Kenny Dentons" There Ain't No Rules In Rock n Roll" Stories From My 45 Years in The Music Industry.

Recording Rio Medina: The Doug Sahm Sessions This Deep Dive account provides a behind-the-scenes look at the recording of the Sir Douglas Quintet’s album, Rio Medina, as remembered by producer Kenny Denton. The narrative begins with a comical travel mishap in San Antonio involving a manipulative taxi driver and the clever intervention of keyboardist Augie Meyers. Denton details the unpredictable s...

Behind the Comets: The Legacy of Bill Haley This Deep Dive review provides a personal retrospective on the final years of rock and roll pioneer Bill Haley, as told by his collaborator Kenny Denton. The narrative documents the production of Haley’s last album and highlights the musician’s sincere character through anecdotes about his support for Elvis Presley and his courageous protection of Chuck...

This Deep Dive review provides a fascinating look into the career milestones and final recording sessions of rock 'n' roll pioneer Bill Haley. It highlights his historic achievements, such as selling over 150 million records and being the first major American star of the genre to tour Europe. The memoir focuses heavily on the production of his last album, "Everyone Can Rock and Roll," documenting...

This Deep Dive Review is from the memoir There Ain’t No Rules In Rock n Roll by Kenny Denton, which provides an intimate look into the personal lives of entertainer Anthony Newley, his mother Grace, and his partner Gina Fratini. The narrative captures the vibrant spirit of Grace, affectionately known as "the Duchess", whose humour and Cockney charm remained constant until her death at age ninety-n...

Anthony Newley Part Two. This Deep Dive provides an intimate biographical overview of the multi-talented entertainer Anthony Newley, as recounted through the personal recollections of his friend Kenny Denton. The narrative highlights Newley's emotional nature and his complex personal life, including his marriage to Dareth Rich and their unsettling experiences living in a notorious Hollywood mansio...

Anthony Newley: The Multifaceted Life of a Global Icon. This Deep Dive review provides a comprehensive overview of the prolific career and personal life of Anthony Newley, a versatile British entertainer who excelled as an actor, songwriter, and director. It highlights his immense influence on the arts, noting his role as the Artful Dodger and his Songwriters Hall of Fame induction alongside colla...

This account details a chaotic and extravagant recording session led by the acclaimed songwriter Jimmy Webb at De Lane Lea Studios during the mid-1970s. Despite Webb’s immense talent, the production was plagued by technical hurdles, including an unfinished mixing console and a replacement engineering team struggling with an unconventional orchestral setup. The environment devolved into a hedonisti...

Kenny Denton’s early days at Pye Studios were shaped by a unique scheme called the Saturday Special —cheap weekend sessions created by studio manager Pat Godwin. It gave young engineers like John “Peanut” Smyth the chance to record full bands, while struggling musicians could cut demos. Through Peanut, Kenny’s band recorded for free during studio downtime—mysteriously logged as “Stoner Music.” The...

In this memoir excerpt, music producer Kenny Denton recounts his formative years at the legendary PYE studios, highlighting the influence of his mentor, Dave Hunt. He describes the rigorous technical training required to master analogue tape editing, a skill involving the precise cutting and splicing of magnetic reels. Denton reflects on the high-pressure environment of the control room, where eve...

This Deep Dive recounts a famous recording error during the production of Dr Feelgood's chart-topping live album, Stupidity. The narrative details how renowned producer and engineer Vic Maile mistakenly recorded a prominent hi-hat microphone across all drum tracks, leading him to fear the project was ruined. Despite Maile's immense technical background with legendary acts like Led Zeppelin and The...

This Deep Dive examines how J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI actively worked to dismantle the rock 'n' roll movement during the 1950s. The author suggests that the government viewed the era's youthful rebellion and search for identity as a significant social threat that required suppression. By highlighting the legal troubles, scandals, and personal tragedies that sidelined icons like Elvis Presley and...

This Deep Dive details the founding and evolution of Hot Chocolate, specifically highlighting the contributions of its co-founder Tony Wilson. After relocating from Trinidad to London, Wilson and his bandmates famously secured a meeting with John Lennon and Yoko Ono, who helped name the group and released their first single on Apple Records. The narrative describes their transition to the RAK labe...

Sir Thomas Hicks OBE AKA Tommy Steele The full story in Kenny Denton's memoir "There Ain't No Rules In Rock n Roll" Thomas Hicks, professionally recognised as Tommy Steele, was an English entertainer celebrated as Britain's inaugural teenage heartthrob and pioneer of rock 'n' roll. Born in Bermondsey, London, he was the child of Thomas Walter Hicks and Elizabeth Ellen Bennett, who were married in...

This collection of anecdotes from Kenny Denton’s memoir offers a humorous, behind-the-scenes look at the British music industry over several decades. The text features legendary figures such as Barry Gibb, Little Richard, and Roy Orbison, highlighting the eccentricities and quick wit of famous performers. It also shines a light on the tireless work of session musicians like drummer Clem Cattini an...

While attending a lunchtime gig in a market square with my artist Toby and his band, in a small town just outside Lafayette Louisiana, my wife Sue and I decided to pop into a small bar while the band set up. As we stepped inside we found it was like many small bars in Louisiana – both dark and uninviting. Whilst I sensed my way to the bar in order to buy a couple of beers, Sue chose a small table...

In the 1970s a group of students from the Portsmouth School of Art decided to start a rather unconventional orchestra named the Portsmouth Sinfonia. Their foundational concept was refreshingly inclusive: the Sinfonia welcomed virtually anyone who wished to participate regardless of talent or experience. Inevitably, it drew individuals with minimal musical background and, intriguingly, musicians th...

More stories in Kenny Denton's Memoir. "There Ain't No Rules In Rock n Roll" Or My Blog Kennydenton.com Elvis’s Stepbrother? & The Murder of Singer “Orion” Date: 1980 Place: Nashville Tennessee Artist: Orion AKA Jimmy Ellis Artist: Wayne Jackson While visiting Nashville in 1980 I came cross this bizarre story about Orion and the possibility of him being Elvis’s stepbrother in 1980, when I had...

Ben Matthews, memories of meeting Kenny Denton for the first time From Kenny Denton's memoir "There Ain't No Rules In Rock n Roll" I remember the first time I met Kenny; I was sticking postage stamps on to seven-inch record envelopes in the reception area of the small record company I worked at. Suddenly, the entrance door swung open and in walked Kenny - a man of short stature, adorned with thick...

Working with Quo proved to be an absolute joy. The band members were an incredible set of individuals to collaborate with. Unlike some of the other groups, there were no disputes; instead, they radiated a real sense of enjoyment which was completely contagious. These down-to-earth, affable guys genuinely relished the process of creating their music. During those times, bands like Quo led a nomadic...

Sham 69: Got What It Takes To Be A Star Place – De Lane Lea Studios, England Time – 1977 Artist – Sham 69 Engineer – Rafe McKenna In early 1977 whilst working at De Lane Lea the managing director, Louis Elman, set up a new production arm to the studio complex, it was to be called Delben Music and to be headed up by Ben Nesbit. Ben had just retired from his position as the MD of Feldman’s music pub...

Louis or Lou Clark was born on February 27 , 1947 and sadly departed on February 13 , 2021. He was a remarkable English music arranger and keyboard player who also happened to be a dear friend. His legacy is most prominently associated with his contributions to ELO and his work on Hooked on Classics. Throughout his career, he collaborated with a diverse array of artistes, including luminaries like...

Following the release of Tubeway Army’s initial single, the label was on the look out for someone to produce their second single. My manager Stuart Taylor, with his keen eye for talent, suggested that we attend one of Tubeway Army’s performances to assess if I might be a suitable fit to work with the band. If that turned out to be the case, Stuart intended to propose to Andrew and Beggars Banquet...

Peter Green and the Splinter Group In the 90s I owned my own recording studio in West London. It was here I received a call from my close friend Stuart Taylor, who was managing a band named The Splinter Group featuring Peter Green. He wanted to schedule studio time to mix a recording of their instrumental track, “Walk Don't Run.” This recording had been initially produced by the renowned drummer,...

In 1951, Philadelphia, PA became the home of Holiday & Essex Records, a company founded by Dave Miller. This record label gained significant recognition by the local music scene, largely thanks to its early releases featuring Bill Haley and The Comets. Dave initially transformed the band's name from the Four Aces of Western Swing to Bill Haley and the Saddlemen. Later on, he suggested changing...

I first met Dave Miller at Pye in 1969 when he was deeply engrossed in recording for his Damil label. He was a robustly built man with silver hair, possessing a voice that resonated like that of a seasoned American voiceover artist. When engaged in conversation, he exuded humour, wit, entertainment and a deep well of worldly wisdom. Among the individuals I've had the privilege of encountering, Dav...