Jerry Kennedy passed away at the age of 85 after playing a formative role in the American music industry, playing the guitar behind most of the songs known to music enthusiasts around the world.
The legendary star passed away on Wednesday, February 11 in his hometown of Nashville from undisclosed causes.
The country musician was a naturally talented child and signed to his first record label at just 11 years old, formed a band at 18 and soon began collaborating with the rising stars of the time.
Kennedy can be heard playing guitar on Roy Orbison. Oh pretty womanJeannie C. Riley Harper Valley PTA., Bob Dylan Blonde on blonde sessions, Elvis Presley, Kris Kristofferson and Ringo Starr.
The Grammy winner forever left his mark on country music, as Kyle Young, executive director of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, stated: “As a first-call session musician, he created signature licks that were as recognizable as song titles, and as a producer and record label executive, he built a sonic platform for giants to stand on. He had a spiritual understanding of the power of music to reach beyond social and stylistic boundaries, and he dedicated his career to making it better. and bigger.”
Kennedy is survived by three children, Gordon, Bryan and Shelby Kennedy, all of whom followed in their father’s footsteps into the music industry.
