Kenny Wynn

Kenny started playing guitar in 1958. Kenny wore out his 45's of the early Rock N Roll innovators of lead guitar styles like Ricky Nelson's lead guitar player James Burton and "twangy" Duane Eddie. Kenny finally talked his parents into buying him a Kay electric guitar and amp. Kenny immediately turned the little volume knob up all the way.

Kenny Wynn was one of the first guitarists to "crank up" amp and push his guitar sound into overdrive. In 1963 Kenny got a brand new Fender Statocaster. His influences range from early Rock-a-Billy and Elvis to Eric Clapton/The Blues Breakers and Hendrix. Kenny still has his original 1963 Fender Statocaster guitar today.

As lead guitar of the popular 60's band The Novas, Kenny honed his guitar chops in early rock. The Novas played bandstands and local party's and became one of the premier bands in South Florida. They recorded some of their original tunes at Dukoff Sound (the first recording studio in Miami) and got air play on Miami radio.

Kenny and Brooks had been friends since grade school but first officially joined forces in 1967 in The New York Square Library. The NYSL was Kenny's first real chance to light up the tubes of his Fender Bassman amp and push the limits of his screaming Fender Statocaster. NYSL explored the psychedelic and heavy metal sounds of The Cream and Jimi Hendrix and won the local Palmetto High School "Battle Of The Bands". They played school "Sock Hops" and went on to appear on the South Florida TV show "The Rick Shaw Show". They continued their success playing local bandstands such as "The Scene","The World" and performed concerts with "The Who" and "Wayne Cochran" among others.

In 1969 Kenny again joined with Brooks and guitarist Jim Hilley in the band Cottonwood. Cottonwood's Afro-Latin rhythmic influences featured two drummers, congas, percussion and vibes. Cottonwood's wrote and performed many of their own tunes which featured the Alman Brothers style guitar harmonies of Kenny and Jim. Cottonwood's unusual, and innovative arrangements of such songs as Martha and Vandella's "Heatwave" and Tom Jone's "It's Not Unusual" made them unforgettable. Cottonwood became a local favorite at school events and Miami bandstands. They opened concerts for "Chicago" and "The Blues Image".

In 1971 Kenny went on to pursue his artist talents in 1974 and graduated with honors from Pratt Institute in New York.