Artist description Distinctive songwriting and smart, funny lyrics

Music Style Pop Rock

Musical Influences Steely Dan, Randy Newman, James Taylor

Similar Artists Steely Dan

Artist History In 1997, Will won the first songwriting contest he entered when his song "World Made of Glass" was chosen as Best Contemporary Folk Song by the Austin Songwriters Group. In judging that event, Beth Nielsen Chapman called Will "a master lyricist." Later that year, Will also won New Artist awards at the Wildflower and Tucson Folk Festivals. Performing Songwriter magazine described Will's songwriting as "an earthy blend of pop, rock and R&B."Will got his first taste of great music growing up in Savannah, Georgia and sneaking into Leon Russell shows at the local Night Flight club. He moved to New York in the early '90s to write songs and play bass for a band called Weightless, which shared the Bitter End and Wetlands stages with acts like Blues Traveler and the Spin Doctors. In 1996, Will moved to Los Angeles to pursue a solo career. As a transplanted Southerner, Will still feels a deep kinship with Georgiašs coastal "low country" and its live oak trees draped in Spanish moss, shrimp boats and salt marshes, hurricanes and hosannas.Real World Refugee is Will's second record, a ten song collection of soulful music and smart, evocative lyrics. The record is available through songs.com -- the leading internet label for independent artists. In addition to recording Real World Refugee in 1998, Will also wrote and produced the theme song and music for the CBS pilot "Drive." Will is currently gaining airplay on AAA, Americana and college radio and performing with his band in L.A. He also performs solo acoustic shows at colleges, festivals and clubs outside L.A.

Group Members Will McKenna

Instruments Guitars, Wurlitzer, Hammond B-3, Bass, Drums, Percussion

Albums Real World Refugee 1998, Low Country 1996

Press Reviews "An earthy blend of pop, rock and R&B" -- Performing Songwriter Magazine

Location Los Angeles, CA - USA

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