Album Notes

Marian McKay has been singing professionally in Birmingham for over a fifteen years. Most notably, the lead singer of the popular swing-era styled band Marian McKay and her Magic City Six. Marian grew up listening to the great songs and instrumentals of the Big Bands her parents danced to, and later the blues records in her brother's collection became another early influence.
In 1977, Marian opened Charlemagne Records; a landmark on the Southside for twenty-seven years. Charlemagne continues today, specializing in rare and out-of-print albums. This includes collectibles in all genres of music. Her work at the store provided a unique opportunity to listen, explore, and discover an even wider range of jazz, swing, and blues vocals that have influenced her own singing and performing style.
In 1995, she released her first CD, Five Points Live, a collection of blues classics. In 2000, she released Wonderful You, popular standards from the 1930's and 40's. Her newly released CD, "Yesterday's Memories", features a terrific collection of songs by such revered composers as Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, and Hoagy Carmichael. "Yesterday's Memories" evokes a bygone era of Southern-styled popular music.
As a vocalist, she's been broadcast in Birmingham radio and television markets including commercials for the Alys Stephens Center. She continues to be invited to entertain for major regional music festivals such as City Stages and the Kentuck Arts Festival. In 1999, she was invited to sing in a musical tribute to George Gershwin with Southern Danceworks at the Alys Stephens Center. In addition, she continues to perform in Birmingham nightclubs such as the 22nd Street Jazz Café , Ona's Music Room, and Moonlight Music Café', to name a few. In 1997, Birmingham Magazine voted Marian Best Female Vocalist. Her business, Charlemagne Records, was named Best Record Store that same year.
Along with the Magic City Six, Marian is a popular attraction at many special events such as corporate parties, dances, weddings, and other social gatherings. Accompanied by the expert musicianship of her seasoned band, Marian brings the smooth, sophisticated sounds of the swing era to enthusiastic audiences throughout the Birmingham area and anywhere this timeless music is loved and appreciated.
Eileen Kunzman, Director of the Magic City Art Connection, sponsors an annual festival. She has this to say: "Marian McKay takes the listener on a sweet journey with her smooth and sultry voice. Her songs mix all the elements of great art - color, texture, rhythm, movement, and content into very original performances. While casting a sinuous trance and evocative hold on her audience her music explores an affinity for the nuisances of the human spirit. Marian has a great following among the large audiences at the ONB Magic City Art Connection and we will feature her every year as long as she will have us".
Featured in the book: Live the Dream: Birmingham Stories from a City of Dreamers and Achievers. Author Joe O'Donnell writes "In front of a microphone, she seems plugged into something at once ephemeral like starlight, yet intimate as a kiss".