Maria McKee

  • Los Angeles, CA
    hometown
  • Alternative
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  • 1982
    started
  • Bio
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About Maria McKee


After making her name as the gritty, soulful lead singer of roots rockers Lone Justice, Maria McKee embarked on an often-rewarding solo career. A native of Los Angeles, McKee was born in 1964; her half-brother was Bryan MacLean, the guitarist and sometime singer of the groundbreaking psychedelic band Love. After studying musical theater as a teenager, McKee started performing on the L.A. club scene in a duo with MacLean and also teamed up with local blues singer Top Jimmy (who inspired the Van Halen song of the same name). A roots-music scene sprang up in L.A. during the early '80s, and McKee -- a country music fan -- met like-minded guitarist Ryan Hedgecock; the two co-founded Lone Justice in 1982, and with McKee often composing material, the group became a local favorite. They signed with Geffen on the recommendation of Linda Ronstadt, but in spite of highly positive media attention, their two albums -- 1985's Lone Justice and 1986's Shelter -- failed to sell well, hampered by slick production and a sense of not-quite-fulfilled potential. McKee went solo after the latter record and released her self-titled debut in 1989, with Mitchell Froom producing.

McKee scored a critical breakthrough with her second album, 1993's You Gotta Sin to Get Saved, which was helmed by Black Crowes/Jayhawks producer George Drakoulias. Its rootsy, countrified rock and McKee's ever more powerful vocals led many reviewers to call it her most fully realized work to date. She went on to contribute the song "If Love Is a Red Dress (Hang Me in Rags)" to the hit soundtrack of Pulp Fiction, and in 1996 she released a third solo album, the much artier Life Is Sweet, on which she played all the guitar parts. McKee subsequently took a hiatus from recording, during which time she extricated herself from her deal with Geffen in search of greater creative control. She finally returned in 2003 with another ambitious record, High Dive. In 2004, McKee issued Live in Hamburg, her first released concert outing. It was followed by Peddlin' Dreams in 2005 and Live Acoustic Tour 2006. Late December appeared in 2007 from Cooking Vinyl Records. ~ Steve Huey, Rovi

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Music

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  • Breathe
    maria-mckee
    Video
    Breathe
  • I Can't Make It Alone
    maria-mckee
    Video
    I Can't Make It Alone
  • I'm Gonna Soothe You
    maria-mckee
    Video
    I'm Gonna Soothe You
  • To Miss Someone
    maria-mckee
    Video
    To Miss Someone
  • 2234
    SoundStream
    SoundStream
    song name
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    • If Love Is A Red Dress (Hang Me In Rags)
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/4/9/1/3/7/172873194.mp3
    • If Love Is A Red Dress (Hang Me In Rags)
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/1/5/3/1/8/107881351.mp3
    • Sweet Jane - Lone Justice (live)
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/0/5/1/0/4/107740150.mp3
    • To Miss Someone
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/1/6/6/6/9/991696661.mp3
    • Breathe
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/4/3/2/8/2/915828234.mp3
    • Precious Time
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/4/5/4/9/1/904619454.mp3

Photos

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  • Geffen
    Maria McKee
    Geffen
    Deborah Frankel

Discography

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  • Late December (2007)
    Maria McKee
    Late December (2007)
    Cooking Vinyl Records
  • Live Acoustic Tour 2006 (2006)
    Maria McKee
    Live Acoustic Tour 2006 (2006)
    Cooking Vinyl Records
  • Peddlin' Dreams (2005)
    Maria McKee
    Peddlin' Dreams (2005)
    Eleven Thirty Records
  • Live in Hamburg (2004)
    Maria McKee
    Live in Hamburg (2004)
    VF/Little Diva
  • High Dive (2003)
    Maria McKee
    High Dive (2003)
    Viewfinder
  • Life Is Sweet (1996)
    Maria McKee
    Life Is Sweet (1996)
    Geffen Goldline
  • You Gotta Sin to Get Saved (1993)
    Maria McKee
    You Gotta Sin to Get Saved (1993)
    Geffen Goldline
  • Maria McKee (1989)
    Maria McKee
    Maria McKee (1989)
    Geffen Goldline
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