Even though Mckenzie Diamond currently resides in Richmond, Virginia she is a native of Guyana who derived her stage name from the town in which she was born (Mackenzie Linden).
Makenzie was born Sue-Ann Melba Providence on March 17, 1986 to Tessa Providence and Marlon Richmond. Marlon a well- known singer and musician formed a band with his brother Stevie Richmond and performed locally at different venues in Linden. Ironically Mckenzie would follow right in her father’s footsteps despite leaving Guyana at an early age.
Mckenzie knew she loved to sing and began doing so at the early age of 3. Her mother was determined to make a better life for herself, Mckenzie and her older sister (Stacy Alberts) so she moved to the United States when Mckenzie was only 4 years old. There she resided in Brooklyn, New York’s Flatbush area with their grandmother (Melba Providence) and attended P.S. 92. McKenzie would often surprise her mother with trophies she won at school talent shows for belting out hits like Whitney Houston’s ” The Greatest Love of All”. Who would have ever known that little shy and timid Mckenzie could sing? She later relocated to Bedford Stuysavent where she attended I.S. 271 and involved herself in performing arts.
Mckenzie has a style like no other in the local music business as she belts out her sultry eclectic mix of ballads and neo soul. Mckenzie often mixes the two with ease in a rare, energetic and entertaining way that fuses the two genres of old school soul with new school flare. Her musical taste spans more than a generation and reads like a who’s who in the music industry. She list some of her major influences with such legendary names like Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Jackie Wilson, Whitney Houston, and of course ” The King of Pop” Michael Jackson.
Mckenzie is certainly a diamond in the rough but she is quickly becoming a polished jewel as she continues to perfect her craft.If you ever have the opportunity to see her perform don’t pass up on the chance as it will certainly be well worth your while and not easily forgotten. Mckenzie is truly a jewel of the Caribbean and will shine bright like a diamond, for a long time to come.
