Kenny Laguna is a long time member of the music community, as performer, songwriter, and producer. His body of work spans many genres, demonstrating his versatility and ability to create artist appropriate music. Through his multifaceted talent, his style is always apparent. Kenny started his career as a performer, having hits with music greats such as The Ohio Express and The Lemon Peppers. At sixteen, he was producing Bill Medley and churning out Bubblegum hits. During his sessions with Bill Medley, he met and began working with Darlene Love, Phil Spectors legendary lead voice (“Leader of the Pack†and the Lethal Weapon movie series). He went on to produce the soundtrack to an Andy Warhol movie called Lonesome Cowboys. He was a member of Tommy James and the Shondels as the keyboard player and background singer. Kenny produced Jay and the Americans, Tony Orlando, and Edwin Star, as well as for The Who’s record label in London. n the late seventies, he wrote and produced new wave punk hits for the legendary Beserkley Record Label with artists such as Jonathan Richmond and Greg Kihn. Kenny was asked to produce Bow Wow Wow. The outcome of these sessions was a hit called “I Want Candy.” Around the same time, he began working with Joan Jett. This collaboration marked the beginning of a long-standing partnership between Kenny and Joan. He has been with Joan from the start of her solo career as a producer, co-collaborator, and musician. He has worked with Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill (the riot-girl band) as well as a project called Evil Stig. For this project Joan Jett took the role of Lead singer for the band The Gits, who lost their own lead singer to rape and murder. The murder was unsolved, thus Evil Stig was born, a CD from which proceeds would go to the investigation to find Zapata‘s murderer. Mia Zapata‘s words live on through Evil Stig. Listen to Kenny tell it how he sees it, as we discuss the new Joan Jett & the Blackhearts album SINNER, the current administration and to be or not to be a producer.
It is a pleasure to speak with Kenny Laguna at any time. Hear it Here.
