Country blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player, who recorded for Gotham in 1950, and for Specialty in 1952, both sessions in Shreveport, Louisiana.
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David "Pete" McKinley had two songs released in 1950 on Gotham. "Shreveport Blues" is the earliest post-war blues to mention the city. McKinley participated in the same March 12, 1952 session for Specialty that Jim Bledsoe was involved in. Several other sides were unissued until decades later. Art Rupe of Specialty Records came to Shreveport from California at the suggestion of Stan Lewis, renting out the Studios KWKH for an all-night marathon session which began when the station signed off at 2AM. In 1948, Lewis opened a record store, Stan’s Record Shop, on Texas Street in Shreveport. Lewis became a one-stop operator (other record stores would buy from him) and distributor of independent records and began to write and produce R&B and rock and roll records. In 1963, Lewis founded the Jewel label and soon after the Paula and Ronn imprints. ~ Big Road Blues Show 12/2/12: I'm Going Down In Old Blues Goose - Shreveport Blues