About
William McKay, born on September 25, 1969, has spent his entire life as a professional musician. A keyboardist, singer, songwriter, band leader, and producer, Bill is known for his soulful playing, genre-crossing style, and decades of collaboration across the American music scene.
In 1987, Bill moved to Colorado to attend Colorado College, where
he studied world music—including East Indian, African, and Native American traditions. While there, he performed with The Circle and worked with the dance department, composing a thesis on the connection between music and choreography. After earning a political science degree in 1991, he moved to Boulder and joined Band Du Jour, a Soul ’n’ Roll group that toured extensively, including a Department of Defense tour to South Korea, Japan, and Okinawa. The band shared stages with Phish, Blues Traveler, Big Head Todd, and more.
In 1995, Bill joined the Derek Trucks Band as lead singer and keyboardist, relocating to Atlanta. Over the next five years, he toured and recorded with the group, performing with icons like Gregg Allman, Warren Haynes, Col. Bruce Hampton, Phil Lesh, and Gov’t Mule. This period deepened Bill’s roots in Southern rock and improvisational music.
Returning to Colorado in 2000, he joined Leftover Salmon and spent a decade recording and touring with the pioneering jamgrass band. During this time, he also formed the Bill McKay Band, performed solo piano gigs, and collaborated with a wide range of musicians across genres.
A long-standing project for Bill is the McKay Brothers, a collaboration with his brother John. The duo blends Bill’s originals and John’s songwriting with folk, blues, and country, reflecting their deep musical bond and shared roots.
Bill also spent six years touring with Coral Creek, led by Chris Thompson, contributing original songs to the albums Coral Creek and Free Dog, and working with producer Tim Carbone. He performed across the U.S. and the Virgin Islands during this time.
As of 2021, Bill plays with Steely Dead, a fusion of Steely Dan and Grateful Dead music, and the Very Jerry Band, celebrating the Jerry Garcia Band’s catalog—both led by his longtime friend Dave Hebert. He also performs with The Other Brothers, a powerhouse group of Colorado musicians honoring the music of the Allman Brothers Band, where Bill takes on the role of Gregg Allman.
Proud to be part of the Colorado music community for over 30 years, Bill remains active with the Bill McKay Band, McKay Brothers, and other freelance projects. Whether playing solo piano, supporting fellow musicians, or leading his own groups, Bill McKay continues to pursue musical adventure with passion, curiosity, and soul.