Career
In addition to his lengthy and varied career as a session musician, McKendree has released two solo albums. Born Kevin Yates McKendree, in Nuremberg, Germany, he is a self taught pianist and guitarist, initially utilising the playing of Little Richard, Ray Charles and B.B. King as inspiration. At the age of 17, he became a professional musician and worked around the Washington, District of Columbia area playing alongside Big Joe Maher, Tom Principato, Bob Margolin and Mark Wenner.
However, he also worked as a piano salesman to supplement his income.
He relocated to Nashville, Tennessee in 1995, and secured a job backing Lee Roy Parnell as part of his band known as the Hot Links. McKendree co-wrote and co-produced the instrumental track "Mama, Screw Your Wig On Tight," which appeared on Parnell"s 1997 album, Every Night"s a Saturday Night.
The piece was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1997 for Best Country Instrumental. In addition, McKendree worked in the recording studio backing a diverse array of musicians including Anson Funderburgh and Seven Mary Three (The Economy of Sound, Orange Avenue), as well as issuing his debut solo album Mission Laura"s Kitchen in 2000.
His association with McClinton ceased in 2011 which allowed McKendree more flexibility, and he worked with Brian Setzer, John Oates, T. Graham Brown, Tinsley Ellis, The Knockouts, Hal Ketchum, and George Thorogood (2120 South Michigan Avenue) amongst many others
His work with Tinsley Ellis saw McKendree play on the Ellis albums, Fire lieutenant Up, Kingpin, Hell or High Water, Moment of Truth, Speak Number Evil, and The Hard Way. In 2005, McKendree issued his second album, Hammers & Strings. AllMusic noted that it was "a set full of boogie-woogie piano (even on non-blues tunes), blues ballads, and New Orleans-style Rhythm & Blues, this is a delightful outing." In the same year McKendree played on Brian Setzer"s album, Rockabilly Riot Volume
1: A Tribute To Sun Records.
In 2008, McKendree contributed to Randy Houser"s debut album, Anything Goes, playing Wurlitzer electric piano and Hammond organization More recently, McKendree has focused on songwriting and production work in his own recording studio, The Rock House, which is based in Franklin, Tennessee.
He continues to perform regularly, most recently playing in the Mike Henderson Band at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville.
