BIO

Kai Alexander is a Chicago‑based pianist, producer, composer, educator, piano technician, and talent booker whose career spans commercial music, live performance, education, and technical mastery. A graduate of Berklee College of Music with a BFA in Film Scoring, Kai has built a reputation for excellence, musical sensitivity, and integrity across every corner of his work.

Kai’s early career included extensive contributions to major national advertising campaigns. He played a significant production and songwriting role in the launch of McDonald’s iconic “I’m Lovin’ It” campaign, and created music for the McRib “It’s Back” commercials, BMW Power Rangers spots, and numerous remix and demo productions for artists including Beyoncé, R. Kelly, Jagged Edge, Alicia Keys, Avant, Michael Jackson, and many Chicago musicians whose final recordings were built on Kai’s demo work.

As a performer, Kai has collaborated with world‑class artists such as Amp Fiddler, Cindy Blackman, Ramsey Lewis, Patti LaBelle, Sheila E., John Blackwell, Terrence Howard, Jussie Smollett, Bilal, Chico DeBarge, Liv Warfield, and more. He also toured with Omar, the influential British singer and multi‑instrumentalist widely credited with helping launch the Neo‑Soul movement. A standout moment in Kai’s performance career was playing piano at the Lyric Opera House, backed by a full orchestra, supporting Terrence Howard and Jussie Smollett in a sold‑out performance of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come,” conducted by Rich Daniels of the Chicago City Lights Orchestra.

Kai appeared in all six seasons of Fox’s hit series Empire, serving as a musician, producer, mentor, and on‑camera specialist — supporting cast members and contributing to the show’s musical identity.

As a piano technician, Kai founded Kai Piano Tuning, where his finely trained ear and deep musical understanding have earned him clients such as Gregory Porter, Robert Glasper, Patti LaBelle, Broadway in Chicago, the Union League Club, the Archdiocese of Chicago, and hundreds of private clients. His work is known for stability, clarity, and a musical touch shaped by decades of performance and production experience.

In 2010, Kai launched the Kai Alexander School of Music, a piano curriculum originally developed at A.N. Pritzker Elementary School, helping students build confidence, discipline, and artistry through piano study and mindset training.

Today, Kai continues to shape Chicago’s creative landscape as the talent booker for Pitch & Pour Supper Club, a West Loop venue dedicated to high‑quality live music, community, and elevated dining experiences. He is also an investor in The Grand Ballroom Chicago, a historic event space known for weddings, steppers events, and cultural gatherings.

Across every chapter of his career, Kai remains committed to excellence, authenticity, and elevating every space he touches — whether through music, education, craftsmanship, or community‑driven business ventures.