Kevin McKay

Kevin McKay is not your traditional harmonica player. He is well versed in Country, Blues. Rock, R&B, Southern rock, Inspirational and Jazz. What is his favorite style of music? He loves it all. Kevin is extremely versatile, which has enabled him to ply his trade with passion for over twenty years.

McKay delivers an edgy brand of harmonica. Amplified edge, yet clean licks. Long notes, precise bends. His style allows songs to breathe. He a very dynamic player. He blends chromatic and diatonic harmonicas into a style all his own.



Of French and Indian (Ojibwa) descent, Kevin was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1956. The third of seven children, born to parents of very limited means, Kevin learned early to make his own choices and earn his own way. His family moved back and forth between Michigan and California. The constant traveling (always being the new kid) created a situation where music took the place of lasting friendships. Kevin sang in bands in Junior High bands in 1968 and 1969. He had not yet picked an instrument.



Kevins life changed in 1972 he went to see Maria Muldaur in Detroit. The opening act was Paul Butterfield. Kevin had heard harmonica before, but never like that. He was amazed. He went up to the stage at the end of the show and talked to Butterfields keyboard player. Ronnie Barron was kind enough to reach into Paul Butterfields case and gave him a Marine Band harmonica. He decided at that moment to learn to play. Kevin ran around the building to the stage entrance and bothered Butterfield until he gave Kevin a harmonica from his own hand. He started playing that night while hitching home from the concert. Learning to play did not come easy and finding help proved difficult ( harmonica players are not known for giving away secrets). Kevin started listening to any record he could find with harmonica on it. He didnt know about keys yet, but he got the idea and started to improve. A few months later he was invited to play with acoustic artists in coffee houses and small clubs. The more he played in front of an audience the more marked the improvement.



In 1974 Kevin enlisted in the U.S. Navy. While overseas, limited language skills left him with a ridiculous amount of time to practice. Eight hours a day for three years. Living in Europe also exposed Kevin to many different bands, many of which were kind enough to let a skinny young harmonica player the forum to hone his skills. In 1977 he joined a group from Uruguay. No one in the group spoke English, and Kevins Spanish was limited, but the music was enough communication for everyone. It was a very special time for Kevin, finding a group with the patience to allow him to incorporate harmonica into Sergio Mendez, Santana and so much more. Kevin fell in love with the Latin rhythms.



Kevin returned to the States in 1979. He started working as part of a horn section in a Rhythm and Blues band. The earlier experience in the Latin group proved useful in adapting to this music form. Not long after he started playing Rock and Blues . Kevin was finally able to put an amplified edge to his harmonica playing. In 1980 he was fortunate to meet Norton Buffalo. Norton was very open about harmonica technique, and application. Not long after, Kevin switched over to Country, and Western Swing. He played primarily country music for the next two decades. Kevin was a member of several groups over this time. He made several appearances on The Nashville Network, on cable shows and the Grand Ole Opry.



Over the last twenty plus years, Kevin McKay has played with, or shared bills with some of biggest artists in music. Johnny Winter, Hank Thompson, Johnny Paycheck, Tommy Overstreet, Johnny Cash, Don Williams, Reba, George Strait, Hank Williams Jr., Harry Chapin, Michael Bolton, Alabama, Charlie Daniels Band, Marshall Tucker Band, Muddy Waters and Loretta Lynn.



Kevin has toured extensively around the world. He has performed in Germany, England, Spain, Korea, Japan, Thailand, Canada and the United States.



Currently, Kevin is a principle member of Big Head/Warner Bros recording artists The Warren Commission. T.W.C. is jazz group, blending blues, jazz and rock.



T.W.C. is being played all over the U.S., Canada and throughout Europe.

Kevin is also recording a solo project. He says it is time for a new direction in harmonica evolution.



Kevin McKay plays Lee Oscar diatonic harmonicas and Hohner chromatics.



For more information:

www.rross05@comcast.net



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