SADIE McKINNEY

Biography

Sadie McKinney was an early blues and jazz vocalist active during the 1920s, a period when African American women were beginning to establish themselves in the emerging recording industry. Little is known about her early life, but McKinney emerged as a recording artist in the late 1920s, capturing the musical styles and emotional depth characteristic of the era's blues and jazz traditions. Her recording career, though brief and relatively obscure compared to her contemporaries, contributed to the rich tapestry of pre-rock and roll American music.

Fun Facts

• Sadie McKinney recorded 'Rock Away,' a flowery and mournful blues number in 1927 that is recognized by music historians as part of the foundational lineage leading to rock and roll, predating Elvis Presley by nearly three decades
• Her recordings were made for Victor Records in Memphis, Tennessee, placing her among the early blues artists documented during the height of the 1920s recording boom
• The phrase 'rock' and 'roll' appeared in song titles and lyrics throughout the 1920s and 1930s, with McKinney's work being a documented example of this early usage in blues music

Musical Connections

Key Collaborators

• James Alsten (pianist) - Accompanied McKinney on vocal recordings (1927 Victor recordings in Memphis) [1927]

Artists Influenced

• Early rock and roll musicians - McKinney's 1927 recording 'Rock Away' is cited as part of the pre-history of rock and roll, demonstrating how blues and jazz recordings of the 1920s influenced the development of rock music (Rock Away) [1920s influence on 1950s+ rock and roll]

Discography

Top Tracks

1. Too Good To Be You (Too Good To Be You)

External Links

• Spotify
• [Wikipedia](Not found)
• MusicBrainz