Kenn Smith
| Kenn Smith | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kenneth LaMont Smith |
| Born |
27 April 1962 Chicago, Illinois, North America, United States |
| Genres | Jazz fusion, jazz, instrumental rock, blues, funk, ambient, electronica, progressive rock |
| Occupation(s) | musician, producer, composer, guitarist, bassist, educator |
| Instruments | guitar, bass |
| Years active | 1983-present |
| Labels | Kenn Smith Music |
| Associated acts | Chi-Lites, Bernie Mac, R. Kelly, Tom Tom Washington Laney Stewart, |
| Website | www |
| Notable instruments | |
| , Gibson Les Paul Fender Jazz Bass, Fender Precision Bass |
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Kenn Smith (born April 27, 1962), birth name Kenneth LaMont Smith, is an American guitarist, bassist, composer, educator and journalist, born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Well versed in many styles of music, Jazz, Classical, Rock, Ambient.
As a child of the 60s and 70s, living on the West Side of Chicago, his ears laid full of the sounds of Motown, Soul, Funk, Country, Jazz and Rock. From television shows such as Hee Haw, (where he discovered his first guitar Idol Roy Clark) to Midnight Special. Where both mother and father listen to Jazz, Blues, Soul, and R&B records daily, as well as a neighborhood filled with amateur and professional musicians. It was a great time to be a young aspiring guitarist.
When the family move to the south-side of Chicago in 1975, Smith began his guitar studies at age 13 with a visit to the local music store purchasing two Mel Bay books. In 1978, the family moved to the western suburbs of Chicago Maywood, Illinois. At the age of 16 he began classical guitar studies with guitarist Bruce Walters, and later continue studies at Jack Cecchini Studio in Chicago till 1982.
While attending Proviso East High School, he played electric and classical guitar as well as timpani in the Proviso Township Orchestra, electric guitar and bass in the Proviso East High School jazz band, were he received the Louis Armstrong Award for Outstanding Jazz Improvisation during his senior year.
In 1982, Kenn began his career teaching guitar at Robinson's Music Academy in his home town of Maywood, Illinois, as well as performing with local funk and fusion bands in town and the Chicago area. All while attending Columbia College of Chicago, studying music management and production. In 1987 he attend the American Conservatory of Music where he studied jazz guitar and composition. In between those years of teaching, performing and study, Kenn became an avid fan of progressive rock and fusion and developing skills as a guitarist, bassist and composer in said styles.
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