That infectious chant, was one of the rare times that Al “T" had featured his own voice on a track since his days as a Jam On MC.

In addition to production, McLaran was developing and nurturing many new artists at his Brooklyn recording studio, “HomeGrown Recording” aka “The Blue Room”. A few of the artists that passed through the portals of this grassroots house of funk were: Alien Nation, Memphis Bleek, King Just, freestyle specialist SuperNatural, Apathy, Naptron the Meta Preditor, Vinnea Mojeca and many more.

Al “T” has since moved from Brooklyn and currently resides in Florida, just north of Miami. He is still producing, managing and helping new artists realize their goals. Still collaborating with his childhood friend Cozmo D, Al “T” McLaran continues to represent the Jam On Productions Crew, touring with Newcleus and working toward building the next musical powerhouses, Who You Records and The McLaran Entertainment Group.