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.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Legendary Love Songs invigorate
men’s club members and their spouses
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   ©  2015 — Kenneth Lelen — Al Rights Reserved

                                                                                       All Photos: George Barry
Ken Lelen at concert for Retired Men's Club of Greendale

held in the Worcester MA Senior Center on April 22, 2015

The Retired Men’s Club of Greendale hosted a morning coffee-and-donut social and concert for more than 135 people on Weds., April 22, 2015 at the newly updated Worcester Senior Center, which sits atop Vernon Hill in Worcester MA.

Vintage guitarist and vocalist Ken Lelen sang a baker’s dozen of love songs from the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. He also paired each song with an acoustic guitar from the same era for an authentic, back-in-the-day sound.

The romantic songs the musician performed originally were hits for such vocalists as Big Bill Broonzy, Mildred Bailey, Louis Armstrong, Rudy Vallee, Frank Sinatra, Kate Smith, Rosemary Clooney, Vera Lynn, the DeCastro Sisters and others.

Members and their wives 
A private, fraternal organization of more than 200 retired men, the audience included Club members and their wives for the social event, short business meeting and 45-minute concert.

The Legendary Love Songs program included these songs:

Glory of Love — This chestnut, written by Billy Hill in 1936, was a #1 hit for Benny Goodman. The Five Keys had a #1 R&B hit on it in 1951, and the song was famously recorded by Big Bill Broonzy in 1956 and Peggy Lee in 1959. Folksinger Tom Rush even made a worthy cover of Broonzy's hit in 1968.

I'd Rather Listen To Your Eyes — This obscure foxtrot by Harry Warren (music) and Al Dubin (lyrics) spawned fleeting hits in 1935 for Mildred Bailey (“Queen of Swing)” and Al Jolson, an emotional shouter known back in the day as “The World’s Greatest Entertainer.”

She’s Funny That Way — Written in 1928, this Neil Moret (music) and Richard Whiting (lyrics) torch song is told from a man’s point of view. First recorded by Gene Austin in 1928 and the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra (vocal by Jerry Cooper) in 1933, it lingered in obscurity until vocalists Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday, clarinetist Benny Goodman and tenor saxophonist Lester Young (“Prez”) recorded it in the 1940s and 1950s. Tony Bennett even recorded it twice, in 1967 and 1997, the latter version in a tribute to Billie Holiday.

I’ll Be Seeing You — Written in 1938 by Sammy Fain (music) and Irving Kahal (lyrics), this song was in a Broadway musical that closed after 15 performances. However, in the 1940s this wistful song was recorded extensively by, among others, Connee Boswell, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Billie Holiday and “The Incomparable Hildegarde.” It was a favorite on the home front as well as for home-bound soldiers in the Spring of 1945 as World War II ended in Europe.

Dream A Little Dream Of Me — Written in 1930 by Fabian Andre and Wilbur Schwandt (music) with Gus Kahn (lyrics), it was recorded in February, 1931 by singer and band leader Ozzie Nelson.

At the Greendale event Lelen recalled meeting a nonagenarian at a 2002 concert in Red Bank NJ who saw Kate Smith introduce “Dream A Little Dream Of Me” in April, 1931 at Boston’s Metropolitan Theater. Two years later he met an elderly man at a Bethlehem PA concert who helped build the Tremont Street theater in 1925. Recently, Lelen learned that after a $9.8-million restoration in 1983, the 3,600-seat facility became Wang Center for the Performing Arts. It was renamed Citi Center in 2006.

Teach Me Tonight — Written in 1953, this Gene DePaul (music) and Sammy Cahn (lyrics) song charted at #2 for the DeCastro Sisters (Peggy, Cherie and Babette) in 1955. Cahn even wrote a new verse for Frank Sinatra in 1984 to reference Frank’s many love affairs. 

Vintage guitar tones
The musician played several vintage acoustic guitars at the Greendale event. Each makes sound that is remarkble for its tone, sustain and character without the use of pick-ups or electronic gimmicks, he said.

The guitars Lelen played at the Greendale concert were:

•  1935 MarvelTone — rosewood grand concert by Regal Co. of Chicago;

•  1930 Galiano — spruce and mahogany auditorium guitar custom-made by Antonio Cerrito of New York City’s Little Italy;

•  1933 Señorita grand concert and 1936 Groton auditorium — both from Bacon & Day of Groton CT;

•  1933 Weymann #840 — spruce and mahogany grand concert guitar by the Weymann Co. of Philadelphia.

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Copyright © 2015 — Ken Lelen — All Rights Reserved

Friday, April 24, 2015


Posted Apr. 23, 2015 at 9:26 PM

Big Band Idols Concert at
Whipple Senior Center April 24
WEYMOUTH, MA — Weymouth Elder Services will host a free concert by vocalist and vintage guitarist Ken Lelen at 1 p.m., on Friday, April 24, at Whipple Senior Center, 182 Green St., Weymouth. For information, call 781-682-6140. 
     For an authentic back-in-the-day sound the musician will perform swing tunes from the Big Band era and pair each song with an acoustic guitar made in the same period.
     The program’s songs were originally hits in the 1930s and 1940s for such vocalists as Frank Sinatra, Mildred Bailey, Helen Forest, Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Shore, Jo Stafford, Peggy Lee and others. Back in the day these singers fronted Big Bands, jazz combos and society orchestras organized by such band leaders as Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Les Brown, Glenn Miller, Teddy Wilson, Duke Ellington, Paul Whiteman, Count Basie, Ted Weems and others. 
     Co-sponsored by Weymouth Elder Services and Weymouth Cultural Council, division of Mass Cultural Council, Lelen’s concert may include such hit songs as:
  
     •    “I’ll Never Smile Again,” Frank Sinatra, vocal, with Tommy Dorsey Orchestra;
     •    “Sentimental Journey,” Dinah Shore, vocal, with Les Brown's Band of Renown;
     •    “There I’ve Said It Again,” Vaughn Monroe, vocal, and his band;
     •    “Route 66,” Nat King Cole, vocal, and King Cole Trio;
     •    “Heartaches,” Ted Weems Orchestra with Elmo Tanner, whistler;
     •    “They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” Billie Holiday, vocal, with Count Basie Band;
     •    “Why Don’t You Do Right?,” Peggy Lee, vocal, with Benny Goodman Orchestra;
     •    “It’s Been A Long, Long Time,” Bing Crosby, vocal, with guitarist Les Paul;
     •    “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,” vocals by Ink Spots;
     •    “Moonglow,” Artie Shaw, clarinetist with his band;
     •    “Paper Doll,” vocals by Mills Brothers.

     Lelen’s program will trace the history and romance of the Big Band era. To introduce the songs, he’ll offer amusing anecdotes, musings and comments about the singers, songs, composers and band leaders of the era.
     The musician will display and play vintage acoustic guitars by Gibson, Martin, Regal, Schmidt and other U.S. firms. Each makes sound that is striking for its tone, character and sustain without use of pick-ups or electronic gimmicks.
     "People of all ages love the songs,” Lelen said. “They’re often surprised by the robust sound and classy look of vintage guitars.”
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Thursday, April 16, 2015

Big Band Idols 
Concert @ Whipple Senior Center — April 24, 2015 @ 1 pm
Hit songs of vocalists who fronted Big Bands, jazz combos and society orchestras
Vintage acoustic guitars from the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s
Sponsors: Weymouth Elder Srvcs and Weymouth Cultural Cncl, div. of MA Cultural Cncl

Clarinetist Benny Goodman and contingent
of Big Brass from his c. 1940 Jazz Orchestra
Weymouth Elder Services will offer a free concert by Ken Lelen at 1:00 pm on Friday April 24 2015 at Whipple Senior Center, 182 Green Street, Weymouth MA 02191.
     For an authentic back-in-the-day sound, vocalist and vintage guitarist Ken Lelen will sing jazz and swing hits from the Big Band Era and pair each song with a guitar made in the same period.
     With clever lyrics and memorable melodies, songs in Lelen's program were hits in the 1930s or 1940s for such vocalists as Frank Sinatra, Mildred Bailey, Helen Forest, Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Shore, Jo Stafford, Peggy Lee and many others. The singers often fronted Big Bands, jazz combos and society orchestras led by Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Les Brown, Glenn Miller, Teddy Wilson, Duke Ellington, Paul Whiteman, Count Basie, Ted Weems and many others.
     Co-sponsored by Weymouth Elder Services and Weymouth Cultural Council, the concert at Whipple Senior Center may include such favorite hits as:
Orchestra leader Tommy Dorsey with vocalist
Frank Sinatra at RCA Studios in 1941
     I'll Never Smile Again — vocalist Frank Sinatra with Tommy Dorsey Orchestra
     Sentimental Journey — vocalist Dinah Shore with Les Brown's Band of Renown
     There I've Said It Againvocalist Vaughn Monroe and his band
     Route 66 — vocalist Nat King Cole and his King Cole Trio
     Heartaches — Ted Weems Orchestra and whistler Elmo Tanner
     They Can't Take That Away From Me — vocalist Billie Holiday with Count Basie Band
Orchestra leader Benny Goodman and vocalist Peggy Lee
performing their 1943 hit, "Why Don't You Do Right?"

     Why Don't You Do Right? — vocalist Peggy Lee with Benny Goodman Orchestra
     It's Been A Long, Long Timevocalist Bing Crosby with guitarist Les Paul
     Don't Get Around Much Anymore — Ink Spots
     Moonglow clarinetist Artie Shaw and his band
     Paper Doll — Mills Brothers
     "Mr. Lelen is a genial performer, with a pleasant tenor," said New York Times. "The songs he plays will never go out of date."
     Lelen's program will trace some of the history and romance of the Big Band Era. To introduce the songs, he'll offer amusing anecdotes, savory musings or wry comments about the singers, songs, composers, band leaders and America in the 1930s and 1940s. 
     The musician will also display vintage acoustic guitars by Gibson, Martin, Regal, Schmidt and other U.S. firms. Each makes sound that is striking for its tone, character and sustain without use of pick-ups or electronic gimmicks.
     "People of all ages love these songs," Lelen said. "And they're pleasantly surprised by the robust sound and classy look of the vintage guitars."
Jazz pianist and band leader Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington, mid-1940s
      Info: 781-682-6140 and www.weymouth.ma.us/elder-services
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©  2015 — Kenneth Lelen — All Rights Reserved

Friday, April 3, 2015


Daily  News  Chronicle — homenewshere.com
Posted: Tuesday, March 31, 2015, 11:38 am

          Concert at Burlington Public Library
                                    March 26, 2015
                        Great American ragtime, jazz and swing from 1920s, 1930s and 1940s
                                             Vintage acoustic guitars from the same decades
 
                                                                                       Photo: Joe Brown

CONCERT AT THE LIBRARY — As part of Burlington Reads 2015, the Burlington (MA) Public Library presented Ken Lelen in a concert of ragtime, jazz and swing music from the 1920s through 1940s.
     His program included a special song, “Rider on an Orphan Train.” Here, Lelen performs with his vintage acoustic guitars from the same decades as the music.


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©  2015 — Kenneth Lelen — All Rights Reserved