Machine Gun Kelly

Machine Gun Kelly is a title most often associated with George Kelly Barnes (1900–1954), an American gangster. Known for his heavy use of a Thompson submachine gun, hence his nickname, Barnes became infamous during the prohibition era. His most notorious crime was the kidnapping of the wealthy Ohio businessman, Charles Urschel, which eventually led to his arrest and conviction. In a separate realm of fame, the pseudonym Machine Gun Kelly is also attributed to the well-known American rapper, Richard Colson Baker (born 1990). Pioneering a rapid-fire lyrical flow highlighted by his stage name, Baker is widely acknowledged in the music industry with numerous awards and notable collaborations. Furthermore, the title has been used in the film industry with a 1958 film portraying the life of the gangster, and has found a place in sports, gracefully worn by Harry 'Machine Gun' Kelly (1961), an American basketball player, and Kelly Williams (1982), a Filipino-American basketball player. Famed radio disk jockey M. G. Kelly (1952) also shares the label. The ubiquity of the Machine Gun Kelly name continues in the music world with James Taylor recording a song of the same name, and a 1994 album by Wesley Willis carrying the title. The moniker is also present in a track by Angelic Upstarts from their 'Last Tango in Moscow' album.