A Life in Music, One Stage at a Time
William “Invoice” McKay didn’t simply fall into music—he constructed his life round it. From small school exhibits in Colorado to sharing phases with Southern rock legends, McKay has adopted one rule: hold enjoying.
Now primarily based in Colorado, Invoice has spent over 30 years performing, recording, and main within the American music scene. His path hasn’t all the time been linear, however that’s a part of what makes it outstanding.
“I’ve all the time been excited by the place music might take me,” he says. “It’s by no means been about chasing the identical sound. It’s about rising.”
How School Sparked a Lifelong Profession
In 1987, McKay left his hometown behind and moved to Colorado to attend Colorado School. Whereas majoring in political science, he dove deep into music—not simply Western types, however world music traditions from India, Africa, and Native American cultures.
“I used to be drawn to rhythm and roots,” McKay remembers. “I spent plenty of time working with the dance division, exploring how motion and sound join.”
That curiosity helped form his early performances with The Circle, a band fashioned on campus. His senior thesis explored the bond between music and choreography—an early signal that McKay noticed music as extra than simply sound.
Touring the World with Band Du Jour
After school, McKay relocated to Boulder and joined Band Du Jour, a Soul ’n’ Roll group identified for its energetic exhibits and eclectic model.
They didn’t simply play dive bars. They toured internationally, together with a U.S. Division of Protection tour that took them to Japan, South Korea, and Okinawa. Again house, they shared phases with Phish, Blues Traveler, and Large Head Todd.
“That was my first style of actual touring life,” McKay says. “It taught me how one can carry out evening after evening and keep linked with folks by way of music.”
The Derek Vans Band Years: Southern Rock Meets Soul
In 1995, McKay’s journey took a pointy flip south. He joined The Derek Vans Band as lead singer and keyboardist and moved to Atlanta.
“I’d been a fan of Derek’s enjoying since he was a youngster,” he says. “Getting the decision to hitch the band was an enormous second.”
Over 5 years, McKay recorded and toured with the group, enjoying with Southern rock legends like Gregg Allman, Phil Lesh, Warren Haynes, and Col. Bruce Hampton.
“That point grounded me in improvisation,” he says. “You needed to hear, adapt, and convey soul to each be aware. There was no hiding on stage.”
Again to Colorado and Into the Jam Scene
By 2000, McKay returned to Colorado and joined Leftover Salmon, a band that helped pioneer jamgrass—a mix of bluegrass, rock, and improvisation.
“I’d been on the highway a very long time and needed to be nearer to house,” he explains. “However I wasn’t slowing down.”
For almost a decade, McKay toured and recorded with the group whereas additionally forming the Invoice McKay Band, a mission that allowed him to jot down and lead in his personal model.
“I wanted an outlet for my very own voice—actually and creatively,” he says. “The band gave me that.”
The McKay Brothers: Household, Roots, and Songwriting
Certainly one of McKay’s most private tasks is The McKay Brothers, a duo together with his brother John. Their sound blends people, blues, and Americana, mixing Invoice’s instrumental expertise with John’s songwriting.
“It’s music that seems like house,” McKay says. “We grew up enjoying collectively, so there’s a shared language that doesn’t must be spoken.”
Their exhibits spotlight deep harmonies and acoustic storytelling—what McKay calls “entrance porch music with spine.”
Coral Creek, Jerry Tributes, and Steely Dan Mashups
By no means one to remain nonetheless, McKay additionally spent six years performing and recording with Coral Creek, a Colorado band led by Chris Thompson. He contributed authentic songs to albums like Free Canine and labored with producer Tim Carbone.
Lately, McKay joined Steely Useless, a mission that fuses the music of Steely Dan and the Grateful Useless, and The Very Jerry Band, which honors the Jerry Garcia Band’s catalog.
He additionally performs with The Different Brothers, a Colorado-based tribute to the Allman Brothers Band, the place he takes on the function of Gregg Allman.
“It’s not about imitation,” he says. “It’s about honoring the spirit of the music and the artists who impressed us.”
Why William McKay Nonetheless Issues in Music Immediately
In an business identified for fast hits and quick lifespans, McKay’s profession stands out. He’s constructed it the great distance—one present, one mission, and one relationship at a time.
He continues to carry out, collaborate, and lead within the music world. Whether or not it’s a tribute band or a solo piano gig, he brings the identical vitality.
“I’ve been doing this my complete life,” he says. “The music adjustments, however the mission doesn’t. Maintain enjoying. Maintain connecting. Continue to grow.”
Key Takeaways for Followers and Fellow Musicians
- Longevity takes flexibility: McKay’s potential to shift between genres and bands has stored him related for over three a long time.
- Collaboration builds group: From Boulder to Atlanta and again once more, McKay has constructed lasting partnerships by way of music.
- Roots matter: Whether or not enjoying jamgrass, soul, or people, McKay’s work stays grounded in actual emotion and expertise.
For those who’re trying to find a musician who’s quietly formed the jam and roots scene from the within out, William McKay is price figuring out. His story isn’t flashy—nevertheless it’s filled with depth, soul, and the type of craft that lasts.
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