Draft:Bill MacKay (musician)

Bill MacKay is an American composer, guitarist and singer based in Chicago. He grew up in Pittsburgh, PA where he studied with guitarist Joe Negri, and in Rochester, NY. He also studied for a year at Berklee College of Music.

In 2017 he began working with Chicago record label Drag City.  

His arrangement of the Steely Dan song Deacon Blues appeared on the collaborative covers album by Bonnie Prince Billy and Bill Callahan, Blind Date Party (Drag City, 2021)

MacKay is a member of Black Duck, along with Douglas McCombs (Tortoise, Brokeback) on guitar and bass, and drummer Charles Rumback. and BCMC with Bitchin' Bajas' Cooper Crain.

In April 2023, MacKay's scored music for artist Michael Rakowitz' film I'm good at love, I'm good at hate, it's in between I freeze

MacKay has also been involved musically in theatre, appearing as musical guest in Chicago experimental theater troupe Neo-Futurists show Elements of Style in June 2023, and in Little Carl, a production by Theatre Y in April 2023.

"Among MacKay’s early inspirations were Miles Davis and Jimi Hendrix, but he also names British folk guitarist Davey Graham and Indian sarodist Ali Akbar Khan as influences."

MacKay's most recent solo record, Locust Land, was released May 23rd, 2024.

Discography
As Leader or Co-Leader


 * Locust Land (Drag City, 2024)
 * BCMC - Foreign Smokes (Drag City, 2023) w/ Cooper Crain


 * Black Duck (Self-titled, Thrill Jockey, 2023) w/ Douglas McCombs, Charles Rumback


 * Keys (Drag City, 2021) w/ Nathan Bowles
 * Scarf (Drag City, 2020)
 * STIR (Drag City, 2019) w/ Katinka Kleijn
 * Fountain Fire (Drag City, 2019)
 * SpiderBeetleBee (Drag City, 2017) w/ Ryley Walker
 * Esker (Drag City, 2017)
 * Land of Plenty (Whistler Records, 2015) w/ Ryley Walker
 * Altamira (ears&eyes records, 2015) w/ Darts & Arrows
 * Sunrise/Bill MacKay plays the songs of John Hulburt (Tompkins Square Records, 2015)
 * December Concert (ears&eyes records, 2014) w/ Matt Lux

As Collaborator/Contributor


 * So Certain EP (Husky Pants Records, 2022) w/ Ryley Walker
 * Blind Date Party (Drag City, 2021) w/Bill Callahan & Bonnie Prince Billy
 * Course in Fable (Husky Pants Records, 2021) w/ Ryley Walker
 * Other You (Matador, 2021) w/Steve Gunn


 * Deafman Glance (Dead Oceans, 2018) w/ Ryley Walker
 * Running out of Time (Delmark Records, 2005) w/ Savoir Faire