His love for music first came as a child, when his older brother, Frank, would bring back records from the United States, whilst working out at sea in the Navy:[2] "First of all he'd bring country stuff like Eddy Arnold and Hank Williams, the next minute it was Johnny Cash, then Gene Vincent, Elvis, and Eddie Cochran.

9" went to number two on the U.S Cash Box and their version of Pete Seeger's modern folk-style song "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?"

Following the departures of Tony Jackson in August 1964, Chris Curtis in mid 1966, and Mike Pender in December 1985, McNally was the last original member of the classic 1960s line-up who remained in the band.

[5] McNally remained with the band over 60 years, touring alongside Frank Allen, who replaced Tony Jackson in August 1964, until their last concert on 31 March 2019.

[7] The tour contained McNally, Allen, Spencer James (who had replaced Pender in 1985), and new member Richie Burns, and started on 13 April, at the Wimborne Tivoli in Wimborne, Dorset, and is set to end on 17 June 2023, at the Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool, where the band originated from.

In November 2008,[9] McNally sold a grand piano he bought some time in the 1960s, who the likes of Gerry Marsden and Billy Butler had played on, for a Charitable organization.

[10] The auctioning of the piano was shot and aired on Dickinson’s Real Deal, and was sold at Dunes Leisure Centre, in Southport.

[10] In March 2009, McNally organised a Gala Moulin Rouge Ball to raise money for Wirral Autistic Society.