McKinley James
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McKinley James is equal parts old soul and modern man, breathing new life into classic sounds with his debut album Working Class Blues. Armed with an electric guitar and sharp songwriting chops, he creates a mix of American rock & roll, amplified soul and raw rhythm & blues alongside father Jason Smay.
Together, the father-son duo rewrites the rulebook for blues-inspired rock, creating lean, honest American roots music that makes room for everything from Motown hooks to roadhouse boogie-woogie. McKinley grew up watching his father play drums for acts like Los Straitjackets and JD McPherson, becoming a guitar prodigy inspired by everything from Stax to disco to ’80s R&B. After seeing Steve Cropper with Booker T. & the MG’s at age 10, McKinley knew what he wanted to do.
By the time he relocated to Nashville as a teenager in 2017, McKinley had already appeared on the cover of Eric Church’s platinum-selling album Mr. Misunderstood and kickstarted his performance career. He worked with Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys on 2021’s critically-acclaimed Still Standing By, while 2022’s LIVE! captured the band onstage. When their Hammond organist left in November 2022, McKinley and Jason moved ahead as a duo.
Working Class Blues features songs co-written with Auerbach, Pat McLaughlin and Dylan Altman, blending contemporary with classic while erasing lines between genre and generation.
Together, the father-son duo rewrites the rulebook for blues-inspired rock, creating lean, honest American roots music that makes room for everything from Motown hooks to roadhouse boogie-woogie. McKinley grew up watching his father play drums for acts like Los Straitjackets and JD McPherson, becoming a guitar prodigy inspired by everything from Stax to disco to ’80s R&B. After seeing Steve Cropper with Booker T. & the MG’s at age 10, McKinley knew what he wanted to do.
By the time he relocated to Nashville as a teenager in 2017, McKinley had already appeared on the cover of Eric Church’s platinum-selling album Mr. Misunderstood and kickstarted his performance career. He worked with Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys on 2021’s critically-acclaimed Still Standing By, while 2022’s LIVE! captured the band onstage. When their Hammond organist left in November 2022, McKinley and Jason moved ahead as a duo.
Working Class Blues features songs co-written with Auerbach, Pat McLaughlin and Dylan Altman, blending contemporary with classic while erasing lines between genre and generation.
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Where is it happening?
310 S. First Street, San Jose, CA, United States, California 95113
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Host or PublisherSan Jose Jazz
