Sonny Kenn Band

One can easily draw a line of musical lineage from Jersey Shore guitarman Sonny Kenn to rock ’n’ roll six-string originators Eddie Cochran and James Burton. Heck, Kenn, who hit the scene in ’65, still has a short back-and-sides pompadour. No wonder Bruce Springsteen called him one of the legends of Asbury Park. Kenn is known for his music, but he’s also been leaving his mark on canvas — he’s a painter who will have his first public showing in the “A Life Of Vision & Sound” exhibit, Friday, Aug. 8 through Sept. 28 at the Where Music Lives gallery on Cookman Avenue in Asbury Park. “I’ve been painting just as long as I’ve been playing, maybe even longer,” Kenn said “When I do painting, I do it for myself, I’m totally free and it’s very quiet and you’re by yourself. It’s nothing like the format of (making music) with a lot of people on a stage – it’s less kinetic than playing on a stage.” Kenn is the master of twangy tones and raucous reverb on stage. Behind the easel, Kenn studied at Mercer County Community College, the former Trenton State College and under the tutelage of renowned portrait artist Mel Leipzig. “Everybody back then (in the late ’60s and early ’70s) was doing abstract things and I was doing more representational stuff,” Kenn said. “(Leipzig) said everybody out there is abstract but not everybody is doing these.” Perhaps the best way to describe Kenn’s work is realistic with elements of abstract. He’ll have signed prints and paintings on sale, ranging from $30 to a few thousand dollars, and he’ll be playing his guitar like ringing a bell 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10 at the grand opening. Also, check out Kenn and his trio Friday, Aug. 8 at Barnacle Bill’s on First Street in Rumson. There will also be photos of Kenn by Stone Pony photog John Cavanaugh and others on display at Where Music Live. “I’m kind of nervous, I guess that’s a good thing,” Kenn said. “It’s good to have the juices flowing.” Source: The art of Jersey Shore rocker Sonny Kenn Website: Sonny Kenn Band Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.