Kenny White, NYC Singer/Songwriter, Returns to the Watchung Arts Center

The Watchung Arts Center will present a performance by singer/songwriter Kenny White, on Saturday, May 17 at 8 PM. Noted for  his soulful and witty material accompanied by dazzling keyboards and guitar, Kenny White comes to the world of the touring singer-songwriter following a long and successful musical path.
Born in New York City and raised across the river in Fort Lee, New Jersey, White began his career in the 1970s, touring extensively as the keyboard player for Jonathan Edwards and Livingston Taylor.  He then became a fixture in the NY studio scene throughout the 1990s, producing and arranging literally hundreds of commercials for TV and radio beginning with “The Unsinkable Taste of Cheerios,” and including nearly seven years of Chevrolet’s “Heartbeat of America,” campaign.  Through commercials, White was able to work with artists as renowned and varied as Gladys Knight, Linda Ronstadt, Ricky Skaggs, Aaron Neville and the London Symphony Orchestra.  He also worked on many film soundtracks as a contributing writer/musician, including Message in a Bottle, A Walk on the Moon, Where the Heart Is, and four films by John Sayles.  He produced Shawn Colvin’s Grammy-nominated song, “I Don’t Know Why,” and performed on Marc Cohn’s platinum debut record.
After being hailed by reviewers from the New York Times to the San Francisco Chronicle for his “thrilling” and “unique” piano playing,  White chose, in 2001, to devote himself to making his own album,  one that not only showcased his talent as a musician, but also as a lyricist.  His work in the studio enabled him to assemble an A-list team of players for UNINVITED GUEST.   He began traveling with and opening shows for many of his friends and colleagues including Cheryl Wheeler, Jonathan Edwards, and Richard Shindell.  An early copy of his follow-up record, SYMPHONY IN 16 BARS, landed in the hands of Judy Collins, who then signed him to her own Wildflower Records label, releasing the CD in 2005, followed by the EP, NEVER LIKE THIS. His latest recording, COMFORT IN THE STATIC was released in 2010 to critical acclaim, landing on many Favorite Album of the Year lists.
His record producing credits include the last three solo CDs for Peter Wolf, formerly with the J. Geils Band:  FOOL’S PARADE, SLEEPLESS (named one of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” by Rolling Stone) and MIDNIGHT SOUVENIRS, debuting at #45.  White recently traveled to Livomo, Italy, to accept the International Songwriting Award at the 18th Annual Premio Ciampi music festival.  He has toured extensively with Judy Collins throughout Europe and North America and performs the duet “Veteran’s Day” on her new BOHEMIAN CD.  He continues to tour with Cheryl Wheeler, appearing on her new live recording, GREETINGS, which he also produced.
Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 ($22 WAC members, $10 students) at the door. Tickets may be purchased online at watchungartscenter.eventbrite.com. To obtain more information about upcoming performances, classes and workshops, and monthly art exhibitions, please visit WatchungArts.org or call 908-753-0190.
The Watchung Arts Center, located at 18 Stirling Road in Watchung on the Watchung Circle, is a multi-disciplinary performing arts facility serving Watchung, the surrounding communities and the Tri-State Area.