Ken Lelen

Ken Lelen
Ken Lelen sings great American ragtime, jazz, swing and pop tunes in his concerts and plays vintage acoustic guitars for an authentic, back-in-the day sound.

Friday, September 27, 2013

NORTHJERSEY.COM : NEWS
Vintage guitars, vintage songs
at Vernon library performance
SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
BY JANET REDYKE
CORRESPONDENT — AIM VERNON
                                                                                                       PHOTO/JANET REDYKE
Ken Lelen strums and sings the folk song, "If I Had a Hammer."
The Friends of the Library of Dorothy Henry Library in Vernon sponsored a vintage guitar and music concert called Folk Song Boomers at the library on Sunday, September 22, featuring singer and guitarist Ken Lelen.
     The performer was introduced by Friends’ president Eleanore O’Mara,who told the audience of 40 people to be prepared to "go back in time."
     "Folk songs have always been a part of America’s history," she said. "These songs have announced social change, paid tribute to the civil rights movement and denounced war."
     Guitarist Ken Lelen began playing the guitar in 1963 as a teen to "get girls to notice him." Lelen later realized it’s drummers who really attract girls.
     Fifty years later Lelen has perfected his talent, collecting amazing mahogany-and-spruce constructed guitars dating from 1908 to 1952 and made by companies like Gibson, Martin and Washburn. He actually has collected several dozen vintage guitars, which age well and have beautiful tones. His wife insists Lelen has GAS, or Guitar Acquisition Syndrome. 
     "You cannot get this sound out of a box with plastic knobs," Lelen joked.
     Playing his folk boomer music, Lelen sang "Blowin’ in the Wind," "If I Had a Hammer" and other favorites that brought smiles to the faces of the audience as they recognized the tunes. Lelen also offered impressive tidbits on folk artists like Bob Dylan, Richard Farina, Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie.
     After an afternoon of reflective music, Lelen concluded the concert by playing and singing "Good Night, Irene," with the appreciative audience joining in the sing-along.
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