Music always been an essential component of Kerry “K-Nyse” Gilliard’s existence. Hailing from Baltimore, Maryland with Trinidadian roots, his father was a member of the world-famous Desperadoes Steel Pan Orchestra; his mother owned an extensive music collection (now his); he began playing saxophone at age 12, composed his first piece for band at age 14, began formal piano lessons at age 15, won third place for piano composition in the ACT-SO talent showcase during his senior year, arranged and taught music to his school marching band during his high school years and began DJing during his senior year of high school.
Entering Bowie State University in the early 90’s and majoring in Music Education, he supplemented his income by DJing parties at college and around Baltimore City. For a short time, he was also an on-air personality at BSU’s then-very small AM station, WBSU. He and his DJing partner, DJ Lamontée (Lamontée Briggs) formed Nubian II Productions and were set to jump into the then-young market of Baltimore Club and House Music production until Lamontée’s untimely death in 1993. K-Nyse continued DJing throughout the remainder of the 90’s, taking a short break from college and eventually returning to finish his degree in 2001.
In 2007, K-Nyse returned to DJing, eventually becoming the house DJ for Fourth Friday Fundamentals (under the name DJ G.R.A.C.E. Preecha) from 2008-2012. During this time, he began working on production, creating a few hip-hop tracks. 2013 saw another break: this time to complete two masters’ degrees (M.A. in Teaching, 2013 and M.M. Conducting, 2019). During this time, Kerry J. Gilliard published multiple compositions for band and orchestra.
2020 saw the next return of DJ K-Nyse including the production of both House and Baltimore Club Music. With a formal music background, K-Nyse approaches the art of production with both a composers’ ear and a DJ’s methodology.
“Making good art is an expression of the Image of God in mankind. God creates; therefore humans create. I make music to continue contributing to that expression.”