Gayelynn McKinney and McKinney Zone at Cliff Bell’s

Gayelynn McKinney is a powerhouse drummer who’s performed at the 1996 Olympic Games and the Kennedy Center. She’s received a Grammy nomination, a Kresge Arts Fellowship, and multiple Motor City and Detroit Black Music Awards. TV appearances include CBS, CNN, PBS, and BET, and she’s been featured in Billboard and Elle. Over the years she’s played with artists like Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, and opened for legends including Ray Charles and Nina Simone. Her night at Cliff Bell’s featured two separate shows with the McKinney Zone band, bringing her seasoned jazz drumming to Detroit audiences.