New Orleans Host, Minit Records Co-Founder Larry McKinley Dead At 85

McKinley

Condolences to the family and friends of MINIT RECORDS co-founder, former NEW ORLEANS radio host, and voice of the NEW ORLEANS JAZZ AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL LARRY MCKINLEY, who died SUNDAY of complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at 85, according to the NEW ORLEANS TIMES-PICAYUNE/NOLA.COM.

MCKINLEY was a host at WMRY (now WYLD) in the 1950s and managed ERNIE K-DOE before launching MINIT with JOE BANASHAK in 1959.  MINIT, behind producer ALLEN TOUSSAINT, released several national Top 40 and R&B hits in the 1960s.  He also hosted at WNNR-A in the 1970s.

Joining the governing board of the JAZZ AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL, and later after leaving the board, he helped promote the event into an internationally renowned attraction; his voice is used on the recorded announcements heard by fairgoers entering the festival.  MCKINLEY was inducted into the LOUISIANA MUSIC HALL OF FAME in 2010.

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