Beverly Kenney

[felser]

Just discovering her right now courtesy of a set on one of the unmentionable PD labels.  She had a stunning voice and impeccable phrasing, was quite beautiful, yet seems mostly forgotten (it took me 43 years to hear of her), had major issues and a tragic existence, and was dead by suicide at 28,  Fascinating article on her here:

https://lonesomebeehive.wordpress.com/2011/05/04/rock-n-roll-suicide-beverly-kenney-1932-1960/

Any other love for her on the board?

[jazzbo]

I've known about her for over two decades, but I confess I've never become enamored of her as you have. I have several Basie-related recordings and they're okay . . . but. . . . Maybe I'll revisit them sometime soon.

[JSngry]

Whole thing in a nutshell, eventually:

 

[fasstrack]

Great singer, tragic demise. She recorded with Johnny Smith among others, and wrote and recorded a song called I Hate Rock 'n' Roll...

[king ubu]

Another fan checking in ... those two double disc sets are most welcome, I think they pretty much cover all bases.

[ghost of miles]

My colleague Mark Chilla, who now hosts Afterglow, recently devoted a program to her:

Beverly Kenney Born To Be Blue

 

[page]

Oo yeah, Beverly! I discovered her 3 years ago, I think. Maybe Duane pointed her out, could be. Also because she did a song I have on my repertoire and I was curious about her rendition. She was something, defiinitely!

[mjzee]

There's an article on her in today's NY Post.  I've seen the ad and noticed the singer; I thought she sounded a lot like Stacey Kent, but determined it wasn't her.  Now I know: Beverly Kenney: https://nypost.com/2021/12/16/tragic-life-of-singer-in-new-lincoln-aviator-ad-revealed/

[Peter Friedman]

My wife and I have heard that Lincoln Car commercial on TV quite a few times. Could not identify the female vocalist that sounded very good. Googled it last evening and discovered it was Beverly Kenny.

I had one of her LPs long ago, but never cared much for it and disposed of it decades ago. After hearing her on the commercial, am now interested to hear her again.

[Stereojack]

Years ago I heard about her from some jazz vocal fans who were high on her, but I didn't catch on at the time. I couple of years ago I managed to get a multi-CD set on the Real Gone Jazz label (a "grey label" release, no doubt, but decent quality) that contains all six of her LP's. I have to say I find her quite intriguing. Haven't seen the Lincoln commercial, but will watch for it.

[GA Russell]

Is this it?

 

[medjuck]

I  notice there are several of her Lps on Spotify.  My late friend, Jim Monaco, was a big fan and attempted to have some of her then out of print records rereleased.  Nothing came of it. 

Edited December 22, 2021 by medjuck

[trane123]

Really like Beverly Kenney.  I've got both of the Fresh Sound compilation CDs.  The album she did with the "Basie-ites" is a favorite.  There's a bunch of demos on the end of that Fresh Sounds CD that are just her and a pianist that I really like as well.

[Larry Kart]

On 12/22/2021 at 10:55 PM, GA Russell said:

Is this it?

 

There's another one, wiith a woman by herself blissfully reclining the driver's seat while the car is stopped. That is Kenney singing the same song though.

[GA Russell]

I gather (from Michael's New York Post article) that all of her CDs are needle drops, correct?