Kevin Kern
Total fans: 774
KEVIN KERN has become synonymous with beautiful and relaxing music. His recordings and concerts have established him as both a gifted composer and a brilliant performer.
With the release of his latest CD, Imagination's Light, Kevin returns to his roots, inviting his listeners to enter his special world where melodies take shape in response to his life-long connection to the piano.
"All my life, I have drawn inspiration from the joy of sitting and playing a piano in a darkened room. There is something remarkably pure and uncomplicated about a world consisting of nothing but sound and sensation. When we turn out the lights in the studio, I begin to feel that undiluted creative energy that has been such a part of my life from the beginning."
It is in this special atmosphere that Kevin's compositional gift takes form. Imagination's Light is a collection of ten original compositions, augmented by a stunning reinterpretation of Sting's "Fields of Gold." The album begins with "Remembering the Light," which sets the tone for the recording as it draws the listener into Kevin's fire lit creative world. As with all of Kern's recordings, Imagination's Light continues the tradition of solo improvisations that have become his signature.
Born in Detroit, Kevin Kern began playing piano at the tender age of 18 months. Though legally blind since birth, his exceptional talent soon became clear. His earliest musical influence was jazz legend George Shearing, whom he met as a child. With George as a mentor, Kevin developed an early love of improvisation and an appreciation for the beautiful sound a piano could produce. In addition to Shearing's contribution, he received an extensive classical education. From these experiences, Kevin developed his trademark sound where melodies exude lyricism, simplicity, and a directness that touches the heart of the listener.
In 1993, a chance encounter with Terence Yallop, President of Real Music began a collaboration, which, has resulted in seven albums of original music and one collection of Kevin's most popular songs thus far.
Beginning with his phenomenally successful debut album, In the Enchanted Garden, in 1996, which appeared on the Billboard charts for 26 weeks, Kevin has developed his own unique musical voice. In the decade since the release of In the Enchanted Garden, Kevin's recorded output has ranged from the classically influenced cinematic melodies of Summer Daydreams, to the simple yet haunting themes on Embracing the Wind., and the more organic sounds of The Winding Path.
The opening and closing selections from Summer Daydreams, "Le Jardin" and "Return to Love", were prominently featured in the popular Korean drama, Autumn in My Heart (Gaeul Donghwa). The inclusion of Kevin's poignant melodies in this drama, which can still be seen regularly around the world played a key role in developing his global following.
Kevin's music has appeared in film and television both in the U.S. and abroad. In addition to the Korean drama series, his music has been heard as part of the 2000 Summer Olympics, Live! With Regis and Kathy Lee"(and Kelly), Oprah, NPR, PBS, and in commercials for Mitsubishi and Blue Shield of California, among others.
In response to the constant demand for sheet music of his best loved compositions, Kevin has devoted his energies to the creation of solo piano arrangements of selected pieces from his Real Music Catalog. The first of these collections, which was released in 2006, featured all of the music from In the Enchanted Garden.
Kevin's latest CD, Imagination's Light was released in 2005 and went to number 4 on the Billboard Charts. Kevin is currently working on a new sheet music collection containing all the music from that album, as well as material for his eighth Real Music CD.
Kevin Kern is a Steinway artist.