Alan McKinney Music Fest Memorial: Musician’s legacy to benefit local high schools

ByMatthew Crane Reading Time: 3 minutes
McKinney
Alan McKinney will be remembered for his love of music and his impact on local musicians at a memorial fundraiser to benefit local high schools this Saturday. McKinney passed away in December of 2013 at the age of 62.

A fundraiser this weekend will remember a local musician and continue his legacy by supporting local high school bands.

Organized by Duane Meyer and Ronnie Schultz  in memory of Alan McKinney, a Birdseye musician who inspired and educated many local musicians, the Alan McKinney Music Fest Memorial will feature nine area bands performing this Saturday at the Birdseye Conservation Club, 9605 E Conservation Club Rd. The bands start at noon and play till 9:30 p.m. when an open jam session begins.

There is a $5 cover charge and donations are being accepted to raise money to purchase guitars for the alma maters of the musicians who organized the event for their friend and mentor. The guitars will be donated in McKinney’s name and Forest Park is the first school on the list to receive a guitar. Depending on the success of the event, other schools will benefit from the event with Northeast Dubois the next on the list.

According to Duane Meyer, the idea for the fundraiser memorial came from Ronnie Schultz. “It was his idea to honor Alan’s memory and proliferate music in his name hopefully for generations to come,” Meyer said.

McKinney was a master with the guitar. “He was not only capable of playing and singing a song by himself but he could make it sound as if several people were accompanying him,” Meyer said.

When playing with other people though, McKinney always made it his goal to bring out the very best from his fellow musicians. “That is rare with musicians,” Meyer explained. “Even the late Glen Frey and Don Henley stated in an interview that it took them 40 years to play for each other rather than having egos that needed attending in all their superstar years. Alan was like that, always trying to make you the best you could be, sometime demanding it!”

The event will be feature two stages outside if weather permits and attendees are advised to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets. Food will be available for purchase. CDs featuring Alan McKinney music will also be available to purchase.

Here are the bands and their performance times.

High Water — 12:00 p.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Harts on Fire — 12:45 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Linda Smith Band — 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Remnants of Rebel — 3:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Troy Miller — 3:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
Matt & Friends — 5:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
Eighty Sixt — 5:45 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.
Cross-Tie Walker — 7:15 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The High Road — 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
9:30 p.m. on — open jam

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