Melissa McKinney

Singer/Songwriter Melissa McKinney, lives in Asheville, NC. She is the lead singer of the band MAMA. Renowned for her powerful vocals, Melissa has a deep love for music and community and is dedicated to using her voice for good and empowering youth to do the same. Her love for the blues began as a child. She was mentored by Nathaniel Reese, a blues musician from the coalfields of West Virginia, an intergenerational experience that laid the foundation for her life’s work. She serves as the Programming & Education Director for LEAF Global Arts, is the founder of the WTF (Women to the Front) music festival, which highlights women in music and she is on the board of AVLSounds Fest a multi venue music festival in Asheville, NC. MAMA just won 2nd place in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN. They also won the Merlefest Band Competition in 2025. In addition to music, education, and community, Melissa is super passionate about dogs and all other animals.