Born and raised in Amador County country music singer Erin McKinney combines the vocal power of Miranda Lambert with the raw style of Gretchen Wilson.

After winning the Amador Idol competition in 2005 Erin  began pursuing a career in country music and started making frequent trips to Nashville to work with some of the top vocal coaches in the industry as well as working as a demo singer for many of Nashville’s top writers. In 2008 with the support of friends and family she began the process of putting together a band and staking out on her own to pursue her dreams.

Erin started out pursuing music on a part time basis while working as a card dealer at Jackson Rancheria Casino, But as her success began to grow she realized that she needed to turn her passion into a full-time career, Erin left her job at Jackson Rancheria Casino after twelve years in late 2010 and since then has been singing lead vocals as well as playing rhythm guitar and mandolin in her band on a regular basis at many of the most popular venues throughout the Northern California and Nevada regions. She has played shows with some of the top acts in country music including Jerrod Niemann, Love and Theft, Bomshel’s Kristy Osmunson and American Idol finalist Danny Gokey.  Erin has also begun the process of recording her first original album that is expected to be released in early 2012.

Current band members include drummer Jeff Nielsen who has been drumming for over thirty years and has played with many bands all throught the West Coast , Bass player Mark Pacheco with nearly thirty years experience, most recently with Dave Russell and Courtney Lynn and Guitar player Jimmy Ashley who is no stranger to the Northern California music scene and has been seen playing with many of the areas top bands, Including Grammy nominated country artist Tim Murphy.

It’s about the music… real, honest and often edgy. Skynnyn Lynnyrd has stripped the music of the legendary band down to its finest detail and re-assembled it…not as a cover but as it was intended. Every nuance and detail is pursued with passion and determination… performed as if by the 1977 pre-crash band.

Skynnyn Lynnyrd is the “Reloaded” Lynyrd Skynyrd. The parity is remarkable…as if guided by the spirit of the original band members who departed long ago. While there will never be another Lynyrd Skynyrd, Skynnyn Lynnyrd is Lynyrd Skynyrd – - – RELOADED.  Check it out y’all!

Click on the first photo for a slide show.