[1] He learned to play piano at a young age,[2] and when he was 14 he toured as a pianist with a one-man travelling show, which consisted of ventriloquism, magic and comedy.
At the age of 18, he joined the Royal Irish Animated Picture Company in Tipperary, Ireland, a travelling film show managed by Arthur Jameson.
[3] After the First World War, during which he served with the Durham Light Infantry,[2] Mackey moved to Brighton and after a while started playing with Jack Hylton's orchestra.
In this band Mackey played the piano, accompanied by Dick Langham (tenor sax), Bert Heath (trumpet), Bill Blanche (banjo) and Ralph Hussey (drums).
[2] He later became one of Britain's foremost dance band leaders,[4] working with many other musicians, including Al Bowlly (1929), Art Christmas (1931–33), Jack Jackson (1930–31) and Ivor Mairants (1929).