Kenny Lynch

  • Real Name: Kenneth Lynch
  • Birth Date: 18th March 1939
  • Birth Place: Stepney, London
  • Kenny Lynch OBE must have tackled just about everything that it's possible to have tried in UK show business. He has performed as a singer, songwriter, dancer, actor, and done stand-up comedy as well as sketches. He has worked in management and production, helping many newcomers into the business. This black cockney kid has come a long way since first singing with his big sister Maxine in 1950. Kenny appeared very frequently on our TV screens during the 1960s and he was such an all-round entertainer that some people may associate him with different things from that period. Certainly, Kenny was a groundbreaking and creative comedian- although today's "alternative" comedy may be thought to tackle taboo subjects, Kenny would doubtless claim that he's done it all years before.

    Although it was quite usual for comedians to tackle a song at the end of their acts, Kenny's music was a much more important part of his talent than for most. His material was a little different too. He tackled a wide spectrum of music, rather than just the token romantic ballad that drew most comedy acts to a close. Whatever type of song he tackled he always ended up with a truly professional and commercial sound. Although Kenny didn't have that many big hits, all his recordings are well crafted- there's not a dud side among them. He also demonstrated his ear for commercial success by co-writing "Sha La La La Lee" for fellow cockneys- The Small Faces. His co-writer was none other than the legendary Mort Schumann- unlikely though that might seem.

     
    Kenny Lynch EPs are all now very sought after, but very hard to track down. The one shown on the left (7EG8820) was Kenny's first release on that format, and seems to be about the easiest to find- but still commands a good price.

     

    Kenny has done a lot less performing in recent years although he has maintained an unusually high output of singles for an artist who peaked in the 1960s. This perseverance probably paid off by giving him a, perhaps unexpected, chart entry in 1983 with "Half The Day's Gone And We Haven't Earned A Penny". More time has perhaps been spent on management and promotion of other artists. However, Kenny still makes the effort to appear for charity from time to time- sometimes at golf, when he gets the chance.

    1950s & 1960s 45rpm UK Discography

    • Listings include UK 45 singles releases only
    • Collector's Items are shown In Red
    • See lower list for EP releases

    HMV POP751 1960 Mountain Of Love/ Why Do You Treat Me This Way #33
    HMV POP786 1960 Slowcoach/ You Make Love So Well  
    HMV POP841 1961 So/ Love Me  
    HMV POP900 1961 The Story Behind My Tears/ Steady Kind  
    HMV POP985 1961 There's Never Been A Girl/ Doll Face  
    HMV POP1005 1962 It Would Take A Miracle/ Strolling Blues  
    HMV POP1057 1962 Puff/ Happy That's Me #33
    HMV POP1090 1962 Up On The Roof/ Jump On Your Broomstick #10
    HMV POP1136 1963 Misery/ Shut The Door  
    HMV POP1165 1963 You Can Never Stop Me Loving You/ Crazy Crazes #10
    HMV POP1229 1963 For You/ With Somebody  
    HMV POP1260 1963 Shake And Scream/ Harlem Library  
    HMV POP1280 1964 Stand By Me/ Baby It's True #49
    HMV POP1321 1964 What Am I To You/ That's What Little Girls Are Made For #37
    HMV POP1367 1964 My Own Two Feet/ So Much To Love You For  
    HMV POP1430 1965 I'll Stay By You/ For Loving You Baby #29
    HMV POP1476 1965 Nothing But The Real Thing  
    HMV POP1496 1965 Get Out Of My Way/ One Look At You  
    HMV POP1534 1966 The World I Used To Know/ Come On Come On  
    HMV POP1577 1967 I Just Wanna Love You/ It's Too Late  
    HMV POP1604 1967 Movin' Away/ Could I Count On You  
    Columbia DB8329 1968 Mister Moonlight/ The Other Side Of Dreamland  
    Columbia DB8498 1968 Along Comes Love/ Sweet Situation  
    Columbia DB8599 1969 The Drifter/ Did I Stay Too Long  

    EP Discography

    • Collector's Items are shown In Red
    • See Upper List For Singles releases

    HMV 7EG8820 1963 "Hey Girl!"  
    Hey Girl!/The One Thing That Keeps Me Happy/You Can Never Stop Me Loving You/Individuality
    HMV 7EG8855 1964 "Kenny Lynch"  
    A Teardrop In The Ocean/Before I Count Ten/She's Got Everything/My Little World
    HMV 7EG8881 1965 "What Am I To You?"  
    What Am I To You?/Don't Make The Same Mistake That I Did/They're Jealous Of Me/The Truth


    Return to UK Artists Biography Index