Kenny Vernon

Born on 19 July 1940 in Jackson, Tennessee, Vernon grew up immersed in country sounds, an influence stemming directly from his older brother’s steady radio program that featured discs by visiting performers. Those same touring musicians occasionally stopped by the family residence, where they would strike up spontaneous performances indoors or outside. Turning professional soon afterward, Vernon achieved his first sustained breakthrough during the mid-1960s in Las Vegas, Nevada, holding a long-term engagement at the Golden Nugget that continued for roughly fifteen years. With that reliable income he purchased property, concentrating his holdings in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the city that served as his home for several years. His discography includes a 1972 cover of Buddy Holly’s “That’ll Be The Day,” which climbed to number 24 on the U.S. charts, along with additional titles such as “Woman Won’t You Make Up My Mind,” “Oh Why Not Tonight,” “Ain’t That A Shame,” “Free Born Man,” “I’ll Tell You Where To Go,” “Raining On A Sunny Day,” “The Bridge Washed Out,” “Nashville Union Station Depot,” and “Up On Cripple Creek.” He also teamed with LaWanda Lindsey on well-received duets that encompass “Eye To Eye,” “Let’s Think About Where We’re Going,” “Looking Over Our Shoulder,” and “We Don’t Deserve Each Other.”