12/14/2016 – Ben McKee – “Passengers” Los Angeles Premiere – Arrivals – Regency Village Theatre – Westwood, CA, USA – Photo Credit: Izumi Hasegawa / PRPhotos.com
Birth Name: Benjamin Arthur McKee
Place of Birth: Forestville, Sonoma, California, United States
Date of Birth: April 7, 1985
Ethnicity: Irish, German, Scottish
Ben McKee, also known as Soft Hands McKee, is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is the bassist of the rock band Imagine Dragons. The band’s members also include Daniel Platzman, Dan Reynolds, and Wayne Sermon.
Ben’s paternal grandfather was named William D. McKee. William was born in Forest Hills, New York.
Ben’s paternal grandmother was Lyn Messenkopf (the daughter of Charles F. Messenkopf and Inez McCloskey). Charles was the son of Laurence/Lawrence/Lorenz Messenkopf, who was German, and of Katherine, who was born in Pennsylvania, to German parents. Inez was the daughter of Charles J. McCloskey and Lenora/Leonora C. Davis.
Ben’s maternal grandfather was John “Jack” Muldoon (the son of John Muldoon, Jr. and Esther Carroll). Ben’s grandfather Jack was born in Berkeley, California. John Jr. was a member of the American rugby union team which won the gold medal at the 1920 Summer Olympics. He was the son of John Muldoon, whose parents were Irish, and of Teresa/Theresa J. Scully, whose father was Irish and whose maternal grandmother was Scottish. Esther was born in Minnesota.
Ben’s maternal grandmother was named Diane.
Sources: Obituary of Ben’s maternal grandfather, John “Jack” Muldoon – https://www.legacy.com/obituaries
Obituary and genealogy of Ben’s maternal great-grandfather, John Muldoon, Jr. – https://www.findagrave.com
Ben’s maternal great-grandfather, John Muldoon, Jr., on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Ben’s maternal great-great-grandmother, Teresa/Theresa J. Scully, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org