"There are a lot of things I've never gotten over. Most of all I've never gotten over my love of the song and it's performance. I can't remember when I didn't sing and, from a very early age, was always fascinated with writing songs even as I learned and sang classic folk, rock, jazz, theatre and choral works. I've come to the point in my life where I have nothing better to do with it than write and perform songs both on my own or with the people I love."
Houston area singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer Ken Gaines has the goal of writing great songs in just about every genre and style. You won't be able to put a finger on what he does from sweet lyrical ballads, to double entendre blues, to swingin' jazz, and redneck rock. "For all of the great songs that have been written I belong to a wonderful group of people who believe there are at least as many great ones still to be written." His voice has the range to cover all of these styles and his supple guitar work lays down arrangements instead of just chords. His lyrics are both powerful and poetic and highlight his skills as a story teller and observer of life.
Onstage Ken is both into the songs and the moment. "Live performance for me is the culmination of all my thinking and practice. It's like a religious experience. I want you to laugh and cry on the same night and I hope you go home feeling like you've fallen in love all over again with someone or something you hold very dear". Ken is available for concerts, house concerts, club shows, and festivals. He's often sharing the stage with one or both of his musical partners, Wayne Wilkerson & Karen Mal. His tour schedule takes him all across the US as well as his home state of Texas.
Ken has two solo CD's and a live cassette to his credit. His latest, "Catfish Moon" 2006 on the Songdog record label is a real taste of what it's like to hear Ken with Karen, Wayne, and co-producer Bill Ward with guest appearences by Gary Sapone, Jeff Duncan, & Ron Rebstock on several cuts. The previous CD, "Real Men", 2002, established Ken as a national act. He's also written and recorded songs for "The Silver Wolf Homeless Project" 1995, as well as the earlier "No One Else" live cassette released in 1991. And through the years he's worked on numerous other recording projects as well as a writer for stage and film projects notably the feature film, "Blue Days Lost" and two co-written children's musicals, "Noah and the Ark" and "Journey of the Wise Men" produced by the Excellent Theatre Company in Houston.
Since the fall of 1998 he's produced and hosted a songwriters' series at Houston's legendary Anderson Fair . These Thursday night productions have become a must for traveling artists from all over North America who are breaking into the Texas territory, as well as a way to hear many of Texas' singer/songwriters. “Talk about a great way to keep your edge as a performer. I love these shows!” says Ken. “Each night is a different mix and allows me to bring out a different aspect of my performance as well as the opportunity to interact with so many talented people.”
Finally, he's a regular around the Kerrville Folk Festival making sure his schedule allows him to spend the entire 18 days there interacting with fellow singer/songwriters both on stage and around the song circles. He's a proud member of MyTexasMusic.com where you can find his music and hundreds of other Texas artists.
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