Yates McKendree

Producer Kevin McKendree says: "Because of Yates’s lifelong, intense dedication to blues and roots music, he has developed a direct line from his soul to whatever instrument he holds. When he sings and plays, you don’t just hear it, you feel it…deeply. On these recordings you will find him not only singing and playing guitar, but also playing drums, bass guitar, upright bass and organ. But, aside from Yates’s abilities and accomplishments, he is my son! It is the joy of my life to record and perform with him. The amazing musicians on this album are also our closest friends. We hope you will feel the love when you listen. Kevin McKendree" These tracks have not been digitally altered from the original recording sessions. There was no A.I., pitch “correction”, or time “correction” used. So, what you’ll hear is real music played by real people!

Yates's debut LP, BUCHANAN LANE, was the #1 charting and critically-acclaimed debut LP from the Grammy™ winning traditional blues musician, vocalist and songwriter dedicated to the music he loves the most: straight-up Traditional Blues.

Kevin McKendree

Kevin McKendree is a keyboardist, guitarist, producer, songwriter and engineer. His playing can be heard on hundreds of commercial recordings, including more than a dozen Grammy winning or nominated albums. He has toured and/or recorded with Delbert McClinton, Lee Roy Parnell, Brian Setzer, Brooks & Dunn, John Oates, Joe Bonamassa, George Benson, Buddy Guy, Little Richard, Etta James, Black Stone Cherry, Bonnie Raitt, John Hiatt, Tinsley Ellis, Hal Ketchum, George Thorogood, Seven Mary Three, The Kentucky Headhunters and many others. Grew up in Northern Virginia. Started playing piano by ear at age 3. Guitar at age 8. His first pro gig was Tom Principato Band 1989-1992. Made several albums with him. Big Joe and the Dynaflows 1992-1994. After this, joined Lee Roy Parnell's band in 1994 and moved to Nashville. Recommended to LRP by Chuck Leavell (Rolling Stones, Allman Bros., Eric Clapton etc ... ) Nominated for Grammy in 1997 for Best Country Instrumental, "Mama, Screw Your Wig On Tight" as producer, writer & performer for Lee Roy Parnell & The Hot Links. Joined Delbert McClinton's Band in 1997. 2004 opened his studio, The Rock House & began producing records. 2005 Started recording & touring with Brian Setzer as pianist and guitarist and he's still with him today. Produced loads of artists including Tinsley Ellis, John Hiatt, Little Richard, Mike Henderson, Delbert McClinton. 2020 won Grammy as producer for Delbert's "Tall Dark and Handsome" for Best Traditional Blues Album Produced by Kevin McKendree and featuring 13 tunes, among them 4 original compositions, 2 of which are co-writes with 2022 Nashville Songwriter's Hall of Fame inductee and multi-Grammy winner Gary Nicholson.

Born in Nashville and raised in a recording studio, multi-instrumentalist Yates McKendree grew up hearing and playing with some of Music City’s greatest musicians. Self taught from the age 3, music came to him naturally. Although still just a young man of 23 years, his experience as a professional musician goes back over a decade. That early experience includes playing regularly in some of Nashville’s most notable venues (The Bluebird Cafe, The Ryman Auditorium, Third & Lindsley). It also includes North American and European tours and multiple appearances on national television (Imus In The Morning, CBS Mornings).

​ During Yates’s teenage years, he played on and engineered dozens of recordings in his father’s (Kevin McKendree) studio, The Rock House; most notably for Delbert McClinton and John Hiatt, who told Rolling Stone Magazine, “Yates was our secret ingredient.”

In January 2020, Yates earned a Grammy® Award for his role as an engineer and a musician on Delbert McClinton’s “Tall Dark & Handsome”.

In 2023, the award winning McKendree released his debut LP, “Buchanan Lane” on Qualified Records. The album was nominated for two Blues Music Awards® and is a favorite among blues lovers everywhere. The success of the album led to a strong demand for live performances in North America and Europe. Yates has been hitting the road with his band ever since.

In between touring and his Monday night residency at the world famous Bluebird Cafe, Yates managed to find time to write and record another album of original songs, deep blues and r&b. Available everywhere July 11, 2025, “Need To Know” highlights Yates’s skills, remarkable style and taste as a multi instrumentalist and vocalist with an emphasis on guitar.

Because of Yates’s lifelong, intense dedication to blues and roots music, he has developed a direct line from his soul to whatever instrument he holds. When he sings and plays, you don’t just hear it, you feel it…deeply. Yates and his band are looking forward to playing the blues for you!