Fred McKinney, singer/songwriter, has been singing and playing guitar for over 40 years but only writing songs for the past three years. The songwriting started as a way to help him deal with the loss of his wife in 2005, and led to his beginning to perform in public. Since then it has become an important part of his life. Fred has written fiction, for as long as he has been singing, but believes he may be more suited to being a singer/songwriter. "Songs seem easier to write," he says, "Because one might be written in a day or two, but it's just an illusion that songs are easier to write."

Fred was born and spent most of his life in Shelby, Ohio, but is currently living in Olivesburg, Ohio with his new wife Linda. He has performed in north central Ohio clubs, coffee houses and private parties in Mt. Vernon, Wooster, Ashland, Mansfield, Millersburg, Coshocton and Shelby; at Bicycle Days and the Benefit for Flood Victims in Shelby, as well as for various senior groups in Lexington and Galion.