July 04, 1928 (Detroit, Michigan) - June 20, 2001 (Detroit, Michigan)
Jazz pianist Harold McKinney was a driving force in Detroit's jazz scene in the 1940s when he played with John Coltrane and Wes Montgomery. He also played with Marcus Belgrave, Wendel Harrison and Phil Ranelin and was very active in jazz education, helping establish jazz music programs at Oakland University and Wayne State University. He toured his shows Discovering Jazz and Jazz For a New Generation in public school systems and at festivals, teaching in the seminal Metro Arts Center and numerous city summer youth programs, and producing a weekly jazz workshop called Detroit Jazz Heritage Performance Lab (DJHPL).
His first album, 'Voices and Rhythms of the Creative Profile,' was released in 1974 by the Detroit's cooperative independent Tribe label. The following 4 recordings were released and distributed by McKinney Arts, Inc. and Rebirth, Inc.: 'Root Classics' featuring Harold McKinney and the McKinney Reunion, released in 1991 with solo piano and small ensemble pieces; 'Discovering Jazz' (double audio-cassette), released in 1993, in which Harold traces the history of jazz; 'Something For Pops' featuring duets by Harold McKinney and Wendell Harrison, released in 1993; and 'McKinfolk: Live at the SereNgeti' featuring all original music by Harold McKinney and brother Kiane Zawadi, released in 1996. In addition, Harold McKinney contributed to 'Urban Griots' Michigan Jazz Masters,' a recording released in 1998 by Dr. Moto Music for MJM.