Bob McKinlay was born in Ashton-in-Makerfield, near Wigan in 1942. Like many others, he learned guitar from Bert Weedon’s 'Play In A Day' book. He was a member of the north-west beat group The Long And The Short, which made the UK Top 30 in 1964 with ‘The Letter’ (not the Box Tops song), featuring session musician Jimmy Page on lead guitar. Another single 'Choc Ice' made the lower end of the charts. The Long And The Short appeared in the cult film Gonks Go Beat (the soundtrack album is now very collectable), and then Bob McKinlay was offered a place in the Mojos. He soon, however, returned to Wigan taking a job in a printing works. He became a mature student and gained a degree in sociology and a teaching diploma. He visited Nashville in 1977, and on his return, formed a country group. He decided to become a full-time professional and toured the UK country clubs with American singer-songwriter Steve Young.
As a country singer he recorded a number of vinyl albums including English Born Dixie Fried in 1979 and 40 Years Later in 1981, both on the Dixie Fried label. He also recorded English Born Dixie Fried as a 7" vinyl EP in 1982. There were also numerous cassette albums including Country Good and Rollin', Bob McKinley Singer Songwriter (1989), Sacred & Secular, Once More, My Songbird, Roots and Off-Shoots and Country Tapestry.
Bob McKinley was enormously popular around country clubs over a long period. He was a prolific songwriter with ‘English Born - Dixie Fried’ becoming his signature song. During his country career he performed solo, duo, trio and with his band, Dixie Fried. In 2009 he became the 19th inductee into the British Country Music Hall Of Fame.
15 окт 2024
