Kern Kennedy

Video

Oral History Information

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Deceased Date
Job Title
Musician, Keyboardist

Kern Kennedy tickled the ivories on a number of early rock and roll and rockabilly recordings back in the 1950s. It was the heyday for Sun Studios in Memphis right after the success of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis. Founder, Sam Phillips often called on Kern when a piano player was needed for the session and one day Sam asked Kern to play on a side for the wild man for rock, Sonny Burgess. The two became fast friends and toured on and off for the next 40 years together. Kern can be heard on Sonny’s own personal favorite Sun recording titled “Restless.”