McKinney's Cotton Pickers

about

McKinney's Cotton Pickers were a United States jazz band founded in Detroit, Michigan in 1926 by Bill McKinney, who expanded his Synco Septet to ten pieces. William " Bill" McKinney (September 17, 1895 - October 14, 1969) was an American jazz drummer born in Cynthiana, Kentucky. He worked as a drummer in a circus band, then after serving in the United States Army in World War I settled in Springfield, Ohio where he took over leadership of the Synco Jazz Band. After hiring drummer Cuba Austin, McKinney worked as leader and business manager. After touring the U.S. Midwest, they got a residency at the Arcadia Ballroom in Detroit, Michigan in 1926. In Detroit they were heard by bandleader and music promoter Jean Goldkette, who arranged a more lucrative home base for the band in Detroit's Greystone Hotel Ballroom. The band was renamed "McKinney's Cotton Pickers" (see also). After the band broke up in 1934 during the Great Depression, McKinney for a time led and played with a dance band in Boston, From 1937 on McKinney managed a Detroit Cafe with a dance floor and live bands who McKinney booked; he also booked bands for other locations on the side. Bill McKinney retired in the 1950s and spent his last years in his childhood hometown of Cynthiana. In 1927 Don Redman left Fletcher Henderson's orchestra to become the Cotton Pickers' musical director, and he assembled a band which rivalled Henderson's and Duke Ellington's. Aiding Redman with arrangements and rehearsals with the band

top songs

albums

Put It There: 1928-1929

Crying and Sighing

The Ultimate Jazz Archive 4 (1 Of 4)

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Giants of Jazz - McKinney's Cotten Pickers

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Songbook

Cotton Picker's Scat

Mckinney's Cotton Pickers, Vol. 1 & 2

Complete Jazz Series 1928 - 1929

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McKinney`s & Jean Goldkette`s 1924-1930 (Remastered)

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Shag Nasty, Vol. 3: The Alternate Masters

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That's What I Call Sweet Music

The Ultimate Jazz Archive

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