Under 21 with Guardian

Born in Nashville and raised in a recording studio, multi-instrumentalist Yates McKendree grew up hearing and playing with many great musicians. Self taught from the age 3, music came to him naturally.

Although in his early 20's, his experience as a professional musician goes back 10+ years. That early experience includes playing regularly in some of Nashville’s most notable venues (The Bluebird Cafe, The Ryman Auditorium, 3rd & Lindsley). It also includes North American and European tours and multiple appearances on national television (Imus In The Morning, CBS Mornings). In 2023 and into 2024, Yates toured with Brian Setzer's Rockabilly Riot to universal exclaim.  

During Yates’s high school years, he played on and engineered many recording projects; most notably for Delbert McClinton and John Hiatt, who told Rolling Stone Magazine, “Yates was our secret ingredient.” In January 2020, Yates earned a Grammy™ Award for his role as an engineer and a musician on Delbert McClinton’s “Tall Dark & Handsome.”

His debut LP “Buchanan Lane” on the Qualified Records label released on October 28, 2022 to critical acclaim worldwide. The album features both classic tunes and 4 original compositions, 2 of which's Yates co-wrote  with stellar Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame 2022 inductee and multi-Grammy winner Gary Nicholson. Produced with his father, Kevin McKendree, “Buchanan Lane” highlights Yates’ skills, remarkable style and taste as a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist with an emphasis on guitar. The LP charted #1 on the Roots Music Report's charts, was nominated for numerous BMA Awards from the Blues Foundation, and was on the Grammy Ballot for Traditional Blues LP in 2024. 

He is currently in the studio working on his follow-up LP, with his Producer and bandmate Kevin McKendree, co-writer Gary Nicholson and studio musicians including Steve Mackey, Griffin Photoglo and others.  

https://www.qualifiedrecords.com/yates