Larry McKinley died on December 8 at age 85 after a struggle with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). According an official family statement, Mr. McKinley passed away peacefully, surrounded by family and friends.

Louisiana Music Hall of Fame Inductee, Larry McKinley.

McKinley was one of New Orleans’ premier radio personalities, and also founded Minit Records with his partner Joe Banashak. The label was responsible for employing a young Allen Toussaint as arranger, songwriter and producer, and for hits from the likes of Ernie K-Doe, Chris Kenner, Irma Thomas, Jessie Hill and many more.

McKinley’s sonorous baritone is the one you hear when you enter (or leave) the Jazz Fest. Mr. McKinley was the recipient of OffBeat’s Best of the Beat Award in Music Business in 2005, and he was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame, among many other honors. Funeral arrangements will be announced later this week.