Sunday, August 19, 2012

Lenny Kay - The Man, The Legend


Slideshow tribute to Lenny Kay, lounge band drummer who has called the Harrisburg, PA area his home for more than 50 years, and the many musicians he's played with over the years.

Lenny Kay has been around forever...or so it seems. Lenny started his musical career in ninth grade, working with a 12-piece big band that he started in the coal regions of north central Pennsylvania. When the big band work slowed, he transitioned to small groups working the local club circuit. Several years later while serving in the U.S. Army in Berlin, Germany, he played on weekends with a German jazz group.

Shortly after his discharge, he along with four other fine musicians formed "The Nitecappers" and hit the road. They soon became a hot group working the East Coast and Canada, and were a staple in Wildwood, NJ and other eastern shore points. The Nitecappers shared the stage with many top entertainers and musicians of their era.

After years of traveling, Lenny decided to settle down and make his home near Harrisburg, PA - a great city for music. Along with his son, a fine musician aptly named "Lenny Younger", Lenny formed the Lenny Kay Band. The band had a very distinct sound. Using Lenny's road experience and expertise, the Lenny Kay Band soon became very popular with a great following in south central Pennsylvania.

Lenny has performed in many venues from the East Coast to Las Vegas. Ask anyone in the area if they know Lenny Kay..their answer is, "You betcha I know Lenny Kay, doesn't everybody?"

The band took on the name Lenny Kay Revue in the 1980's, and several personnel changes followed throughout he 1980's, 1990's, and 2000's.

Officially. the Lenny Kay Revue played it's final job under that name on 12/31/05-1/1/06 for the New Year's Eve celebration at the Hotel Hershey with personnel of Lenny Kay, Bob Mentzer, Scott Simpson, and Ken Glace. However, one more little-known peformance was played under the band name Lenny Kay Revue in late 2007 with Lenny Kay, Lenny Younger, and Bob Mentzer.

The curator of the linked YouTube account, Bob Mentzer (aka Bobotmedia), was keyboard player and lead singer for the Lenny Kay Revue from 1995 through 2007 and is the creator, producer and editor of this video.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Secret Love - Nitecappers - c. 1965

Cap Cleary, Danny Grant, Lenny Kay, Joe Marnickas
Here's a gem from the Nitecappers at the Harrisburg Moose around 1965. An upbeat showy arrangement of Secret Love features nice licks by Joe Marnickas on sax, Cap Cleary on trombone, Danny Grant on B3, and Lenny Kay on drums. Cappy, you bastard!

Secret Love
MP3

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Danny Grant Experience - Carriage House 11/15/1975

Lenny Kay playing with the Danny Grant Experience at the Carriage House on 11/15/1975.  Captured from aging reel-to-reel tapes and surely the only copy of this live performance known to exist. The great jazz guitarist Bill Fisher plays with the group.

The More I See You
A great tune featuring Danny Grant on vocals and of course organ
MP3

Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye
A really cool arrangement slowly grows to a dramatic finale. If there was any doubt that Danny Grant had B3 chops, this should end it.
MP3

Moonlight In Vermont
Beautiful rendition by jazz great Bill Fisher on guitar.
MP3

Chaser 2
Sometimes you need a quick chaser to end a set. This works, short and sweet.
MP3

210 Trio - Live at the 210 Club

One of the many musical groups Lenny Kay played with over the years was the 210 Trio that played live at the 210 Club in Harrisburg, PA in the early 1970's. Featured here is Ray Myers on vocals and brass, Lenny Kay on drums, and the incomparable Danny Grant on organ.

Danny Grant Jam
MP3

Girl Talk
MP3

My Kind of Girl
MP3

Goin' Out Of My Head
MP3

Graduation Day
MP3

Walk On By
MP3

Monday, February 13, 2012

Honky Tonk - Lenny Kay Revue - 1999

Lenny Younger, Lenny Kay, Bob Mentzer
Lenny Kay Revue playing Honky Tonk in 1999. Personnel was Lenny Kay on drums, Lenny Younger on Sax, Bob Mentzer on keyboard and bass.

Honky Tonk
MP3

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Honky Tonk - Nitecappers

Cap Cleary, Lenny Kay, Danny Grant, Bob Farr, Joe Marnickas
Lenny Kay with the Nitecappers playing Honky Tonk back around 1960...awesome!

Honky Tonk
MP3

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Nitecappers - Pottsville Radio

Cap Cleary, Joe Marnickas, Bob Farr, Lenny Kay
Waaaay back "in the day", Lenny Kay played with the Nitecappers.  Date of this recording is estimated at 1960 as heard on Pottsville Radio in northern PA. What I call "Ba-Dip-Ba-Dah" is such a cool riff with smooth horn players! And of course, the immortal Night Train.

Ba-Dip-Ba-Dah riff
MP3


Night Train
MP3