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{{Short description|American jazz banjo player}}
{{for|politician|James McKinney}}
{{multiple issues|
'''James McKinney''' was a member of the [[bluegrass]] group [[Danger in the Air]], a well-known regional bluegrass band based in the [[Dallas]]-[[Fort Worth]] area in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Among its members was founding member of the [[Dixie Chicks]], [[Robin Lynn Macy]].
{{POV|date=April 2019}}
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'''James McKinney''' is recognized as a true master of the [[5-string banjo]]. One of the most advanced players anywhere and a [[Scruggs style|Scruggs]] and [[Don Reno|Reno]] style expert, James is also considered a leading expert in jazz and theory in the banjo world, having been mentored by renowned jazz educator, [[David Baker (composer)|David Baker]], and Mr. Henry Ferrel (teacher of [[Chet Atkins]] and [[Jethro Burns]]). James McKinney was born in [[Fort Payne, Alabama]] in 1957.


In his early days James played often with legends such as [[Bill Monroe]], [[Vassar Clements]], and [[John Hartford]]. James won the South U.S. Banjo Championship at age 15 and in 1982 he won the National Banjo Championship at [[Winfield, Kansas]], as well as first-place in dozens of state and regional championships. He made the first of several appearances on the [[Grand Ole Opry]], [[The Porter Wagoner Show]], and the stages of [[Opryland USA|Opryland]] at age 19 as part of "Smoky Mountain Sunshine" combining his talents as a banjoist with those of musical arranger.
From a young age, McKinney began performing and competing. He won the South U.S. Banjo
Championship at the age of 15. He moved to [[Nashville]] where he played with [[Opryland]]’s “Bluegrass
Show” and started a career as a studio musician. He made his debut at the [[Grand Ole Opry]] at 19. In 1982 he won the National Banjo Championship in Winfield, Kansas. In two other years' competitions, he rated third place.


He relocated to the Dallas area in the 1980s where he joined [[Danger in the Air]]. When the band dissolved, McKinney moved to Nashville in 1990 where he continued to perform using the band's name. He and his wife now perform as the James & Angela McKinney Band
In the 1980s he lived in [[Dallas]] and recorded and toured with his band [[Danger in the Air]] and later moved to [[Nashville]] to do full-time touring and studio work.
James spent many years as a popular studio musician in Nashville and performed/recorded with the likes of [[Porter Wagoner]], [[Barbara Mandrell]], [[John Hartford]], and [[Johnny Cash]] in addition to a long and close friendship and professional relationship with legendary fiddler, [[Vassar Clements]], with whom he toured and performed as "The Vassar Clements Band".


James has recorded on many projects and taught at many major banjo camps including SPGBMA workshops and other Master workshops all over the USA and in Australia.
Today, James lives in [[Atlanta, GA]] and has launched a new acoustic group called, "[http://www.nighttravelers.com The Night Travelers]", together with bassist Niki Portmann. They currently tour and play in the southeast region and are soon to release their first CD project, ''Campfire''.


==Sources==

*https://web.archive.org/web/20080129164843/http://www.dixie-chicks.com/danger.shtml
== Sources ==
*http://www.nighttravelers.com

*https://web.archive.org/web/20061110143818/http://www.wvfest.com/contests/winner.html?winnerid=112
*http://www.dixie-chicks.com/danger.shtml
*http://www.jamesandangelamckinney.com/
*http://www.wvfest.com/contests/winner.html?winnerid=112


{{DEFAULTSORT:McKinney, James}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McKinney, James}}
[[Category:American bluegrass musicians]]
[[Category:American bluegrass musicians]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Fort Payne, Alabama]]
[[Category:American country banjoists]]
[[Category:Country musicians from Alabama]]

Latest revision as of 23:30, 3 April 2023

James McKinney is recognized as a true master of the 5-string banjo. One of the most advanced players anywhere and a Scruggs and Reno style expert, James is also considered a leading expert in jazz and theory in the banjo world, having been mentored by renowned jazz educator, David Baker, and Mr. Henry Ferrel (teacher of Chet Atkins and Jethro Burns). James McKinney was born in Fort Payne, Alabama in 1957.

In his early days James played often with legends such as Bill Monroe, Vassar Clements, and John Hartford. James won the South U.S. Banjo Championship at age 15 and in 1982 he won the National Banjo Championship at Winfield, Kansas, as well as first-place in dozens of state and regional championships. He made the first of several appearances on the Grand Ole Opry, The Porter Wagoner Show, and the stages of Opryland at age 19 as part of "Smoky Mountain Sunshine" combining his talents as a banjoist with those of musical arranger.

In the 1980s he lived in Dallas and recorded and toured with his band Danger in the Air and later moved to Nashville to do full-time touring and studio work. James spent many years as a popular studio musician in Nashville and performed/recorded with the likes of Porter Wagoner, Barbara Mandrell, John Hartford, and Johnny Cash in addition to a long and close friendship and professional relationship with legendary fiddler, Vassar Clements, with whom he toured and performed as "The Vassar Clements Band".

James has recorded on many projects and taught at many major banjo camps including SPGBMA workshops and other Master workshops all over the USA and in Australia. Today, James lives in Atlanta, GA and has launched a new acoustic group called, "The Night Travelers", together with bassist Niki Portmann. They currently tour and play in the southeast region and are soon to release their first CD project, Campfire.

Sources

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