McKinley, Cal, 1918-1989

Musician Cal McKinley was born on December 13, 1918. McKinley was a guitarist during the Big Band Era. McKinley toured with the Andrew Sisters and the Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey Bands. He also did guitar work in Bing Crosby and Bob Hope movies, and did studio work for Decca Records. A native of Chicago, Illinois he moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1967. He was active in Las Vegas as a talk show host and later he portrayed the bumbling character "Vinnie Van Gogh" in television commercials. He passed away on September 9, 1989.

Source:

Los Angeles Times, "Cal McKinley; Guitarist of Big Band Era," September 9, 1989, sec. Collections.