I first performed with Kenny on Thursday May 26th, 2005 at Shaw's Crab House in Chicago, IL. A few weeks earlier, I met and performed with blues legends Mr. "Steady Rollin'" Bob Margolin and Kenny's father Mr. Willie "Big Eyes" Smith at the Rumboogie Cafe in Memphis, Tennessee. Bob and Willie highly recommended Kenny to me, as they knew I was in search of a world class professional drummer.
From the first hit of his snare drum, I knew Kenny was the perfect drummer for the band. Kenny has impeccable time and groove and always plays a creative and appropriate part no matter what the style of music whether it is blues, rock, funk, bluegrass, Celtic, or Zydeco. However, there is no denying that Kenny is one of the best blues musicians in the world. I'm not just saying this because of his reputation and the numerous world class artists he has performed and recorded with.... Kenny plays drums and sings from the heart, but does so with authenticity and style. You actually feel the music, instead of just simply hearing it. Once you see and hear him live in the band, I guarantee you will know exactly what I am talking about, and even my words don't do justice to what Kenny brings to the table.
Kenny was raised in the heart of the Chicago blues scene. While other babies listened to nursery rhymes, Kenny listened to the blues, and the blues in Kenny's house were played by America's finest. His father, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, is one of the best-known living blues drummers. Willie played in Muddy Waters's band for some 30 years. So, it's only natural that Kenny grew up with a drumstick in his hand and a back beat in his head. Muddy Waters and his band were like family to Kenny, they encouraged his music and were his mentors. I feel Bob Margolin summarizes Kenny's perfrmances best when he stated, "Kenny plays in the moment and provides a great drum part in any musical situation. He listens and creates in an instant. Kenny is certainly already one of the best drummers out there. Trust me on that. I've been on bandstands with some of the best---and the worst."
Undoubtedly, Kenny is a pro's pro. Our band performs over 250 shows a year, as we are very busy full time performers. Kenny performs over 600 shows a year, and aside from from being our full time drummer, Kenny performs as a guest artist with numerous bands throughout the world! In early March of 2007 my band members and I were joking with Kenny that he is the "hardest working man in show business." No joke, it was reported on the news the next day that James Brown's body went missing....
