McKinley James

McKinley James is equal parts old soul and modern man. Armed with an electric guitar and sharp songwriting chops, he breathes new life into classic sounds with Working Class Blues, a debut album that introduces his mix of American rock & roll, amplified soul, and raw rhythm & blues.

It's a sound powered by groove and guitar. A sound that's been sharpened by countless shows — from dive bar residences in Nashville to headlining gigs across Europe — and rooted in the shared bloodline of McKinley and his longtime bandmate: father Jason Smay. Together, they rewrite the rulebook for blues-inspired rock duos, creating a lean, honest version of American roots music that makes room for everything from Motown hooks to roadhouse boogie-woogie. 

"We're not trying to sound old-school," says McKinley, who grew up watching his father play drums for acts like Los Straitjackets and JD McPherson. "We love traditional blues…