A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Kinney formed Drivin N Cryin with bassist Tim Nielsen and drummer Paul Lenz after moving to Atlanta, Georgia in 1985.

A prolific songwriter, collaborator and performer, Kinney has been noted for his numerous side projects throughout his career, all while keeping Drivin N Cryin an active band.

As a solo artist, he recorded the 1990 folk rock album MacDougal Blues with members of R.E.M., followed by Down Out Law in 1994.

Kinney's 2000 album The Flower & the Knife was recorded with various members of the jam-band scene, including Warren Haynes and John Popper.

In 2011, Kinney released an album with The Golden Palominos, a long-standing musical collaborative project headed by Anton Fier.