Makky Kaylor
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Makky Kaylor | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Morris Alan Kaylor |
| Born | February 10, 1964 Memphis, Tennessee, USA |
| Genres | Country jazz, Southern Soul |
| Occupation(s) | Songwriter, artist, entertainer |
| Instruments | Vocals, piano |
| Years active | 1975-present |
Makky Kaylor (born Morris Alan Kaylor) was born on February 10, 1964, in Memphis, Tennessee. He is a professional songwriter, most notably recognized in 2024 as the composer of Tennessee's 14th official state song, "Tennessee, In My Dreams." Kaylor is also a recording artist, entertainer, and radio personality.
Career
[edit]In his early years, Kaylor wrote songs on the piano and performed on stage in elementary school. At 15, he officially began his music career as a lead vocalist and occasional keyboardist, performing regionally. This musical basis paved the way for a career as a studio session vocalist. His session work and songwriting eventually led him to Nashville at age 25, where he became a staff songwriter on Music Row for various music publishing companies and recorded numerous songs by multiple artists.
While in Nashville, Kaylor became an A-list demo singer for many Hall of Fame songwriters, including Harlan Howard, Randy Goodrum, Bob Morrison, and Jim Weatherly. He is the author of "Confessions of a Session Singer," published by Hal Leonard Publishing/Backbeat Books in 2007.
Kaylor's recording and performance repertoire includes commercial jingles, like prominent brands such as The Grand Ole Opry and Blue Diamond Almonds. As a recording artist, he has produced several albums and singles, highlighting his versatility and vocal range. His performance repertoire includes a duet with Grammy winner Larry Gatlin and The Gatlin Brothers. Kaylor has performed at grand venues such as The Ryman Auditorium and the Tennessee Theatre. His television appearances encompass a variety of shows[1] on The Family Channel, RFD-TV, Hulu/CBS, and The Hallmark Channel.
In 2022, Kaylor, Brenda Lynn Allen,[2] and Jack Plant co-founded Muletown Sound, Inc./Southern Roots Radio,[3] a worldwide music broadcasting company based in "Muletown" Columbia, Tennessee. Kaylor co-hosts the multi-platform broadcast "Swanky Southern Nights" with Allen, showcasing his trademarked "The Swanky South" music brand, featuring an original blend of jazz, country, and soul music.
In 2023, the state designated Kaylor "The Tennessee Troubadour." He has received several regional designations, including "Swanky South Day" (2020) and "Makky Kaylor Day"[4] (2024) from the governments of Columbia, Tennessee, and Maury County.
In 2024, Kaylor's original composition "Tennessee, In My Dreams" became Tennessee's 14th official state song.[5] On April 16, 2024, Governor William Lee signed a bill[6] enacting Kaylor's composition as an official state song.[7]
Discology
[edit]Albums
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Glad Tidings | Independent |
| 2013 | A Little Sentimental – A Storybook Album | Vision Records |
| 2020 | Live from the Swanky South | Really Good Records |
Singles
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2002 | "They Saw a King" |
| 2021 | "How Our Love Song is Played" |
| 2021 | "My Baby's Lovin'" |
| 2021 | "I Want to Love You" |
| 2021 | "Too Many Songs About Memphis" |
| 2024 | "Tennessee, In My Dreams" |
References
[edit]- ^ Johnson, Claudia (April 3, 2023). "Makky Kaylor: Making Music in Muletown and the Swanky South". Country Reunion Music. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
- ^ "Rising Stars: Meet Brenda Lynn Allen". NashvilleVoyager Magazine. July 15, 2024. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
- ^ Powell, Jay (October 26, 2022). "Southern Roots brings music, culture worldwide with new Columbia station". The Daily Herald. Columbia, TN. Archived from the original on November 1, 2022. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
- ^ Gregory, Chris (July 17, 2024). "Columbia declares 'Makky Kaylor Day'". Main Street Media of Tennessee. Archived from the original on September 20, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
- ^ Gregory, Chris (May 29, 2024). "Columbia songwriter pens newest official state song". Main Street Media of Tennessee. Archived from the original on June 1, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
- ^ "Tennessee SB2390 | 2023-2024 | 113th General Assembly". LegiScan. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
- ^ "'Tennessee, In My Dreams' designated official State Song". The Rogersville Review. May 26, 2024. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.