legendary Harold McKinney, was a formidable jazz pianist,

composer and teacher who mentored many people and played

with such great as, Billy Holiday, Gene Krupa and many others.

Her mother Gwendolyn McKinney was a fashion model and

renowned singer, singing in such productions as Carman and

Porgy and Bess. She was also recorded on Harold McKinney's

“Voices and Rhythms of The Creative Profile.” As a vocal

instructor she mentored many successful vocalist, including one

of Ray Charles's Raylets.

Gayelynn began playing the drums at the age of two and has had ample exposure to the

creative music scene since birth. She received much of her musical training on the Detroit

Jazz scene, but, she also obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Music from Oakland

University. At the university she was a part of the Meadowbrook Estate a renowned show

choir and a member of the university jazz band. At Oakland University she learned

music theory and composition.

Gayelynn is an active member of the Detroit jazz scene, performing workshops for

novices, serious musicians, elementary, junior, senior high school & college students. She

has also appeared at many local famous nightspots including the renowned Bakers

Keyboard Lounge.

Among Gayelynn McKinney's many awards, she was presented with an award for

outstanding musical performance during Music Fest, USA where she won best drummer

beating out over nine thousand participants. McKinney was recently awarded the Motor

City Music Award with the Grammy nominated group Straight Ahead, that she is also cofounder

of.

Gayelynn McKinney's diverse drumming style has given her the opportunity to travel

extensively and play at many famous jazz festivals including Montreux-Switzerland,

Lionel Hampton Jazz Fest New Orleans Jazz and Heritage, Boston Globe, Jamaica Jazz

and Heritage, the 1996 Olympics, the Woma Jazz Fest in Italy and the Kennedy Center.

Gayelynn recently recorded a solo project called “It's About Time,” which has given her

the opportunity to perform as a band leader. Also as a band leader, she has rekindled her

fathers music, with a sextet called McKinfolk. She has also performed as a side musician

with such notables as, Aretha Franklin, Geri Allen, Marcus Belgrave, Chaka Khan, Mary

Stallings, Eric Reed, Roy Hargrove, Javon Jackson, David “Fathead” Newman, Steve

Turre, Sonny Fortune, Kevin Mahogany and “Speech” of Arrested Development, just to

name a few.