News: January 2012
*Makky's brand new album "Decidedly Blue" is here! Natchez Hills Records presents a limited number of first run CDs available now before they're released to the general public via Amazon, CD Baby & other digital and retail locations. Just click the "Buy Now" button!*
About "Decidedly Blue"
If authenticity is a matter of embracing and expressing your truest self, Makky Kaylor has done it well with Makky & The Magnificents' new Natchez Hills Records release, "Decidedly Blue."
Inspiring authenticity in others comes easy to the insightful writer and soul-filled artist and with this fresh collection of songs Makky's new and longtime fans will likely find themselves transported to the place where music first made them feel something true and deep within their own souls.
Harkening back to his Memphis roots with a twist of something new, Makky has chosen to record nothing less than his signature smooth, southern soul music. "Decidedly Blue" is a decision he and his new record label have designed to be true to the southern soulster's unique vocal and writing style. The blue side of the Americana genre ('southern soul music' is what Makky calls it) is where he naturally gravitates but anyone who's ever heard or worked with the singer's singer will tell you that he possesses the ability to glide across genres with inimitable Makky style.
"Decidedly Blue" lives up to its name quite nicely with morsels of Memphis blues and Muscle Shoals southern R&B yet it's flavored with enough of Rev. Green's "love and happiness" soul and gospel tinged tones to make for a well balanced joy ride of emotions. Angst and gratitude are themes aptly delivered by the experienced artist who has known these emotions intimately. Makky has struggled with a serious health scare, been brought back from the brink and weathered the stormy life of a songwriter/artist for over 30 years. He's paid his dues and is comfortably and decidedly blue; within his wheelhouse, musically speaking. All but three of the songs were written solo by the prolific tunesmith. "Too Many Songs About Memphis" and "Soul Deep" were co-penned by songwriting hitmakers Gary Nicholson and Richard Leigh, respectively while the southern anthem "Let's Take It On The Road" was a collaborative effort with country artist Aaron Tippin, Thea Tippin and Makky.
In a pop culture that often force feeds the public with commercial candy comes a refreshing rarity; a soul nourishing feast... "Decidedly Blue" is a testimony to artistic authenticity and magnificent inspiration for those of us fortunate enough to hear it.
News: Winter 2011
*Makky performed a variety of private engagements in the month of December including a show at Natchez Hills Event Center with Little Texas' Porter Howell plus longtime friend/bandmate Sam Gay & recording artist Templeton Thompson (templetonthompson.com) Makky also played solo dates in Memphis, Nashville, historic downtown Columbia and more.*
*Makky performed along with Grammy Award Winner Marty Raybon at Natchez Hills Event Center in Hampshire, TN at 8pm, October 22nd. Other musical guests included Templeton Thompson and Sam Gay.*
*Memphis Harding Academy seniors were entertained and inspired with a relaxed "Musically Speaking" show on October 14th.*
*Makky, Templeton Thompson and Sam Gay opened for country music star Billy Dean at the Natchez Hills Wine & Music Festival.*
*Makky treated Memphis business legend Bud Davis (#1 Cadillac dealership in America) and others to a private concert October 15th.*
*Makky was busy recording his new album
"Decidedly Blue" this winter at Natchez Hills Recording Studio located between Nashville & Memphis just off the historic Natchez Trace.*
Makky Kaylor is absolutely fine with the fact that he'’s remained relatively ‘under the radar’ for much of his music career. He is reluctant to tout his accomplishments preferring to just write and perform his songs without hype or fanfare. However, if you ask enough music industry veterans, you’ll find that the native Memphian is one of the most effective stealth weapons in the arsenal of great Tennessee music. A passionate advocate and ambassador of his state's music, Makky has lived and worked in all three major geographic areas of Tennessee - Memphis, Nashville and The Great Smokey Mountains. Makky considers himself 'a writer who sings' but the facts show that he is most definitely a gifted and highly sought after singer, songwriter and all around man of words and music.
Soulful piano playing artists, songwriters and literary writers have been most influential in the professional life of Mak "Makky" Kaylor. “"Artists and writers who have inspired me to continue to do what I do naturally are Ray Charles, Michael McDonald, Con Hunley, Marc Cohn, Charlie Rich, Norah, Hornsby, Winwood, Jimmy Webb and others like them plus great southern literary writers like Twain and Rick Bragg. It's my hope that I fit in there somewhere.”"
Indeed, Makky Kaylor does "fit in there" among the writers and artists who choose to give their music from the heart; scars and all. Makky concludes “"Scar tissue is the strongest tissue in the body. It makes sense to me that scars make the heart and soul stronger, too.”" Yes, Makky, and the music better.
Backstory
An 8-year old nicknamed 'Mak' (an acronymn) wrote songs at the piano where his mother played gospel hymns and jazz standards. That little boy also wrote stories at an old drafting board that his blue collar binderyman father found for him. Mak was also singing on stages from the time he started grade school and it was discovered that the shy boy could intrinsically sing with pristine pitch and easily make friends by entertaining them. Three of his friends and he formed a band in high school and a first stepping stone to Mak's career path was set in place.
He began his professional studio session career the summer after graduation. Mak was soon the voice of commercial jingles hawking many area businesses and events. It was his writing, session work and performing that took Mak and his wife LeAnn to Music City in 1989. It was a tough road but eventually the tenacious writer/vocalist landed publishing deals, plenty of session work for top songwriters, music publishers and hundreds of commercial jingles, plus more live performance work. Production deals and record deals were the next natural progression as record execs began to ask "Who's the singer with the big range and soulful tear in his voice?"
2001 was a life changing and life giving year. Mak underwent open-heart surgery at age 37. Later that year LeAnn gave birth to their daughter Macy. That same year, Mak became a staff writer and recording artist with Terry Choate and Grammy-winner Larry Gatlin's company. Gatlin asked Mak to record a song they wrote in 2002 as a duet with him. The duet, They Saw A King, was featured in concert at the Ryman where they received a standing ovation and it was filmed for airings on major national networks for subsequent years.
Many nationally televised performances, national recordings and lots of his songs recorded by a variety of artists helped define Mak's unique southern soul style. It was during this time his stage name was officially changed to another term of friends' endearment - 'Makky' - after having 'Mak' mispronounced and misspelled far too many times. The name 'Makky' stuck and was found to also be more memorable. In 2007-2008, Makky took a hiatus from work on Music Row to portray Judas Iscariot, a principle role, in a $15 million dollar pop-opera called "The Miracle" in the Great Smoky Mountains. In 2009, Makky returned to his home in middle Tennessee and to his own music. He formed a music and media company called MakkyMedia, inc. that houses and manages his writings, recordings and performances. In 2011, MakkyMedia partnered with Natchez Hills Vineyard - an event center where events and professional concerts take place (including his band Makky & The Magnificents), a vineyard, recording studio and a production company which houses Natchez Hills Records. Makky's new album, "Decidedly Blue", was recorded in part at Natchez Hills Recording Studio and will be released through the record label. "Decidedly Blue" is fitting as Makky has decidedly tapped his Memphis roots for this soulfelt project.
timeline
RECORDING ARTIST
1990-Present Featured nationally on radio, records, network television and motion picture soundtracks
1990-2005
An A-list Nashville session singer for many of the top songwriters and music publishers in the industry (including Harlan Howard, Tom Douglas, Tom Snow, Nancy Griffith, Gerry House, Wayland Holyfield, Pat Alger, Randy Goodrum, Clint Black, Steve Lukather, Karen Taylor-Good, and many, many more)
1982-2005
Featured on hundreds of commercial jingles nationwide
SONGWRITER
1990-Present Professional Songwriter with songs recorded by an array of top artists in various genres including Larry Gatlin (a duet with Makky), John Conlee, Truth, The Florida Boys, Jim Nabors, Larnelle Harris, several top ten singles, two number one gospel hits and songs on Dove winning and Grammy nominated albums
1990-2005 Songwriter for various publishers including Larry Gatlin, Talbot Music, Bill Gaither, Willie Nelson, Acuff-Rose, Warner Bros. and more
PERFORMER
1990-Present Performer for hundreds of thousands of music fans as a solo act and with his band; from standing ovations at the legendary Ryman auditorium to packed houses at the Bluebird Café to national television (Hallmark, CMT, GAC, Gospel Network, RFD, more) to fronting symphonies to major league baseball stadiums to exciting concerts to multi-million dollar theatrical productions
2007, 2008 Performed as Judas (a principle role) in the $15 million musical “"The Miracle"” in Pigeon Forge, TN
AUTHOR
2006
Authored “Confessions of a Session Singer” sold and distributed worldwide by Hal Leonard Publishing
Nothing less than Makky's signature smooth, southern soul music...
"Decidedly Blue" lives up to its name quite nicely with morsels of Memphis blues and Muscle Shoals southern R&B yet it's flavored with enough of Rev. Green's "love and happiness" soul and gospel tinged tones to make for a well balanced joy ride of emotions.
Buy Now
Hi guys,
This is the page where I get to communicate with you and that's exciting to me! I hope you'll stop in often to see what's on my mind... that could be just about anything! I'll try to steer clear of controversial issues. The way I see it, there are way too many talking heads out there trying to make a point. These musings are simply thoughts, ideas, visions, hopes and dreams on the road to some kind of manifestation that only God knows completely. That's the cool thing about creativity. It requires faith. Craft, yes, but also the faith to see that idea become something tangible and valuable. Cool, huh? You can play a part in that journey from intangible to tangible. Just drop in here any time.
My songs, books, recordings and live engagements all begin with a blank canvas; then, an idea; then, the written word (and often a melody). I'm most comfortable behind my pencil or computer screen so, honestly, this window view of the creative process is a little intimidating but exciting nonetheless. I trust you. I'm used to editing and re-writing and editing some more before the world sees my work so this is like skinny dipping in a pool of unfinished drafts right before your eyes! I trust you to have grace with me as I ruminate and formulate, ponder and play with ideas that, I pray, will have some relevance to you. My hope is that my musings won't merely be meanderings but, rather, of some encouragement to you. Enjoy!
Peace, Makky
Well, my new album (yes, I still call it an album) called "Decidedly Blue" is finally complete and ready to hit the streets all over the world and cyber-world. I would be honored if you choose to add my new album to your music collection. I think you'll find something on this album that will move you in some way. My goal was to return to some of the elements of the music that first inspired me to fall in love with making music. For me, those elements were the sounds I grew up on in Memphis including the classic soul music of Rev. Al Green, the southern R &B of Muscle Shoals, soul-filled gospel and great artists that bridged the gap between soul and country like Charlie Rich, Con Hunley and Ray Charles.
The cool thing about my friends & bandmates is that they each bring the unique rhythm of their soul to the songs I write, record and perform. I''ll tell you more about each of The Magnificents over the coming days. For now, let me just say how wonderful it is to reconnect musically with my dear friend - more like family, really - Sam Gay. We were in a band together from the time I was 15 years old and we moved to Nashville around the same time in 1989. Our paths took us in different directions but we were still each making music. Sam's musical presence has added authenticity to this new project and I can't wait to see what's next. His wife, the talented Templeton Thompson, has added so much to our recordings and shows with her fabulous vocals and cheery cowgirl personality, too. Speaking of authenticity, I'm thrilled to have my old pal Mark Beckett once again playing drums. Mark is a magnificent musician in his own right and is an heir to southern R&B royalty (legendary producer Barry Beckett's son). The legendary Mark T. Jordan, who played for many years with Bonnie Raitt among many others, adds a whole other level of 'real deal'' groove. Don Johnson always brings solid bass and unmatched wit. Much more to tell you... I hope you'll get the CD and listen to these magnificent music veterans! Thanks so much for reading, listening and supporting! I hope the new 'album' helps you in some way to find your way back to what first made you love music.
Peace -
Makky
"Writing is at the heart of Makky Kaylor's life and work. He's a prolific writer and takes his calling and craft seriously. As a songwriter Makky has had many of his songs recorded by a host of artists in various genres and he continues to write with and for various recording artists. He also writes songs for his own album projects. He has authored two books, Confessions of a Session Singer (Hal Leonard Publishing, sold and distributed worldwide) which is an educational and entertaining look at the life of a music professional from the vantage point of a veteran session singer and The Man with Two Hearts (MakkyMedia Publishing) which is part personal memoir and part motivational in content inspiring the reader to realize the relevance of their own heart's story to improve their relationships, their work and their world. In 2010-2011, Makky's company, MakkyMedia, inc., published a high quality regional arts and entertainment publication called KICKS! Magazine in hard copy and digital formats. There is currently a new statewide magazine in the works that will be available soon."
All of Makky's live performances are a soulful mix of the best of southern R&B music; a perfect blend of grooving originals and covers by an array of similar artists with several classic Memphis soul tunes, jazz standards and classic country treats thrown in for good measure... Makky style.
SOLO ENGAGEMENTS with INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKING
("MUSICALLY SPEAKING") Entertaining & Inspirational
(Tailored for each Event)
- Makky sings & speaks on various career inspiring topics using excerpts from his book "Confessions of a Session Singer" (Hal Leonard Publishing). Helping to motivate the fair-weather self-motivated professional from the vantage point of a veteran in one of the toughest professions - the music biz.
- Makky sings & speaks from experience as an open-heart surgery survivor (at age 37) who possesses a passion for living in the moment! Music with heartwarming & humorous stories. Makky's motto is "Earth time is brief... use the good china!"
"MAKKY & THE MAGNIFICENTS"
"...fronted by one of music's best writers/lead singers and comprised of elite players who have toured and recorded with Bonnie Raitt, Santana, Van Morrison, Bonnie Bramlett, Delbert McClinton, Boz Skaggs, Little Texas and more, these guys could soon be the standard bearers of delta-infused rhythm & blues - remnants of all that remains magnificent about Memphis, Muscle Shoals and classic southern soul music with a twist of something new and fresh. Enjoy good music again with Makky & The Magnificents!"
SOLO ENGAGEMENTS
- Solo piano/vocal performances;
fronting symphonies, orchestras or staff bands; featured vocalist for various events.
To Book Makky for a solo performance, solo performance plus speaking or with his band "Makky & The Magnificents" see the CONTACT page.
makkyonesheet.pdf
Booking:
MakkyMedia, inc.
(931) 380.3334
Management:
LeAnn Kaylor
(931) 490-8240
Record Label:
Natchez Hills Records
(931) 285-2500
MakkyMedia, Inc.Copyright © 2012
Booking & Info: Info_makkymedia.com or 931.380.3334
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