Kenny Vance

As a kid in New York, Kenny Vance was captivated by the magic of rock'n roll. At the age of fifteen, he was hanging around the famed Brill Building, meeting other singers and songwriters. Eventually he formed the successful group Jay and The Americans, who had the distinction of opening for The Beatles and The Rolling Stones for each of their first U.S. performances.

Jay and The Americans (click to enlarge)

Kenny remained with Jay and The Americans throughout the group's eleven-year history, touring extensively and recording fifteen albums, which included the hits Come A Little Bit Closer, Cara Mia, She Cried, and Only In America. In the years that followed, Kenny Vance began an expansive career that kicked off with producing the first record for Walter Becker and Donald Fagen - Steely Dan. Kenny went on to compose, supervise and produce a long list of scores and soundtracks for feature films and television. He gave the film of the Alan Freed story, American Hot Wax, its musical life by recreating the groups of the 50's and 60's for the screen. The Planotones were formed for that film and gave their first on-screen performance. In addition, Vance served as musical director for Saturday Night Live and music supervisor for the films "Animal House," "Eddie & The Cruisers," and "Looking For An Echo." As an actor, Kenny has appeared in "Hurly Burly," "Billy Bathgate," "American Hot Wax," "Eddie & The Cruisers," and in the Woody Allen films "Manhattan", "Stardust Memories", "Crimes and Misdemeanors" and "Husbands and Wives".

Kenny's passion is singing. One he always maintained throughout a long and successful career in the entertainment industry. He re-formed The Planotones in 1992 and has brought this passion, along with his soulful vocals, to new heights.

In 2002, Kenny Vance was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall Of Fame; in 2007, he was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall Of Fame.

MUSIC CREDITS
Feature Films
2001	Pinero	Music Supervisor / Music Producer Director: Leon Ichaso Miramax
1999	Looking For An Echo	Music Supervisor / Producer / Composer of Original Score - All Music Performed by Kenny Vance and The Planotones Director: Marty Davidson Steve Tisch Productions
1999	Just Looking	Music Supervisor / Music Producer Director: Jason Alexander Sony Pictures Classics
1999	Sunburn	Music Supervisor / Music Producer Director: Nelson Hume Sweetland Films / Jean Doumanian Productions
1998	Story Of A Bad Boy	Music Supervisor Director: Tom Donaghy Sweetland Films / Jean Doumanian Productions
1998	Into My Heart	Music Supervisor - Composed and Performed End Title Song Director: Sean Smith / Anthony Stark Magnolia Films / Jean Doumanian Productions
1989	Eddie & The Cruisers II: Eddie Lives	Music Supervisor / Soundtrack Producer Director: Jean-Claude Lord Scotti Brothers / CBS Records
1989	Heart Of Dixie	Music Supervisor / Composer Original Score / Soundtrack Producer Director: Marty Davidson Orion Pictures / A&M Records
1988	Hairspray	Producer Title Song / Composer Original Score Director: John Waters New Line Cinema / MCA Records
1986	Eddie & The Cruisers	Music Supervisor / Soundtrack Producer Director: Marty Davidson Embassy / Scotti Brothers / CBS Records
1984	Streets Of Fire	Music Supervisor / Songwriter "Countdown To Love" Director: Walter Hill Universal / MCA
1979	The Warriors	Music Supervisor / Soundtrack Producer Director: Walter Hill Paramount / A & M Records
1978	Animal House	Soundtrack Producer Director: Jon Landis Universal / MCA Records
1978	American Hot Wax	Music Supervisor / Soundtrack Producer / Composer "Hot Wax Theme" Director: Floyd Mutrux Paramount / A & M Records
1969	You Gotta Walk It Like You Talk It	Music Supervisor / Producer Gem Records Performed by Steely Dan
Television
1994	Homeward Bound	Music Supervisor / Composer Original Music American Movie Classics (AMC)
1993	Lovers Of Deceit	Music Supervisor / Composer Original Score ABC
1988	Heart and Soul	Music Director / Composer Original Score ABC
1987	Long Gone	Music Supervisor / Composer Original Score HBO Films
1980-81	Saturday Night Live	Music Director / Composer Opening and Closing Themes NBC
Jay and The Americans
1961-72	Co-founder / original member (released 15 albums)
1964	Opening act for The Beatles' first U.S. performance
1965	Opening act for The Rolling Stones' first U.S. performance
1966	Tonight Show with Johnny Carson
1967-71	Produced Walter Becker and Donald Fagen (Steely Dan)
CD Releases
2007	Dancin' and Romancin'
2006	Soundtrack To The Doo Wop Era: A Kenny Vance Collection
2005	Lovers Island
2000	Looking For An Echo - Original Movie Soundtrack
2000	Live And Out Of This World
1998	Looking For An Echo (32 Records)
1994	Teenage Jazz
1989	Short Vacation
1975	Vance 32
Other Artists Produced and Performed With
Toni Basil, Danny O'Keefe, Delbert McClinton, The Kingsnakes, Ralphie Pagan, Yusef Lateef, Brooklyn Dreams, Peter Allen, Don McLean, John Cafferty and The Beaver Brown Band and others.
ACTING CREDITS
1998	Hurly Burly	Singer at funeral / Fineline
1997	Deconstructing Harry	Mr. Weinstein (into leather) / Miramax
1996	Everyone Says I Love You	Rabbi Norvin, duet with Tracy Ullman / Miramax
	The Last Bachelor	Singer, group leader / Beacon Films
1992	Husbands and Wives	Swinger / TriStar
1991	Billy Bathgate	Big Al, gangster / Disney
1989	Crimes and Misdemeanors	Murray Epstein, Woody's sister's date / Orion
1987	Tales From The Hollywood Hills: A Table At Ciro's	Tico Cugat, nightclub band leader / NET Films
1987	Power, Passion and Murder	Band leader / Direct Source Special Products
	Sweethearts	Swifty, gangster / Mambru
1983	Eddie & The Cruisers	Lew Eisen, record industry executive / Embassy
1980	Stardust Memories	Hollywood film studio executive / Orion
1979	Manhattan	Television director / Orion
1978	American Hot Wax	Professor LaPlano / Paramount

Kenny Vance and The Planotones PO Box 116 Ft. Tilden, NY 11695 (718) 634-3953

Copyright 2002 Kenny Vance and The Planotones