Remembering Kenny Peterson

Toddy Waddy!  Not a nickname I would have picked for myself, but that's how Kenny greeted me every time I came into rehearsal, usually followed by a hug or fist bump.  He said it with such joy and warmth that I couldn't help but to like it, despite it sounding like an elementary school insult.  It wasn't an insult though- that's not who Kenny Peterson was.  Instead, Kenny was the guy who encouraged people, helped them relax and made them feel glad to be where they were. 

He passed away a few weeks ago.  I only knew him through the few years we spent together in the Vinyl Groov band, but they were some really fun years, both musically and personally, in part because of Kenny.  On stage he was a smooth, soulful singer.  Off stage he had thousands of stories that made those long, boring "wait" times pass quickly at gigs.  He was one of the reasons I chose to join Vinyl Groov instead of the few other bands I was experimenting with at the time.  He just had a way of keeping things loose and fun. 

Kenny is the third Vinyl Groov band member to have passed since I joined the group roughly ten years ago.  The others were vocalist Tony Dozier and bassist Rodney McKay, themselves both great musicians and great people. 

Kenny will be missed, as the others are, but I'm glad our paths crossed for a few years. My life is better for it.

1 comment