# Kenn Smith > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kenn_Smith > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kenn_Smith.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenn_Smith > Source revision: 1283948596 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Infobox musical artist | name = Kenn Smith | image = Kenn_Smith_Musician.jpg | background = non_vocal_instrumentalist | birth_name = Kenneth LaMont Smith | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1962|4|27|df=y}} | birth_place = [Chicago, Illinois](/source/Chicago%2C_Illinois), [North America](/source/North_America), [United States](/source/United_States) | instruments = [guitar](/source/guitar), [bass](/source/Bass_(guitar)) | genre = [jazz](/source/jazz), [instrumental rock](/source/instrumental_rock), [blues](/source/blues), [ambient](/source/Ambient_music), [electronica](/source/electronica), [progressive rock](/source/progressive_rock) | occupations = [musician](/source/musician), [producer](/source/record_producer), [composer](/source/composer), [guitarist](/source/guitarist), [bassist](/source/Bass_(guitar)), [educator](/source/educator) | label = Kenn Smith Music | years_active = 1983-present | associated_acts = [Chi-Lites](/source/Chi-Lites), [Bernie Mac](/source/Bernie_Mac), Tom Tom Washington, [Laney Stewart](/source/Laney_Stewart), [Johnny Frigo](/source/Johnny_Frigo), [Jodie Christian](/source/Jodie_Christian), [Najee](/source/Najee), | website = {{URL|https://kennsmith.wixsite.com/kennsmithmusic}} }} '''Kenn Smith''' (born April 27, 1962), birth name '''Kenneth LaMont Smith''', is an American guitarist, bassist, composer, educator and journalist, born in [Chicago, Illinois](/source/Chicago%2C_Illinois). He plays ambient, jazz, classical, rock and progressive rock. ==Early years== As a child he lived on the [West Side](/source/West_Side%2C_Chicago) of Chicago. When the family moved 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](/source/Mel_Bay) books. In 1978, the family moved to the western suburbs of [Chicago](/source/Chicago) [Maywood, Illinois](/source/Maywood%2C_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](/source/Chicago) till 1982.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}} While attending [Proviso East High School](/source/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](/source/Proviso_East_High_School) jazz band, where he received the [Louis Armstrong](/source/Louis_Armstrong) Award for Outstanding Jazz Improvisation during his senior year. ==Career== In 1982, Kenn began his career teaching guitar at Robinson's Music Academy in his home town of [Maywood, Illinois](/source/Maywood%2C_Illinois), as well as performing with local funk and fusion bands in town and the Chicago area. All while attending [Columbia College of Chicago](/source/Columbia_College_of_Chicago), studying music management and production. In 1987 he attend the [American Conservatory of Music](/source/American_Conservatory_of_Music) where he studied jazz guitar and composition. In between those years of teaching, performing and study, he became a fan of progressive rock and fusion, developing skills as a guitarist, bassist and composer. thumb|200px|Kenn Smith 2012 In 1986, he began his career as a freelance guitarist and bassist, performing on Chicago's jazz, blues and rock scene. But it wasn't till 1989 his professional career took off, working as a guitarist at the Chicago Cotton Club. Sharing the stage with [Bernie Mac](/source/Bernie_Mac), [R. Kelly](/source/R._Kelly) and others who got their start there. It was also where he later formed his first jazz trio and open for jazz musicians [Shirley Horn](/source/Shirley_Horn), [Stanley Turrentine](/source/Stanley_Turrentine), [Freddie Cole](/source/Freddie_Cole) (brother of [Nat King Cole](/source/Nat_King_Cole)), [Art Porter](/source/Art_Porter%2C_Jr.). As a jazz side man he played with [Jodie Christian](/source/Jodie_Christian), Guy Fricano, [Johnny Frigo](/source/Johnny_Frigo), [Bobby Broom](/source/Bobby_Broom) and [Najee](/source/Najee). In 1992, he was asked to tour as a guitarist with the R&B group the [Chi-Lites](/source/Chi-Lites), and did so until 1994. He then went on doing tours and session work with other performers. As a recording artist for his own label Kenn Smith Music, he has written, produced and recorded eight (8) albums. (1997) BLUE, (2002) TWO, (2006) Short Stories, (2011) Samples, (2012) If I Remember, (2014) Vintage Me, (2016) Themes and a classical music release (2017) Classic Me. As an author and journalist he has written an instruction book for electric bass and numerous articles for online magazines [Mel Bay](/source/Mel_Bay) Bass Sessions and [Bass Musician Magazine](/source/Bass_Musician_Magazine). File:Kenn Smith - Guitarist.jpg|Kenn Smith - Guitarist File:Kenn Smith - Bassist.jpg|Kenn Smith - Bassist ==Discography== ===Solo albums=== * ''BLUE'' (1997) * ''TWO'' (2002) * ''Short Stories'' (2006) * ''Samples'' (2010) * ''If I Remember'' (2012) * ''Vintage Me'' (2014) * ''Themes'' (2016) * ''Classic'' (2017) ==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}} ==External links== * [https://kennsmith.wixsite.com/kennsmithmusic] kennsmith.com Official Website * [http://www.globalbass.com/archives/dec2001/kenn_smith.htm] GlobalBass.com bass interview in 2000 * [http://www.allmusic.com/artist/kenn-smith-mn0002083684] allmusic {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Kenn}} Category:1962 births Category:Living people Category:American jazz guitarists Category:American rock guitarists Category:American jazz composers Category:People from Maywood, Illinois Category:20th-century American bass guitarists Category:Jazz musicians from Illinois Category:American male jazz composers Category:20th-century American male musicians --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kenn Smith](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenn_Smith) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenn_Smith?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.