Kenny Loggins will be performing at The Rose in 
Pasadena this Thursday, November 30th at 9 p.m.
Saturday, December 2nd at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills and
Sunday, December 3rd at The Canyon in Agoura Hills. Get your tickets here: http://www.kennyloggins.com/tour.php
By: Judy Shields
Los Angeles, California (The Hollywood Times) 11/28/2017 – “I have never played the Rose and I started at the Glendale Ice House. When I was a kid, my first band was called “The Second Helping” and we were regulars at the Glendale Ice House.” Kenny Loggins told the Hollywood Times during a telephone conversation this week.
The interview was truly a great honor and he sure is a great storyteller.
THT: Do you prefer intimate venues or large stadiums?
Kenny: “I prefer intimate. I like to tell stories, I like to talk about the early days and where the songs came from. People have grown up with the songs and they are interested in the history.”
THT: When did you get your first guitar?
Kenny: “I stole it from my big brother. He bought it and ended up putting it on his wall. My Brother Dan was just four years older than me and he had a strict rule that I was not allowed to go into his room or touch any of his stuff. I had to sneak his guitar off the wall when he wasn’t home and I would learn to play it and put it back on the wall so that he wouldn’t beat me up when he came home. One day I suddenly knew how to play the guitar, so we pulled out a Beatles’ song and we played some Beatles songs together. I always thought he had the better voice, but you know how it is with big brothers.”
THT: Yep, you can’t tell them anything, right?
Kenny: “Yeah! I tried to get him in my band, but he didn’t like showing up for rehearsal, so the guys in the band were upset about that.”
THT: What did your brother end up doing for his career?
Kenny: “For many years, he ended up being an A&R man at CBS and got hired by Clive Davis. He and his best friend Don Ellis both got hired out of Discount Records in Berkeley. They were both managers there. Don became the president of Columbia Records eventually and Dan was a high up A&R guy for RCA Records and then Columbia and he signed a bunch of people. We both ended up in music for quite a while and then he quit in the 80s. I stole his guitar, it was a nylon string Kay. When I auditioned for Jimmy Messina, that was the guitar I played.”
THT: Thanks for sharing that story.
Kenny: “Thanks for asking, no one has ever asked me that!”
THT: What, come on?
Kenny: “Yeah!”
THT: “How long did you live in Detroit?”
Kenny: “I was born Everett, Washington and my Dad was immediately transferred to Detroit and I don’t know how long I was there, just a brand-new baby. Detroit would have made a great story, too.”
“I got my dog from Detroit, accidentally. I have a Cavalier King Charles and I hadn’t plan on getting him, but I went with my friend to get one for his kid and I ended up getting one for me too. So, I named him Ryder after Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels.”
“My friend, who lived near Detroit knew Mitch Ryder, so I didn’t know he knew him and he told Mitch Ryder, that Kenny Loggins named his dog after him and he was very pleased. I was only there for a few months and my Dad transferred back to Seattle. I am really from Seattle.”
THT: Did you have musical influence there?
Kenny: “No, I was seven when we left Seattle and came down to LA. I moved near Pasadena, so I’m excited to go perform at The Rose in Pasadena. I lived in Alhambra. I went to Pasadena City College and I dropped out of course to go out on the road with the Electric Prunes band. That was a psychedelic band in the end of the 60s. I sang “Danny’s Song” at House of Pooh Corner and people walked out. Yep.”
THT: You have recorded and collaborated with so many artists over the years was there any one artist that stands out?
Kenny: “That is a tough one to answer. I remember when they asked Fred Astaire who is favorite dance partner was, he always declined to answer that because he didn’t want to make anyone mad at him. Let me say that I have recorded with some great duets and David Foster is a brilliant writer and we wrote some great things together and of course Michael McDonald. “
“I always clicked with Michael and I totally get him. I have enjoyed working with all of them. But most notably is David Foster and Michael McDonald.”
THT: What is your back story with you and Jim Messina?
Kenny: “I auditioned with my brother’s guitar and it was not a great guitar. I didn’t know Jimmy and I were almost the same age. He is like one month older than me. My brother and Don Ellis, who would later become the president of Columbia, they were pushing for me and Jimmy to meet and work together. They were in a management training program for Columbia Records with Clive Davis and they were the ones who turned me on to Jimmy Messina through Clive Davis. That ties everything together.”
THT: If you hadn’t been a singer, what occupation do you think you might have chosen?
Kenny: “Homeless! I didn’t know how to do anything else. I might have gotten into carpentry. I love working with wood. I was deep into wood carving and was getting pretty good at it and then the knife slipped and plunged into my left hand and severed the nerve. So, I had to give up the wood thing to let me hand heal, so that I could play the guitar passively.”
Don’t miss your opportunity to see Kenny Loggins, live in person while he is touring here locally at The Rose in Pasadena on Thursday, The Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills on Saturday and The Canyon in Agoura Hills on Sunday. I can guarantee a good time for all.
Footloose, I’m Alright! This is It, Danny’s Song, Forever and the list goes on.
To find out more about Kenny Loggins, check out his website and social media below:
http://www.kennyloggins.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KennyLoggins
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekennyloggins/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kennyloggins
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/KennyLogginsVEVO
Hollywood Walk of Fame – Kenny was awarded a star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame on August 23, 2000. The star is located at 7021 Hollywood Blvd.
