# Bill MacKay

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{{Short description|North American musician, composer, writer, singer}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Bill MacKay
| image             = Bill MacKay. October 9th, 2022. Photo by Yvette Marie Dostatni.jpg
| caption           = Bill MacKay, 2022, Chicago.
| birth_name        = William Dwight MacKay
| birth_place       = Tarrytown, New York, United States
| instrument        = Guitar, voice, piano, bass, requinto, organ.
| years_active      = 2002-Present
| label             = [Drag City, Inc](/source/Drag_City_(record_label))
| website           = [http://www.billmackay.com www.billmackay.com]
}}
'''Bill MacKay''' is an American composer, guitarist and singer based in Chicago. He grew up in Pittsburgh, PA where he studied with guitarists [Joe Negri](/source/Joe_Negri) and Eric Susoeff and in Rochester, NY where he studied with Kevin Morse. He also studied at [Berklee College of Music](/source/Berklee_College_of_Music).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bill MacKay Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More... |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bill-mackay-mn0000075539 |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}</ref>

In 2017 he began working with Chicago record label [Drag City](/source/Drag_City_(record_label)).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gotrich |first=Lars |date=April 21, 2017 |title=Bill MacKay's Solo Guitar Fades Quickly, Beautifully On 'Twilight' |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2017/04/21/524880930/bill-mackays-solo-guitar-fades-quickly-beautifully-on-twilight |work=NPR}}</ref> ''<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Margasak |first=Peter |date=2017-05-11 |title=On his charmingly low-key Drag City debut, veteran Chicago guitarist Bill MacKay shows his full range |url=http://chicagoreader.com/music/on-his-charmingly-low-key-drag-city-debut-veteran-chicago-guitarist-bill-mackay-shows-his-full-range/ |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=Chicago Reader |language=en-US}}</ref>''

Mackay’s first Drag City release, ''Esker'', was described by reviewer John Mulvey of ''[Uncut](/source/Uncut_(magazine))'' "as a neat sampler of his unshowy virtuosity, at once brisk and mellow."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mulvey |first=John |date=2017-05-23 |title=Reviewed: some more of 2017's hidden gems |url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/features/reviewed-2017s-hidden-gems-100398/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=UNCUT |language=en-GB}}</ref>

His arrangement of the [Steely Dan](/source/Steely_Dan) song [Deacon Blues](/source/Deacon_Blues) appeared on the collaborative covers album by [Bonnie Prince Billy](/source/Bonnie_Prince_Billy) and [Bill Callahan](/source/Bill_Callahan_(musician)), [Blind Date Party](/source/Blind_Date_Party) (Drag City, 2021)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sodomsky |first=Sam |date=2020-11-16 |title=Bill Callahan and Bonnie "Prince" Billy Cover Steely Dan's "Deacon Blues" |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/bill-callahan-and-bonnie-prince-billy-cover-steely-dans-deacon-blues-listen/ |access-date=2024-07-02 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pearis |first=Bill |date=8 November 2021 |title=Bill Callahan & Bonnie 'Prince' Billy prep 'Blind Date Party,' share Scout Niblett cover |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/bill-callahan-bonnie-prince-billy-cover-scout-nibletts-kidnapped-by-neptune-w-hamerkop/ |website=BrooklynVegan}}</ref>

MacKay is a member of Black Duck, along with [Douglas McCombs](/source/Doug_McCombs) ([Tortoise](/source/Tortoise_(band)), Brokeback) on guitar and bass, and drummer Charles Rumback.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Pareles |first1=Jon |last2=Russonello |first2=Giovanni |last3=Zoladz |first3=Lindsay |date=2023-06-09 |title=PinkPantheress's Bittersweet 'Barbie' Tune, and 11 More New Songs |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/09/arts/music/playlist-pinkpantheresss-rosalia.html |access-date=2023-07-11 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bambarger |first=Bradley |date=August 26, 2023 |title=Black Duck Casts a Cinematic Spell |url=https://www.premierguitar.com/artists/guitarists/black-duck-casts-cinematic-spell |work=Premier Guitar}}</ref> and BCMC with Bitchin' Bajas' Cooper Crain.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-14 |title=Bill MacKay & Cooper Crain Announce Collaborative Project BCMC: Hear "The Swarm" |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2233006/bcmc-bill-mackay-cooper-crain-the-swarm/music/ |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=Stereogum |language=en}}</ref>

In April 2023, MacKay's scored music for artist [Michael Rakowitz](/source/Michael_Rakowitz)' film ''I'm good at love, I'm good at hate, it's in between I freeze''<ref>{{Cite news |last=Elderton |first=Louisa |date=2023-06-21 |title=Michael Rakowitz's Fading Fandom |url=https://www.frieze.com/article/michael-rakowitz-im-good-at-love-2023-review |access-date=2024-07-03 |work=Frieze |language=en |issue=237 |issn=0962-0672}}</ref>

MacKay has also been involved musically in theatre, appearing as musical guest in Chicago experimental theater troupe [Neo-Futurists](/source/Neo-Futurists) show ''Elements of Style'' in June 2023,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Elements of Style |url=https://neofuturists.org/events/elements-of-style/ |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=The Neo-Futurist Theater |language=en-US}}</ref> and in Little Carl, a production by Theatre Y in April 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Youth Puppet Production: Little Carl |url=https://www.theatre-y.com/little-carl |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=Theatre Y |language=en-US}}</ref>   

"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."<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-05-27 |title=Musician Bill MacKay moved to Chicago on a whim. It defined his career. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/05/29/bill-mackay-concert-dc/ |access-date=2024-07-01 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

MacKay's most recent solo record, ''Locust Land'', was released May 23rd, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krakow |first=Steve |date=2024-05-13 |title=Chicago troubadour and guitar god Bill MacKay releases Locust Land |url=http://chicagoreader.com/music/concert-preview/bill-mackay-hideout/ |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=Chicago Reader |language=en-US}}</ref>
thumb|Bill MacKay at Acme Records in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on October 17th, 2024. Photo by Ryan Sarnowski.

== Discography ==
'''As Leader or Co-Leader'''

* ''Bill MacKay & Sounds of Now'' (2005)
* ''Swim to the River'' (2007) w/ Broken Things
* ''Bill MacKay and Darts & Arrows'' (2010)
* ''Eyes of the Carnival'' (2012) w/ Darts & Arrows
* ''December Concert'' (ears&eyes records, 2014) w/ Matt Lux
* ''Chatham Park'' (2014)
* ''Sunrise/Bill MacKay plays the songs of John Hulburt''  ([Tompkins Square Records](/source/Tompkins_Square_Records), 2015)
* ''Altamira'' (ears&eyes records, 2015) w/ Darts & Arrows
* ''Land of Plenty'' (Whistler Records, 2015) w/ Ryley Walker
* ''Esker'' ([Drag City](/source/Drag_City_(record_label)), 2017)
* ''SpiderBeetleBee'' ([Drag City](/source/Drag_City_(record_label)), 2017) w/ Ryley Walker
* ''Hypnotic Pulse of the Reindeer Range'' (JMY, 2017) w/ Ryley Walker 
* ''Fountain Fire'' ([Drag City](/source/Drag_City_(record_label)), 2019)
* ''STIR'' ([Drag City](/source/Drag_City_(record_label)), 2019) w/ Katinka Kleijn
* ''Scarf'' ([Drag City](/source/Drag_City_(record_label)), 2020)
* ''Keys'' ([Drag City](/source/Drag_City_(record_label)), 2021) w/ Nathan Bowles
* ''Black Duck'' (Self-titled, [Thrill Jockey](/source/Thrill_Jockey), 2023) w/ [Douglas McCombs](/source/Doug_McCombs), Charles Rumback
* ''BCMC - Foreign Smokes'' ([Drag City](/source/Drag_City_(record_label)), 2023) w/ Cooper Crain
* ''Locust Land'' ([Drag City](/source/Drag_City_(record_label)), 2024)

'''As Collaborator/Contributor'''

* Running out of Time ([Delmark Records](/source/Delmark_Records), 2005) w/ Savoir Faire
* ''[Deafman Glance](/source/Deafman_Glance)'' ([Dead Oceans](/source/Dead_Oceans), 2018) w/ Ryley Walker
* ''Other You'' ([Matador](/source/Matador_Records), 2021) w/[Steve Gunn](/source/Steve_Gunn_(musician))
* ''Course in Fable'' (Husky Pants Records, 2021) w/ Ryley Walker
* ''[Blind Date Party](/source/Blind_Date_Party)'' ([Drag City](/source/Drag_City_(record_label)), 2021) w/[Bill Callahan](/source/Bill_Callahan_(musician)) & [Bonnie Prince Billy](/source/Bonnie_Prince_Billy)
* ''So Certain EP'' (Husky Pants Records, 2022) w/ Ryley Walker
* ''MESTIZX'' (Ibelisse Guardia Ferragutti & [Frank Rosaly](/source/Frank_Rosaly)) ([International Anthem](/source/International_Anthem_Recording_Company), 2024)
* ''In Space'' ([Drag City](/source/Drag_City_(record_label)), 2025) w/ [Edith Frost](/source/Edith_Frost)

== References ==

{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{commons category|Bill MacKay}}
Category:American male guitarists
{{DEFAULTSORT:MacKay, Bill}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Living people

{{US-guitarist-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bill MacKay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_MacKay) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_MacKay?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.