McKinley grew up 20 minutes outside of Boston - a place she envisioned herself being from early on. She began training as a singer, dancer and actress at 14, but was never extreme in her focus for one or the other. The dance company she studied and performed with kept her well rounded and allowed her frequent trips to Boston and NYC for auditions and commercial work. She began working with vocal coach while attending The Boston Conservatory of Music.
After college McKinley worked as a waitress, model, secretary, courier and anything else that would afford her rent in the city. She took advantage of city living by attending open mic nights and jam sessions. She took any and all vocal work available; commercials, demo recordings, weddings, at church in the gospel choir, Big Bands, Rock bands - any kind of band. Her natural capability to perform all styles of music made it easy to find work. A few guest appearances in larger venues (The House of Blues, Ryles Jazz Club) gave her the "singing-for-a-live-audience" fever and started her on a quest to appear as a headliner. It had become clear to those that had worked with McKinley, to her fans, and McKinley herself that Jazz was not only something she had a special knack for - she felt more passion for it than any other style of music.
A voice over for a locai car dealership lead to her first legitimate jazz gig - she was asked to sing the jingle "live" and follow with a night of jazz music at the dealer's showroom. McKinley enlisted help by hiring the best jazz musican's Boston had to offer to support her - from that point on, she would continue cultivating musical relationships that would strenthen her artistically. Dick Johnson (Artie Shaw Orchestra), Herb Pomeroy, Al Vega and a list of local legends - world class performers - all spent time with McKinley with a willingness to advise and educate the young singer. "Friendships like these are a gift - those gentlemen shared thier philosophies with me - they each taught me to trust my instincts". McKinley admits that the jazz form and the art of "improvisation" appeals to her. "I love the freedom that comes with singing jazz - although there is still a form to the music, it can move and bend - it all depends on what's inside the soul and how you happen to apply it".
When asked who her influences are, she answers with a surprising mix. "Dinah Washington, Anita O'Day, Miles Davis, Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, Cat Stevens, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Nancy Wilson - even Elvis. Drawing from this diverse group, McKinley has developed a sound and style that is unique to her like leaves on a tree. Her soulful blend is simple, yet sophisticated - true and distinctive.
Cassandre was recognized as a "Jazz Diva" in Arts Around Boston Magazine - a term she only feels comfortable with because of the talented women included alongside her in the article; Rebecca Parris and Carol Sloan were among them.
Cassandre has just released her debut album under the MAXJAZZ label titled ”TIL TOMORROW - Remembering Marvin Gaye”. In this body of work, McKinley delivers her interpretation of selected music Gaye wrote, co-wrote and performed throughout his career. From inception to execution, McKinley's sensitivity to Gaye's message and her rich, warm sound combine to pull this project far, far away from the ordinary. Creating a genre that just fits between Jazz, Smooth Jazz and R & B, "Til Tomorrow" is a rich exploration into Nu-Jazz and Soul - focusing on the "soul".
"Making this album was like reading over old pages from my journals - it was a beautiful opportunity to see where it is I've been and then, take a moment to anticipate what may be ahead."
Til Tomorrow
Cassandre McKinley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baby please don't go
Don't you know I still love you so
Honey, honey, honey
Honey you know
I still care
And I still got lots of
Love to share
Ah baby we'll be going through
Love so deeply
'Til tomorrow
You have stolen my mind completely
Have a heart hey, hey, hey, hey
Hold me sweetly, now
'Til tomorrow
Baby, baby
Baby please girl don't go, oooh
Don't you know I still love you so
Honey, if you leave me
I'll go crazy
I'll still care
Oh you know I'll still care for you
'Til tomorrow comes girl
I love you
Oh baby
Baby, baby, yeah baby
Oh, if you have to go
I won't say no more
I'll just shed a tear
When you're gone
And wish you were here
In this song, Til Tomorrow, Cassandre McKinley longs for her lover to stay with her for one more day. Addressing her lover as "baby" and "honey," she pleads for them to stay with her even though they have to leave. She professes her love and care for her lover while expressing her fear of being without them. She sings about the depth of their love and her desire for them to hold her until tomorrow.
The lyrics "You have stolen my mind completely" suggest that she is deeply in love with her partner and they have taken over her life completely. She is not ready to let go of the love they share and is willing to go through anything to make it work. The line "Have a heart hey, hey, hey, hey" is a call to her lover to empathize with her and consider her feelings before making any decisions.
The song expresses the classic theme of a love that is at risk of falling apart due to the impending departure of one partner. It also illustrates the universal longing for more time with someone loved. The song's tempo and McKinley's delivery of the lyrics creates a sense of urgency and longing, making the listener feel the desperation for one last chance with the partner.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, baby, baby
The singer is calling out to their lover
Baby please don't go
The singer is pleading with their lover to stay
Don't you know I still love you so
The singer is expressing their love for their lover
Honey, honey, honey
The singer is addressing their lover affectionately
Honey you know
The singer is asking if their lover is aware
I still care
The singer is expressing that they still have feelings for their lover
And I still got lots of
The singer is saying that they have more to give
Love to share
The singer wants to give their love to their lover
Ah, you for me, me for you
The singer is saying that they are for each other
Ah baby we'll be going through
The singer thinks they will go through a lot together
Love so deeply
The singer is expressing how deep their love is
'Til tomorrow
The singer wants their love to last until tomorrow and beyond
You have stolen my mind completely
The singer is expressing how their lover has captured their thoughts entirely
Have a heart hey, hey, hey, hey
The singer is asking their lover to be compassionate
Hold me sweetly, now
The singer wants their lover to hold them gently
'Til tomorrow
The singer wants their love to last until tomorrow and beyond
Baby, baby
The singer is addressing their lover affectionately
Baby please girl don't go, oooh
The singer is begging their lover not to leave
Don't you know I still love you so
The singer is expressing their love for their lover
Honey, if you leave me
The singer is saying that if their lover leaves, they will be heartbroken
I'll go crazy
The singer is saying that their mental health will be affected
I'll still care
The singer is expressing that they will still have feelings for their lover
Oh you know I'll still care for you
The singer is reassuring their lover that they will still have feelings for them
'Til tomorrow comes girl
The singer wants their love to last until tomorrow and beyond
I love you
The singer is expressing their love for their lover
Oh baby
The singer is addressing their lover affectionately
Baby, baby, yeah baby
The singer is addressing their lover affectionately
Oh, if you have to go
The singer is acknowledging that their lover may have to leave
I won't say no more
The singer doesn't want to argue or persuade their lover
I'll just shed a tear
The singer will be sad when their lover is gone
When you're gone
The singer is talking about when their lover leaves
And wish you were here
The singer will miss their lover and wish they were with them
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Marvin P Gaye
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind