b. Kenny Lynch, 18th March 1938, Stepney, London, United Kingdom
d. 18th December 2019, London, City of London, Greater London, England
Kenny Lynch is a singer and songwriter from London.
His Sixties singles have become highly collectable today, mainly sought after by fans of Northern Soul.
Throughout the Sixties, Kenny was one of a select few U.K. Black singers performing during that era.
He is also highly regarded as an actor and Jazz singer.
Born in Stepney in London during 1938, Kenny was one of 13 siblings.
maxine daniels
Kenny’s sister, Gladys, went on to perform as a Jazz singer, performing under the stage name of Maxine Daniels.
On leaving school, a young Kenny went into part time work, before entering National Service
in the Royal Army Service Corps.Whilst in the army, he became an accomplished boxer, fighting in the featherweight division.
On leaving the Services, he decided to become a singer, signing to the HMV imprint in 1960.
His first single, ‘Mountain Of Love’ b/w ‘Why Do You Treat Me This Way’ became an instant hit, charting at number 33.
Further hit singles followed, including ‘Up on the Roof’ b/w ‘Jump On Your Broomstick’ (in 1962), and ‘You Can Never Stop Me Loving You’ b/w ‘Crazy Crazes’ (in 1963).
1963, also saw Kenny release his version of the song ‘Misery’ b/w ‘Shut The Door’, which was released a few months prior to the Beatles own version, featured on their debut ‘Please, Please Me’ album that year.
The song was originally intended for the U.K. singer Helen Shapiro, however, her manager declined the Lennon and McCartney song, leaving Kenny to record his own version, which was later to become the first cover song recorded of a Lennon and McCartney composition.
The single highlighted a strong relationship that Kenny struck up with the Beatles, later to be further enhanced with Kenny’s inclusion on the Paul McCartney and Wings album cover ‘Band On The Run’.
up on the roof - 1963 / we like kenny - 1974 / singin' and swingin' - 1978 / half the days gone and we haven't earned a penny - 1983
Kenny had become a sought after songwriter, during the Sixties. He penned many of his own songs, also co-writing the Small Faces' number 3 UK pop hit, ‘Sha-La-La-La-Lee’, in 1966.
with the singer lulu
He also penned songs for the ‘Song For Europe’ entries, at various times during his career.
In 1964, Kenny released the first of two singles which were later to become huge Northern Soul favourites, namely ‘My Own Two Feet’ b/w ‘So Much To Love You For’.
my own two feet b/w so much to love you for - 1964 / movin' away' b/w could i count on you
The upbeat single was followed by the second ‘Northern’ single ‘Movin' Away’ b/w ‘Could I Count On You’, which was to become his final 45 for HMV that year.
‘Movin’ Away’ was an unusual, very highly regarded, single for the Northern market.
The song was no Motown-esque footstomper, but a tender ballad, and probably Kenny’s finest 45.
in the film 'the criminal' in 1960 (alongside kenneth cope)
Throughout the Seventies and Eighties, Kenny’s career took on a more celebrity role, seeing the singer appearing on various television shows, including Celebrity Squares, Z-Cars, The Sweeney, Til Death Us Do Part and Treasure Hunt.
In 1983, a surprise return to the Soul scene realised the unusually titled dancer ‘Half The Day’s Gone and We Haven’t Earned A Penny’, which was a hit, and was accompanied by an album of the same title on the Satril imprint.
He is often seen in the company of celebrities, and still charity fundraises by participating in football and cricket matches.
wings photo shoot for 'band on the run' in 1973
Although Kenny’s musical career has been fascinating post 1970, it is his Sixties back catalogue which is of huge interest to this date, for the Soul Music fraternity.
after dark - 1993 / nothing but the real thing - 2004
A terrific retrospective was released in 2004, entitled 'Nothing But The Real Thing', the selection covers most of Kenny's best Sixties sides.
Kenny passed away in December 2019.
Singles:
HMV POP751 1960 - Mountain Of Love / Why Do You Treat Me This Way #33
HMV POP786 1960 - Slowcoach / You Make Love So Well
HMV POP841 1961 - So / Love Me
HMV POP900 1961 - The Story Behind My Tears / Steady Kind
HMV POP985 1961 - There's Never Been A Girl / Doll Face
HMV POP1005 1962 - It Would Take A Miracle / Strolling Blues
HMV POP1057 1962 - Puff / Happy That's Me #33
HMV POP1090 1962 - Up On The Roof / Jump On Your Broomstick #10
HMV POP1136 1963 - Misery / Shut The Door
HMV POP1165 1963 - You Can Never Stop Me Loving You / Crazy Crazes #10
HMV POP1229 1963 - For You / With Somebody
HMV POP1260 1963 - Shake And Scream / Harlem Library
HMV POP1280 1964 - Stand By Me / Baby It's True #49
HMV POP1321 1964 - What Am I To You / That's What Little Girls Are Made For #37
HMV POP1367 1964 - My Own Two Feet / So Much To Love You For
HMV POP1430 1965 - I'll Stay By You / For Loving You Baby #29
HMV POP1476 1965 - Nothing But The Real Thing
HMV POP1496 1965 - Get Out Of My Way / One Look At You
HMV POP1534 1966 - The World I Used To Know / Come On Come On
HMV POP1577 1967 - I Just Wanna Love You / It's Too Late
HMV POP1604 1967 - Movin' Away / Could I Count On You
Columbia DB8329 1968 - Mister Moonlight / The Other Side Of Dreamland
Columbia DB8498 1968 - Along Comes Love / Sweet Situation
Columbia DB8599 1969 - The Drifter / Did I Stay Too Long
Albums:
Up On The Roof (HMV Records 1963)
We Like Kenny (MFP Records 1974)
Singin' and Swingin' (One Up Records 1978)
Half The Days Gone And We haven't Earned A Penny (Satril Records 1983)
After Dark (Elgin Records 1993)
Nothing But The Real Thing (RPM Records 2004)
