Ray McKinney

Raymond Patterson "Ray" McKinney (* 28. March 1931 in Detroit , † 3. August 2004 ) was an American jazz - bassist .

Live and act

McKinney first took piano lessons from his mother, then learned the cello and switched to double bass in high school . In the late 1940s he worked with Barry Harris ; As a backing band for a vocal group, the first recordings for the New Song label were made in 1950 . In the 1950s he worked a. a. with Tommy Flanagan and Roland Hanna (1954). When he was a member of the harpist Dorothy Ashby in 1956 , he decided to move to New York, where he a. a. starred with Guy Warren , Barry Harris, Ben Webster , Edmond Hall and Max Roach (1960). In 1961 he took part in the recording of Abbey Lincoln for Candid Records .

McKinney left the Roach Band in 1962, worked a. a. with Red Garland , Yusef Lateef , Andy Bey and with comedian Nipsey Russell . A drug addiction affected his career until 1973. He then lived briefly in Oberlin, Ohio before moving to San Diego in 1974 , where he worked outside of the music business. At the end of the 1970s he returned to Detroit, where he had a longer engagement in the jazz club Baker's Keyboard Lounge with his brother Harold's band, until he had to end his career in 1997 for health reasons. McKinney received a special Lifetime Achievement Award shortly before his death .

His brothers are the pianist Harold McKinney and the trombonist Bernard McKinney (Kiane Zawadi). He is the uncle of the musician and producer Carlos McKinney .

Discographic notes

• Yusef Lateef Quintet - Lost In Sound (1960)
• Grassella Oliphant Quartette - The Grass Roots (1965) with Harold Ousley , Bobby Hutcherson
• Charles McPherson - The Quintet / Live! (Recorded Live At The Five Spot ) (Prestige, 1967)
• Bob Szajner Triad - Jazz Opus 20/40 (1978)

Web links

• Ray McKinney at Discogs (English)
• Ray McKinney at Allmusic (English)