From:   "Dik de Heer"  
Date:  Sat Aug 10, 2002  2:03 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Jerry Kennedy

JERRY KENNEDY (By Shaun Mather)

Born 10 August 1940, Shreveport, Louisiana

Jerry Kennedy was there during the early days of rock 'n' roll and has
maintained a career in country music ever since. He has been with Mercury
Records for nigh on 40 years, working as a guitarist, a producer and an A&R
man for Mercury records, attaining success in all three endeavors. Born in
Shreveport, LA, Kennedy became a teen idol in his local school after he was
offered a singing contract at age 11. Although he never became a vocal star,
throughout his teens he lent background vocals to several Mercury acts.
After doing session work around Shreveport and east Texas, Kennedy was
persuaded to move to Nashville by Mercury Records' Shelby Singleton. His
arrival in 1961 coincided with country music's boom period of the '60s and
he was soon called upon to not only scout talent for Mercury, but to play
and produce sessions as well. He played a significant role in the resurgence
of Jerry Lee Lewis in the late '60s, producing and playing guitar on most of
the Killer's country records. He also played guitar for Elvis, Ringo Starr
and Kris Kristofferson. He became vice-president of Mercury Records'
Nashville division in 1968 when his mentor Shelby Singleton left. Kennedy
himself left Mercury in 1984 and has since created his own company,
producing the Statler Brothers and others.

(Adapted from All Music Guide.)