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Donald Kinsey

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Donald Kinsey
Kinsey performing in 2014
Kinsey performing in 2014
Background information
Born(1953-05-12)May 12, 1953
Gary, Indiana, U.S.
DiedFebruary 6, 2024(2024-02-06) (aged 70)
Merrillville, Indiana, U.S.
GenresBlues, blues rock, reggae
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, singer
Instrument(s)Guitar, vocals
Websitehttp://donaldkinsey.com/

Donald Kinsey (May 12, 1953 – February 6, 2024) was an American guitarist and singer, best known as a member of the Word Sound and Power Band, the reggae backing group for Peter Tosh.[1][2]

Biography

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Donald Kinsey was one of three sons of Chicago blues performer, Big Daddy Kinsey. He was a member of the Kinsey Report, which he formed in 1984 with his brothers, Ralph Kinsey and Kenneth Kinsey, and Ron Prince. Previously he toured and recorded with Albert King, Peter Tosh, Bob Marley and the Wailers, and Roy Buchanan.

In 1976, days before the Smile Jamaica Concert in Kingston, Jamaica, would-be assassins attempted to murder Bob Marley at his home. The attempt took place during a Wailers rehearsal, while Kinsey was a member of The Wailers. Kinsey had just exited the rehearsal and was standing close to Marley and manager Don Taylor when shots were fired into that area of the house.[3] As stated in Timothy White's Marley biography Catch a Fire: The Life of Bob Marley, Donald used a heavy road case as a shield against the gunfire and was not struck. Two days later, he performed with Marley at the outdoor concert.[4]

In Kinsey's later years, while still regularly appearing with The Kinsey Report, he also toured the United States and Europe extensively with The Wailers Band, a reconstituted version of Bob Marley's backing band, often featuring musicians who had played with Marley in the 1970s.[5] At most performances, Donald was given a feature spot to perform the reggae version of Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode," as popularized by Marley's one-time bandmate, Peter Tosh.[6] In interviews, Kinsey (a staunch Berry fan) recounted how he persuaded Tosh to record the song for his 1982 album Mama Africa, though Tosh at first resisted the idea.[7] Kinsey is quoted as saying he and engineer Chris Kimsey created the fresh arrangement and recorded all of the backing track in Tosh's absence, and Peter arrived later, recording his vocal performance in a single take. The single version would become one of Tosh's biggest hits.

In 2020, The Wailers Band, including Donald, released One World, on Sony Music Latin.[8] Produced by Emilio Estefan, One World was Grammy nominated in the category Best Reggae Album.[9]

Kinsey died in Merrillville, Indiana, on February 6, 2024, at the age of 70.[10] His death came just three weeks after the loss of his older brother, Ralph, who succumbed to cancer on January 17.

Discography

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With Albert King

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With White Lightnin'

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  • White Lightnin' [11]

With Bob Marley

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With Burning Spear

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With Peter Tosh

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With Chosen Ones

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  • Reggae The Night Away [12"][16]
  • Song For Bob [12"][17]

With Heavy Manners

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  • Heavier Than Now[18]

With Betty Wright

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  • Wright Back At You[19]

With Roy Buchanan

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With Big Daddy Kinsey

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  • Bad Situation
  • Can't Let Go
  • I Am The Blues
  • Ramblin' Man

With The Kinsey Report

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  • Edge Of The City
  • Midnight Drive
  • Powerhouse
  • Crossing Bridges
  • Smoke & Steel
  • Standing (I'll Be)[20]

With Denroy Morgan

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With Morgan Heritage

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With The Wailers Band

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  • One World

Singles

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  • "Jah Is Calling"/"Jah Children"[24]
  • "Sweet Emotion"[25]

References

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  1. ^ "Donald Kinsey Discography". Discogs.com. 1953-05-12. Retrieved 2017-07-20.
  2. ^ "Donald Kinsey". Donaldkinsey.com. Retrieved 2017-07-20.
  3. ^ [In 1976, days before the Smile Jamaica Concert in Kingston, Jamaica, would-be assassins attempted to murder Bob Marley at his home. The attempt took place during a Wailers rehearsal, while Kinsey was a member of The Wailers. Kinsey was near a kitchenette when shots were fired into that area of the house. Donald used a heavy road case as a shield against the gunfire and was not struck, as stated in Timothy White's Marley biography Catch A Fire: The Life of Bob Marley. Two days later, he performed with Marley at the outdoor concert. "The Night Bob Marley Got Shot"]. rollngstone.com. Retrieved 8 February 2024. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  4. ^ "0:00 / 1:27:21 Bob Marley & The Wailers - The Smile Jamaica Concert 1976". Archives World Music. 20 February 2018.
  5. ^ "Show Review: The Wailers Filled the Room with Joyful Healing". americanahighways.org. 22 April 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  6. ^ "The Wailers - Johnny B. Goode". youtube.com. 19 May 2018.
  7. ^ "Donald Kinsey: On Playing with Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Albert King . . ". Talking Guitar Jas Obrecht's Music Magazine. 27 December 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  8. ^ "THE WAILERS RELEASE NEW ALBUM, ONE WORLD, TODAY!". thewailers.com. 21 August 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  9. ^ "The Wailers at Grammy.com". grammy.com. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  10. ^ "Blues legend, Gary Indiana native Donald Kinsey has died".
  11. ^ Busta Cherry Jones & Donald Kinsey, White Lightnin', retrieved 2021-10-06
  12. ^ Peter Tosh – Complete Captured Live (2002, CD), retrieved 2021-10-06
  13. ^ Peter Tosh – Live & Dangerous: Boston 1976 (2001, CD), retrieved 2021-10-06
  14. ^ Peter Tosh – Live At The One Love Peace Concert (2000, CD), retrieved 2021-10-06
  15. ^ Peter Tosh – Live At The Jamaica World Music Festival Mobay '82 (2002, CD), retrieved 2021-10-06
  16. ^ Don Kinsey And The Chosen Ones – Reggae The Night Away (1981, Vinyl), 1981, retrieved 2021-10-06
  17. ^ Don Kinsey Featuring The Chosen Ones – Song For Bob (Vinyl), retrieved 2021-10-06
  18. ^ Heavier Than Now - Heavy Manners | Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2021-10-06
  19. ^ Betty Wright – Wright Back At You (1983, Vinyl), 1983, retrieved 2021-10-06
  20. ^ "The Kinsey Report". Discogs. Retrieved 2021-10-06.
  21. ^ Denroy Morgan – Salvation (1998, CD), 1998, retrieved 2021-10-06
  22. ^ Salvation - Denroy Morgan | Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2021-10-06
  23. ^ Full Circle - Morgan Heritage | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2021-10-06
  24. ^ Reggae Dance Mix, Vol. 1 - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2021-10-06
  25. ^ Sweet Emotion / Songs Of Aerosmith (Blues On Fire) (2001, CD), retrieved 2021-10-06
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