COVER STORY
Interview with Gayelynn McKinney By Dr. Joan Cartwright DrJC: What brought you to music as a child? GM: Both of my parents were musicians. My mother, Gwen Shepherd McKinney, was a vocalist and pianist. My father, Harold McKinney, was a pianist. I was born in it. I grew up listening to music my entire life. I grew up waking up to it, going to bed to it. [Laughs]. So, honestly, I don't know what else I would have done. There are some other interests I had. But music was a strong influence in my life. DrJC: How did you come to the drums? GM: Well, that is a mystery. My mother said I was very busy even when she was pregnant with me. I tended to move around a lot. I guess I was born to do it. When I was two years old, I would beat on the furniture, even at the table with my knife and fork. I think that's when my mother bought me a drum kit. She thought, "She's going to beat on something else besides my furniture." So, they bought me a drumset when I was two years old and that began my journey. (Continued on p. 38). Spring 2019 - 36
