Yates McKendree Band

Born and raised inside Nashville’s legendary Rock House Studio, Yates McKendree is a GRAMMY®-winning multi-instrumentalist and widely recognized blues prodigy carrying the tradition forward with authority and soul. Self-taught from the age of three, McKendree grew up immersed in American roots music, honing his craft alongside artists such as Delbert McClinton and John Hiatt. 

His debut album, Buchanan Lane, reached #1 on blues charts worldwide and earned Blues Music Award® nominations, quickly establishing him as a critical favorite. As a vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, and producer, McKendree draws directly from the lineage of classic blues and soul, pairing expressive, ’60s-influenced guitar work with vocals rooted in emotional truth. His performances reflect a deep respect for the music’s history while sounding fully alive in the present.

Released July 11, 2025, Need To Know continues that trajectory. Produced with his father, Kevin McKendree, and co-written with acclaimed songwriter Gary Nicholson, the album embraces raw, analog recording with no digital gloss—just real musicians playing in the room. Blues Town Music called it “a barn-burning set steeped in vinyl-crackle tradition yet lit by tomorrow’s spark… you’ll smell tube amps warming the room.” Backed by an all-star band, McKendree brings that same intensity to the stage, delivering blues performances defined by feel, tone, and an unmistakable old-soul command of the form.