VANCOUVER, BC, Canada — Pro audio industry veteran Steve McKay, who worked with Radial Engineering for 20 years, passed away on January 21, 2024. He was 71.
Born in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1952, McKay grew up in Canada, attended Nickel District Secondary School in Sudbury, Ontario and had an interest in music and electronics at an early age, followed by music studies at Ontario’s Cambrian College from 1972-1973. He later moved to the Vancouver area, attending Canada’s prestigious Simon Fraser University.
With his knowledge of music (particularly guitar), recording, live sound and more, McKay was ideally suited for a career in the business side of pro audio and M.I. His first industry job was as a warehouse manager for Vancouver-based musical instrument wholesaler Great West Imports, but he quickly moved up the ranks to Western territory sales rep and purchasing specialist.
Word soon got around about McKay’s friendly nature and expertise in all aspects in M.I distribution/sales and he joined the Roland Canada team in 1982 as a sales and marketing manager. This occurred at a key juncture in the industry — just before Roland’s key role in the launch of the MIDI standard a year later — and McKay held this position for six years, followed by four years as sales manager for Korg Canada. His next appointment (another six-year stint) was as the executive VP of Creamware USA, the domestic arm of the German-based DSP sound card and synthesizer manufacturer.
Eventually, McKay took a sales manager position at Radial Engineering, a leading manufacturer of guitar processing and audio interfacing products, particularly known for its industry-standard direct boxes. McKay’s understanding of different markets and how they operate from a changing world view led him to his role as international sales manager and he was extremely successful in his two-decade career with Radial Engineering. In his role as in that position, McKay was pivotal in developing Radial’s distribution network, as he helped establish the company as a major global brand.
McKay was very popular, with many friends and colleagues throughout the pro audio and M.I. worlds. Regarding his passing, “the outpouring of condolences from our distributors around the world is testament to how Steve always put relationships and integrity first,” said McKay’s friend and co-worker Roc Bubel, director of sales and marketing at Radial Engineering. “Steve will be dearly missed, but never forgotten.” Truer words were never spoken.
