Interview / synopsis

I took up piano music lessons when I was ten years old,in 1943, Although I had played the ocarina in the grammer school band in 1939 at age 6. I was always able to play music on any instrument I picked up. My Pa played fiddle, mother played Piano Guitar and Ukulele.(ookulele)> we played at home on occasions where music was appropriate! I now play fiddle, guitar and piano. 2- I played 1930s pop music with my parents. When the big band sound came I learned Clarinet and played in a jazz combo. I worshipped Benny Goodman. The leader of the Sleepy Walters band now plays trombone with the Dukes of Dixieland! When Rock broke out in 1955,it bored me, three chords were not musically challenging. I gravitated into western swing music which incorporated much of the old big band sound. I now write and my band records Trad country. Listen to our "Barroom Love" and notice the remarkable chord changes!  Yes, Jim and I have released a 12 song CD called "Keepin It Country", available on CD Baby.

Taylor McKinnon and Jim Cook.