KEN GAINES

SINGER/SONGWRITER

Hi Folks,

Welcome to my world. As a traveling singer/songwriter my goal is to become locally known…everywhere.

I hope you’ll peruse these pages and consider having me perform my songs for you. I’ve come to the realization that I have nothing better to do with the rest of my life. It’s probably all I’m good for anyway so I’ve just let go the tiller, spread my sails, and will go where the music blows me. I’m available for festivals, concert series, clubs, or in your home for a house concert.

There’s so much going on lately it’s hard for me to keep up with me. My recent move to the Pacific Northwest has me introducing myself and my music to a brand new home territory. After over 20 years of producing & hosting the Thursday night Songwriters’ Series at Houston’s legendary Anderson Fair.
I'm looking  to do something similar in the Portland, OR area. I'll also be teaching songwriting at Portland's Artichoke Community https://www.artichokemusic.org/

I’m also an experienced MC for your upcoming event as well as a teacher of the art and craft of songwriting and performance with an entire semester of theme-specific seminars geared toward expanding songwriters’ knowledge of their craft and a “Basics of Performance” seminar which emphasizes clarity as well as the proper use of a sound system. Lately, I’ve worked up 3 one-hour-long performance lectures; “The Songs of Lennon vs. McCartney”, “From Lazy Bones to Moon River, The Songs of Johnny Mercer”, and "The Songs I Grew Up With" featuring tunes from the 1920's, 30's, 40's, 50's, and 60's. 

Meanwhile I'll be touring back to Texas every Spring/Summer which will include acting as MC for the Songwriter Serenade, a role I’ve enjoyed for the past 11 years. I was also MC for the Texas Music Awards, for 11 years. I was selected Singer/Songwriter of the Year at the 2005 TMA’s. In the past I’ve been selected twice for official showcases at the Folk Alliance International conference as well as the Southwest Regional Folk Alliance conference. I’ve been a regular participant in these conferences as a performer, a showcase room producer, and a member of the health team with emphasis on eating healthy on the road.

I’m also a regular performer at the Kerrville Music Festival with over a dozen appearances in the past 34 years. I perform as a single act, an experienced “in the round” host, or with partners, Wayne Wilkerson, Karen Mal, Butch Morgan, Bill Ward and quite a few others. To top it off, touring regularly takes me all over the U.S. as well as my home state.

My role as a songwriting and performance skills teacher has expanded to working with youngsters of almost every age. For 14 years I been worked with the Boys and Girls Club of Central Texas taking two groups to perform for regional B&GC conferences in 2015/16. I’ve also been teaching for the Summer Music Camp for Teens for over a decade, a role I will continue to fill every July.

Enjoy yourself in these pages and please don’t hesitate to contact me. I’d be happy to send you whatever you need to come to the conclusion that it’s high time your audience heard me.

Hope to hear from you soon,

Ken