A Jeff McKinney Joint

Jeffrey McKinney was born (August 5, 1957) in a different time. As a youth he use to get up on Sunday mornings and watch Jubilee Showcase, after The Lone Ranger and Flash Gordon. During this time he learned to appreciate the Gospels greats like Sam Cook, The Staple Singers, The Soulsters, The Caravans, especially Shirley Caesar and was a big fan of Mahela Jackson, but at night after Bonanza and The Wonderful World of Disney, he was a fixture in front of the television watching the Ed Sullivan Show. During this time, he grasped a love and appreciation for all genres of music. This can be seen in all of his music as well. Many times him and his younger sister song along with the greats, pretending to be Sonny and Cher or Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrell. Jeffrey use to also sing along with The Temptations, and Smokey Robinson and The Miracles. Upon reaching Middle School, Jeffrey learned a greater appreciation for music when he learned how to play flute. While attending Roosevelt High School in Gary, Indiana, he switched to trombone because it was more macho looking and sounding. He joined the Jazz Band at the High School and loved playing the brass part of such great bands as Chicago and War; two of his favorite song to play on the trombone were “Color My World” by Chicago and “The World is A Ghetto” by War. Ironically one of his first arrangements was covering that War classic when he joined a local band called “Quest” in the mid 80’s. Only by this time he was playing flute again. The band also covered several “Earth Wind and Fire” songs, in which Jeff sung lead vocals, even occasionally hitting the Phillip Bailey classic high notes.

Jeffrey models his music after the late artist such as Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, Donnie Hathaway, and female jazz and r&b greats Phyllis Hyman and Minnie Repletion, who were all spiritual, secular and political in their music approach. His spiritual mentor from beyond is the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and his other spiritual mentors include Bishop T.D. Jakes, Pastor Jamal Bryant, Paula White, Joyce Meyers, Bishop Paul Morton, motivational speaker’s Les Brown and Tavis Smiley, legendary African Social Activist and former South African President Nelson Mandela, poet Maya Angelo, along with the before mentioned President Barrack Obama and former President Jimmy Carter.

Jeffrey McKinney tries to bring not only something old to the music scene, but also something fresh, new, original and exciting if not moving and healing to every composition he creates. He is also a poet and writer and hopes to have several books published soon as well. Jeffrey has gotten critical acclaim from Jazz artist such as Quincy Jones, Winton Marcellus, the before mentioned Chicago, legendary Jazz band, “ Return to Forever”, featuring keyboardist Chick Chorea and legendary bass player Stanley Clark. Jeffrey has worked alone since the dismantle of the group “Quest”, but many artist compliment him on his individual instrument parts, because though computer and keyboard generated for the most part, the instrumentation many times is true to the complexity of many of the great jazz artist of the past such as Jimmy Smith on organ, Charles Mingus on base, and Miles Davis on trumpet. Other artist such as the legendary band Earth, Wind, and Fire, Melba Moore, John Legend, India Arie, Chaka Khan, Patty Labelle, Janet Jackson, Beyonce, Jeffrey Daniels, Howard Hewitt, and Jodie Watley, all formally of the group Shalimar and Gospel greats Mary Mary, Kirk Franklin, Lamar Campbell, Fred Hammond, Tony Terry, Alvin Slather , Jeff Majors, and Vickie Winans, just to name a few have also grown to become Jeffrey McKinney fans.

Bernadette Stanus, from the ICON 70s hit TV show Goodtimes, simply calls Jeffrey, THE BEST

I'll be performing in Washington D.C. This will be a walk to help prevent and cure cancer.

Fort Dupont Park
3600 F ST SE
Washington DC. 20020
Date: 9/19/09
Registration: 9am
Walk Starts: 10am
Ticket Price: $25.00
Walk Length: Approx 3 miles
http://www.tiasway.com/events.html








Jeffrey Mckinney Jazz, Soul & Ole Skool R&B Music

invited you to:



Walk For Cancer

When:
Saturday, September 19, 2009
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM CDT

Where:
Fort Dupont Park
3600 F ST SE
Washington, D.C. 20020