8 , ▁ 1 9 1 0 ▁– ▁May ▁ 7 , ▁ 1 9 9 5 ) ▁was ▁an ▁American ▁jazz ▁drum mer , ▁singer , ▁and ▁band le ader . ▁ ▁Career ▁▁ ▁McK in ley ▁got ▁his ▁start ▁at ▁age ▁ 9 ▁working ▁with ▁local ▁bands ▁in ▁the ▁Dallas – F ort ▁W orth ▁area . ▁He ▁left ▁home ▁when ▁he ▁was ▁ 1 5 ▁and ▁played ▁with ▁M ilt ▁Shaw ' s ▁Detroit ers ▁and ▁the ▁Smith ▁B alle w ▁and ▁Dun can - Mar in ▁bands . ▁His ▁first ▁substantial ▁professional ▁eng agement ▁came ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 4 ▁with ▁the ▁Dor sey ▁Brothers ' ▁Orchestra . ▁It ▁was ▁with ▁the ▁Smith ▁B alle w ▁band ▁in ▁ 1 9 2 9 ▁that ▁McK in ley ▁met ▁Gl enn ▁Miller . ▁The ▁two ▁formed ▁a ▁friendship ▁that ▁last ed ▁from ▁ 1 9 2 9 ▁until ▁Miller ' s ▁death ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 4 . ▁McK in ley ▁and ▁Miller ▁joined ▁the ▁Dor sey ▁Brothers ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 4 . ▁Miller ▁left ▁for ▁Ray ▁No ble ▁in ▁December ▁ 1 9 3 4 , ▁while ▁McK in ley ▁remained . ▁ ▁The ▁Dor sey ▁brothers ▁split ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 5 , ▁with ▁McK in ley ▁remaining ▁with ▁Jimmy ▁Dor sey ▁until ▁ 1 9 3 9 , ▁when ▁he ▁joined ▁Will ▁Brad ley , ▁becoming ▁co - le ader . ▁McK in ley ' s ▁biggest ▁hit ▁with ▁Brad ley ,