Machine Gun Kelly

photo by Prphotos

Birth Name: Richard Colson Baker

Place of Birth: Houston, Harris, Texas, U.S.

Date of Birth: April 22, 1990

Ethnicity: Norwegian (three eighths), English, German, Scottish, distant Dutch and Welsh, 1/256th Shawnee Native American

Machine Gun Kelly is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, and filmmaker. Having worked in the alternative rock, hip hop, rap rock, and pop-punk genres, his songs include “Wild Boy,” “Bad Things,” and “My Ex’s Best Friend.” He has appeared in the films Beyond the Lights, Punk’s Dead, Nerve, Viral, The Land (2016), Bird Box (2018), Big Time Adolescence, Captive State, The Dirt (2019), The King of Staten Island, Project Power, The Last Son, Midnight in the Switchgrass, Taurus, Good Mourning, which he also co-directed and co-wrote; and One Way; and on the show Roadies. He has also been credited as Colson Baker, MGK, and Colson “MGK” Baker.

His parents, Sonia and James Colson Baker, were Christian missionaries, and his family lived in Egypt, Germany, and the U.S. He was raised by his father, mostly in Denver, Colorado, after his mother left.

He has a daughter, who is black through her mother.

Machine Gun Kelly’s paternal grandfather was Russell Alton Baker (the son of Dewey Colson Baker and Dora Ellen Goff). Rusell was born in Somerset, Kentucky, and had deep roots in the U.S. Dewey was the son of George Washington Baker and Anna Elizabeth Ping. Dora was the daughter of George James Goff and Nancy Thomas “Nannie” Smith.

Machine Gun Kelly’s paternal grandmother was Elizabeth Louise “Betty Lou” Waldon (the daughter of William Harvey Waldon and Marvel Anderson). Betty Lou was born in Le Roy, Illinois, and had deep roots in the U.S. William was the son of Jeremiah Edward Waldon and Nancy Cornelia Glasscock. Marvel was the daughter of William Sheridan Anderson and Rhoda Ellen Hupp. Jeremiah’s great-grandmother, Talithacuny “Charity” Marshall, was of Shawnee Native American descent through her mother.

Machine Gun Kelly’s maternal grandfather is Raymond Allen Kjos (the son of Theron Norman Kjos and Hilda Amalia Bratberg). Raymond was born in Minnesota. Theron Norman was of Norwegian descent, and was the son of Carl Throndsen Kjos, who had roots in Hafslo, Sogn Og Fjordane; and of Mina/Minnie N. Solberg. Hilda was the daughter of Martinus Carlsen “Martin” Bratberg, a Norwegian emigrant, from Østre Toten, Oppland, and of Regina/Gina Amalia Sundby, who was of Norwegian descent.

Machine Gun Kelly’s maternal grandmother is Ada Delores Nelson (the daughter of Adolph Nelie Nelson and Doris Esther Rank). Ada was born in Minnesota. Adolph was the son of Gudmund Nilsen/Nilsson Østebøe/Østbø, later Gudmund Nelson, a Norwegian emigrant, of Vikedal, Rogaland, and of Martha Larsdatter Lund, who was of Norwegian descent. Doris was of German and Scottish descent, and was the daughter of Lloyd William Ernst Rank and Janet/Jeanette Mae “Nettie” Gordon.

Sources: Marriage record of Machine Gun Kelly’s parents – https://familysearch.org

Genealogy of Machine Gun Kelly (focusing on his mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com

Marriage announcement of Machine Gun Kelly’s maternal grandparents, Raymond Allen Kjos and Ada Delores Nelson – https://www.newspapers.com

Birth record of Machine Gun Kelly’s maternal grandfather, Raymond Allen Kjos – https://familysearch.org

Machine Gun Kelly’s maternal great-grandfather, Theron Norman Kjos, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Marriage record of Machine Gun Kelly’s maternal great-great-grandparents, Carl Throndsen Kjos and Mina/Minnie Solberg – https://familysearch.org

Birth record of Machine Gun Kelly’s maternal great-grandmother, Hilda Amalia Bratberg – https://familysearch.org

Birth record of Machine Gun Kelly’s maternal grandmother, Ada Delores Nelson – https://familysearch.org

Machine Gun Kelly’s maternal great-grandfather, Adolph Nelie Nelson, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Birth record of Machine Gun Kelly’s maternal great-grandmother, Doris Esther Rank – https://familysearch.org