Warren Kennison & True Blue GrassTraditional Bluegrass
Jelene Kennison - guitar * Terry Burr - bass * Warren Kennison - banjo, mandolin, finger-style guitar, fiddle Contact:
Warren Kennison & True Blue Grass is a trio composed of Jelene & Warren Kennison, and Terry Burr, all of Golden CO, who have played together since 1998. Warren is well known around the country for his playing and singing. Born in Seattle, and raised in Denver CO and Detroit, after mastering folk style banjo in his early teens, he began learning Scruggs style at Earl Gormaine's Pick and Strum Shop in Royal Oak, Michigan. Soon he was asked to teach at Herb David’s Guitar Studio in Ann Arbor. Then in 1965 Earl Scruggs asked him to help produce the all-time best selling instruction book and record, Earl Scruggs and the 5-String Banjo. After fulfilling his government service in 1967-68 as a computer technician and VISTA volunteer in WV, he moved west and has become known as one of Colorado's favorite banjo players. When bluegrass greats including Bill Monroe, Hylo Brown, Josh Graves and Kenny Baker asked who could back them during local appearances, one name came to mind. His ability to naturally fill in on banjo and guitar/vocals led to job offers to join both Monroe’s Bluegrass Boys and Brown’s Timber liners. He has helped launch the careers of a number of aspiring bands, including Colorado's own, Hot Rize. And just recently his greatest thrill was being invited to perform with Earl Scruggs and Friends at this year’s Oklahoma International Bluegrass Festival. Warren is the banjo, mandolin, finger-style guitar player, fiddler, and tenor vocalist in True Blue Grass. They have been performing together at local and regional events, entertaining audiences with a wide repertoire of songs and tunes drawn largely from bluegrass, folk and country music. Their smooth vocals blend naturally and easily with fast driving banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar and upright bass to create a uniquely enjoyable listening experience. Jelene’s talent and charming stage personality have won her a legion of fans, friends and admirers. She was born in Enid, and grew up on her parents’ ranch in western Oklahoma near the Cimarron River, as well as in California and Oregon. While in grade school she eagerly began learning the guitar, banjo and fiddle music that her grandfathers proudly showed her. Soon she was accepted as a student and then a teacher at Julliard graduate, Don Guthrie’s, music studio, where she studied 9 years. And after mastering music theory, Spanish, classical and flat-picking guitar, she remains true to her roots, the bluegrass and country music that her family played in Oklahoma. While in high school and college she sang in many traditional and gospel groups, and also traveled and made radio and TV appearances with her own band, singing mostly country and old-time folk music. Since graduating from Phillips University and expanding her horizons beyond her home state of Oklahoma, she has raised a family, begun her own business, owned and operated a successful full-line music store and studio, Arvada CO Music, and become well known and well loved as a vivacious and charismatic entertainer with an arrestingly beautiful voice, as well as a sensitive guitar teacher, shrewd concert promoter, and businesswoman. She packs one mighty wallop on flat-picking rhythm and lead bluegrass guitar, a daunting task in and of itself. Jelene is the lovely and engaging guitarist, alto vocalist and M.C. in True Blue Grass. Terry’s laconic, easygoing personality and musical savoir faire have put his prodigious talents in great demand, as a bassist, finger-style guitarist and baritone vocalist. Terry was born and raised in California, where he learned to play at an early age, and soon studied guitar and bass and later assisted Bob Baxter and others at famed McCabe’s Music in Los Angeles. Before he and his family moved to Golden, when career took him to West Texas, he became widely sought after by bluegrass bands as an “upright” bass player, and soon began restoring old basses, one of which he currently plays. His accomplished and innovative bass playing, engaging and outgoing personality and sense of humor can always be counted on to add a lot to any music performance. Terry is the accomplished bass player and baritone vocalist in True Blue Grass. Jelene and Warren also teach music lessons and promote concerts. They have played together under the name True Blue since 1981. Highlights of their careers include: opening for Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, opening for Jim & Jesse McReynolds & the Virginia Boys, opening for Alan Munde & Joe Carr, an appearance in Nashville at the Gibson Bluegrass Showcase, and concert/recording in Prague with Czech bluegrass band, Country Cocktail. TOP |
