The Steel Guitar Forum

Long time ago... what a a shame he died... who knows him and who has some detail from him? He was living in Bakersfield, California and he had some "God" givin' talent!!!! I really miss him!

Kenny was a dear friend of mine, and you are right about his God Given Talent. When I was with Sierra in Portland, Or. I was able to drive to Bakersfield, Ca. and deliver Kenny his new Sierra we had just built for him. That was a big treat for me to watch him and listen to him play his new steel for the first time there in his home. This was before he went on the road with those big time touring groups. He was one of the very best, and is sadly missed.
Bill Stafford

Andy Zahnd wrote:Long time ago... what a a shame he died... who knows him and who has some detail from him? He was living in Bakersfield, California and he had some "God" givin' talent!!!! I really miss him!

Sorry that I caught your post late. I played with Kenny back in the early '70s when he was still a high school kid. He was a great guy and a fabulous talent. He became something of a little brother to me and the rest of the guys in the band. I was working on a music degree at the time and lost track of him when I moved to attend North Texas. I'd see him from time to time when he came through the Dallas area. Over time he developed a lot of personal problems that eventually took their toll. His memorial service was in Cliff, NM back in '02. Very sad, but Kenny was a much loved individual. RIP, old friend.

I know this is also late, but I would just like to thank all of you for your kind words about Kenny. He was my Dad and I know he could play,but I was still surprised to find others in the music community that also appreciated his talent as much as I do. I grew up underneath that Sierra Steel so I guess I didn't notice it as much back then. Thank you gentleman for sharing your memories of him I really appreciate it.


Grady H Trantham

Hey Grady, don't know if u remember your Dad talkin about the early years but Kenny was my like my brother in those days with the Bucky Allred Band and Clay Mac, and a few others. He was here at my place back in '97along with our old guitarist, Kas Nelson. It's hard for me to talk about him still. Email me if u want, take care.....Stormy

Grady, did I meet you back in the late '90 when I visit Kenny in Bakersfield? I'm not shure.... I guess I'm getting old!But for shure your Dad had something special in his playing! I still have his playing in my ears!

I first knew Kenny when he was playing with one of Herb Graham's project bands out of Odessa, TX. Then, a couple years later, I found he was playing with my old friend Clay Mac in Ruidoso, NM. MAN those two guys could do some awesome twin guitar parts, even though Clay has always primarily been known for his fiddle! And Kenny was the first player I ever saw who used one of those Melobar slide guitars onstage, and he was amazing with it.

I'd heard he passed away years ago, but I could never find out how or why.

What a loss. Such a world-class talent.

I first met Kenny when he was working for Bucky Allred. Their bass man was my friend Lynn Daniel from Lubbock Tx and I played guitar for Lynn's brother. The Bucky band had some time off and Kenny came to visit with Lynn. we became friends then.

A year or so later I was a beginner steel player working in Clovis, N.M. We were eating one night after work when Kenny walked in. We got together and spent time at the Caravan Clovis where he was playing one afternoon and he taught me a lot. I still have the cassette of the lessons that day and it took a while to learn it. Kenny was a monster then and had a black ZB that screamed.
I was working Vegas in the early 80's when Clay Mac was there and I got to spend time with them. What a great band they had and Kenny was truly a great player. Kenny came to Reno and called me some years later. He told me he was mainly working in Bakersfield, but this band got a booking at the Nugget in Sparks. We had a great time then and I never saw him again. I was heartbroken to hear that he died so young. Kenny was a true friend and mentor.

I first met Kenny when he was working for Bucky Allred. Their bass man was my friend Lynn Daniel from Lubbock Tx and I played guitar for Lynn's brother. The Bucky band had some time off and Kenny came to visit with Lynn. we became friends then.

A year or so later I was a beginner steel player working in Clovis, N.M. We were eating one night after work when Kenny walked in. We got together and spent time at the Caravan Clovis where he was playing one afternoon and he taught me a lot. I still have the cassette of the lessons that day and it took a while to learn it. Kenny was a monster then and had a black ZB that screamed.
I was working Vegas in the early 80's when Clay Mac was there and I got to spend time with them. What a great band they had and Kenny was truly a great player. Kenny came to Reno and called me some years later. He told me he was mainly working in Bakersfield, but this band got a booking at the Nugget in Sparks. We had a great time then and I never saw him again. I was heartbroken to hear that he died so young. Kenny was a true friend and mentor.

I did not know Kenny but Harold Sanborn was a friend of his. Harold has his Sierra Steel and plays locally here in Bakersfield. Teddy Spanky played with him and told me he could play six string as well as he played Steel.