Wed 4 Mar 2009
Hear the Kenny Wayne interview where he talks about his love for Fats Domino, Johnny Johnson, and Boogie-Woogie. Plus you will hear some great songs from Can’t Stop Now.
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Kenny Wayne was born in 1944 in Spokane, Washington USA. He spent his early years living in New Orleans, LA, and San Francisco. His father was a preacher, and so they moved around a lot. Kenny started playing piano when he was around eight years old. His mother loved Boogie-Woogie music, so when his father was not at home they would play Boogie-Woogie. Later in 1962, Kenny was working one of his many gigs, this time for Jimmy Reed. His parents came to see him play, but his dad was not pleased that Kenny was working in a bar. A fight started, with one man attacking another with a broken bottle. Blood sprayed all over the place. Kenny’s dad jumped up, grabbed his wife with one hand, ran on stage, and yanked Kenny off the piano bench and out they went. Well, that ended Kenny’s blues career for over 20 years.
By the late 60’s Kenny was in with the Los Angeles soul/R&B scene. Working with people like Delaney, Bonnie, & Friends (See show on the late Delaney Bramlett). Delaney Bramlett even produced a ‘45 that Kenny and his band made. He became one of the first keyboardist for artists to call when they were coming into town and needed a keyboardist. He also worked with Billy Preston, Sly Stone, and the Doobie Brothers.
In the late 70’s, Kenny moved to Canada where he established himself as a very talented keyboardist.
At this time he was playing R&B, but he started playing more blues, as well as jazz. Then he toured Europe with the Joe Louis Walker Band (listen to the show on Joe Louis Walker). This gave a lot of the blues societies a chance to hear his music and book him for future shows. This is also where Johnny Johnson (Chuck Berry’s piano player, & writer of a lot of Chuck’s early hits) first heard Kenny play. In 2002 Kenny released 88th & Jump Street followed by Let It Lose which won a Juno Award (Canada’s Grammy’s).
In 2008, Kenny put out this very cool CD Can’t Stop Now. Which is a great title because you can’t stop playing this CD. He kicks it off with “Boogie Woogie Mama,” a fun up beat danceable song. “You Can Pack Your Suitcase” is one of the songs Fats Domino did, and Kenny just loves this song. He does a good job on it to. “Judge by the Look” is a R&B song with nice lyrics. “You Cured My Blues” is a very beautiful song that reminded him of an old friend Charles Brown (piano player). Another friend of his was the late Jeff Healey, who plays on this song. “Let’s Have Some Fun” could be a good title for this CD too. This is just what Kenny Wayne is all about, enjoying life and having some fun. I really like what he did with tracks 9 & 10. Track 9 is the song “Tangueray” by Johnny Johnson from his Johnny B. Bad CD. Kenny does a very nice version of this song. The song is followed by “Johnnie J. Was Good” a song about Johnny Johnson. He even came to St. Louis to record the song as Johnny’s wife looked on. The CD ends with “The Party’s Over,” another really fun song. As you will hear in the show, this is a really good CD to start your party with. Everyone will be having a great time. Below are some of the places you can buy this CD. Kenny Wayne is going to be on tour very soon, so be sure you get out and see him. Kenny will be performing at BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soup in St. Louis on April 22, 2009 (I’ll see you all there). Kenny will also be performing Knuckleheads Saloon in Kansas City on April 23, 2009. For a full list of shows go to his website.
The songs in the show are:
Boogie Woogie Mama
Ragin’ Storm
Johnnie J. Was Good
The Party’s Over
Kenny Wayne’s CD’s
Buy Kenny Wayne Can’t Stop Now at his Website
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