Ken Whiteley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ken Whiteley
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| Birth name | Kenneth David Whiteley |
| Born | April 30, 1951 Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Genres | Folk |
| Instruments | Guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, ukulele, jug, piano, accordion, harmonica, kazoo, percussion, vocals |
| Years active | 1965–present |
Kenneth Whiteley (born April 30, 1951) is a very talented musician. He is also a producer and a composer. This means he helps make music and writes songs. Ken plays many different instruments. These include the guitar, banjo, mandolin, and piano.
He started playing folk music in the early 1970s. Folk music is a type of music that often tells stories. Ken often played at the Mariposa Folk Festival. He also recorded and toured with Raffi, a famous children's musician. Ken often performed with his brother Chris Whiteley. Later, he played with his niece Jenny Whiteley and nephew Daniel Whiteley. Ken Whiteley has won many awards for his music. He received a Genie Award in 2004. In 2008, he was honored by the Mariposa Festival Hall of Fame.
Ken Whiteley's Early Life and Music Career
Ken Whiteley was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. His parents were from Canada. When Ken was five years old, his family moved to Toronto, Canada. He started learning to play the guitar when he was twelve. Young Ken was inspired by folk, blues, and jug band music.
He began performing with his older brother, Chris Whiteley. In 1965, they formed a band called the Original Sloth Band. A clarinettist named Tom Evens joined them. The band recorded three albums. They also played at many folk festivals. These included the Mariposa Folk Festival, the Winnipeg Folk Festival, and the Vancouver Folk Festival. In May 2017, Ken became a special member of the Toronto Musicians' Association.
