Jerry Kennedy

Jerry Kennedy was just a young teenager when he and a friend heard Elvis Presley’s first Sun recording. They were blown away by the electric guitar they heard but later realized from photographs that Elvis played acoustic. Determined to learn more, they went to see Elvis when he performed in their hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1955, before his meteoric rise to fame. They eventually discovered that the guitarist was Scotty Moore but were disappointed that the screaming fans made it difficult to hear his playing. Ironically, Jerry’s remarkable talents as a guitarist later led him to perform on the Louisiana Hayride and record with both Elvis and Moore. As a Nashville studio musician, Jerry was heard on hundreds of recordings, including Bob Dylan’s album Blonde on Blonde, and played Dobro on Jeannie C. Riley’s 1968 hit “Harper Valley PTA.” He also built a successful career as a record producer, signing notable artists such as Roger Miller, Tom T. Hall, and the Statler Brothers, which included acclaimed songwriter Don Reid.