Kenny Cordray facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kenny Cordray
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kenneth Cordray |
| Born | July 21, 1954 |
| Died | May 21, 2017 (aged 62) |
| Genres | Rock, hard rock, instrumental rock, blues rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, producer, guitar instructor |
| Instruments | Guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, vocals |
| Years active | 1957–2017 |
Kenneth Cordray (born July 21, 1954 – died May 21, 2017) was an American guitarist and songwriter. He was known for playing amazing instrumental music. Kenny Cordray performed with many famous musicians like John Mayall, John Lee Hooker, and Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top.
Kenny became the lead guitarist for a band called The Children. He also helped write the song "Francine" for ZZ Top's album Rio Grande Mud. This song was quite popular, reaching number 69 on the Billboard Hot 100 music chart.
Kenny Cordray also played and wrote music with Jaco Pastorius, a very famous bass player. He was part of Wayne Cochran and the C.C. Rider band. While with the C.C. Riders, Kenny even played with rock and roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis on TV and in concerts.
Kenny's Bands and Music
After playing with the C.C. Riders, Kenny moved to New Orleans. There, he formed his own band called Cordray. This group included talented musicians like Clay Hemphill, David Lee Watson, Allyn Robinson, and Mark Campbell.
In 1991, Kenny started another band called The Civilians. They recorded a CD titled Miracles. A few years later, in 1992, Kenny, Dave Foster, and Todd Harrison formed a new group. They called themselves Kenny Cordray and Blue Science, and they played a powerful style of Texas rock and blues.
In 2012, Kenny released an album called It Takes Everything with his band, Love Street. The Houston Chronicle newspaper said Kenny was "one of Houston’s greatest guitarists." His last album, C-R-C, came out in 2014. It was a project with Mark Campbell and Allyn Robinson.
Teaching and Inspiring Young Musicians
Kenny Cordray loved to share his musical knowledge. For many years, he gave guitar lessons to both kids and adults. He also ran a special summer program called Rock Camp Live. This camp was for young musicians aged 10 to 18 who wanted to learn and play music in the Houston and Galveston Bay Area. He helped many young people discover their passion for music.
Legacy
Kenny Cordray passed away on May 21, 2017. He is remembered for his incredible guitar playing and for inspiring many musicians. His musical journey is even mentioned in a book called Boys From Houston: The spirit and image of our music.
