On November 9th, JoJo Flores celebrated his 31st birthday by inviting House music artist Kenny Bobien to his Therapy night at Montreal’s Jello Bar. The evening was a success, as Kenny performed for 90 minutes, literally doubling his mandate of 40. DJ Jerome Sydenham of Ibadan Records (NYC) rocked the joint, in addition to Chris P, Scott C, Eddie Lewis and, of course JoJo, who finished off the night. Kenny performed a plethora of hits, including "Why We Sing", "Let Me Show You", "Reach", and the finale, "I Shall Not Be Moved", which literally sent the almost 250+ crowd into a frenzy. We also had the chance to hear Kenny (and the crowd) sing Happy Birthday to a rather shy and bashful JoJo Flores. I had a chance to talk with Kenny the following evening at the Rotation Record Boutique.

D/V: What was the first record you ever released?

Kenny Bobien: I was the lead singer for a group called Def Con 4, on Warner Bros., the first single being, "Say You Love Me".

D/V: What is your all-time favorite Kenny Bobien song?

KB: Hummm... I’d have to say "I Shall Not Be Moved".

D/V: Who are your favorite artists?

KB: I love Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Ann Nesby, Loleatta Holloway. Oh God... just like real great singers, you know.

D/V: How many children do you have?

KB: I presently have 5, but Stephanie (Cooke) is presently in labour with our 6th. There’s Shayna, Matthew, Moses, Michael and Stephen, and they range between 11 months to 13 years.

D/V: What was your best musical experience?

KB: Oh God... it would be hearing my first record (Def Con 4), doing its video, and being on Soul Train. Hearing my records and hearing me on the radio, watching my video... it was just wonderful.

D/V: Worst musical experience?

KB: I think the worst was when I was in the studio doing background for a particular, very famous artist. It was hell working with him. I think that was the worst experience of my LIFE.

D/V: At least give me some initials!

KB: (putting some thought into it)... TP!!!

D/V: Whatever happened to Equip Records?

KB: I think that label folded. A friend of mine, George Sykes, who was a producer, also owned that label. I did those records on his label (Why We Sing, Over & Over, Goin’ Up Yonder), although I wasn’t signed to Equip at the time. I was doing exceptionally well. He started this label, and he needed help. So, me being the type of person that I am, and this being the type of industry that it is, where we need to make a statement, I helped him... a lot!!! And I guess after a good thing went kind of sour between him and I, the label kind of folded. There was a lot of unfairness going on, and there were a lot of people involved and George and I had been friends since childhood, and sometimes things happen. We still love each other and we still deal with each other. But it’s important to be very very selective about who you choose to work with.

D/V: Where were you born?

KB: I was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey. My family is from South Carolina.

D/V: Who would you like to work with?

KB: I would loooove to work with Stevie Wonder! I would love to work with Luther (Vandross), and I came so close to working with him one time, but he works with the same people all the time. However, as an artist, I would love to work with Armand Van Helden, Mousse T. There’s also another guy that does stuff that I’m normally not used to, but I think me bringing what I know to the table, and him doing likewise, it can work, and that’s Hex Hector! I would love to do a song with him. But, not the full element of what he does, rather what he does and what I do and by collaborating together, it would be interesting to find out what we can come up with.

D/V: I think that would skyrocket your career!

KB: ...and I think it would help him on the underground level, as well.

D/V: Do you have any hobbies other than music?

KB: I’m into fishing. I love sports... I know it doesn’t look like it (we laugh), but I do! I love basketball, I love football...

D/V: ...favorite teams?

KB: Basketball... it used to be Chicago; football is DEFINITELY the New York Jets. DEFINITELY!

D/V: What do you listen to nowadays?

KB: A lot of gospel. A lot of gospel, like: Nathalie Wilson, Yolanda Adams, S.O.P. Chorale, John P. Kee (and New Life Community Choir), and a lot of Kenny Bobien!!!(laughing).

D/V: If it wasn’t for music, where would you be?

KB: (laughter turns to a saddened demeanor) ...I don’t know. Other than music and doing my ministry at the church, I can’t imagine myself doing anything else. From the time I began to talk, I started singing... at the age of 3. So I always knew what I wanted to do. I can’t imagine myself doing anything other than what I am doing right now.

D/V: Elaborate on your ministry...

KB: Yes, I am a minister! Some people know that but a lot of people don’t, and I have my own church and my wife and I, in addition to the church, we cater to different people from different walks of life. It’s a new ministry, but we’re still molding it. Music is a very intricate part of our ministry. We also have a company called Kentertainment and we have a label, a production company...

D/V: It’s so refreshing to hear that you actually live what you sing and preach about!

KB: I didn’t always live life to the best of my abilities. I failed to acknowledge God, or the fact that there is a higher power. At one point, I lived life as if I didn’t care, because there was nothing to care about... I didn’t love myself, so to me there was no reason for anyone else to love me. So if I couldn’t get love or give love, there was no reason for me to respect love. But now, I see things in a whole different manner. I went through what I went through at an early age for a reason and I learnt a lot, earlier.

D/V: What is your church called?

KB: It’s called Holy Ground Tabernacle Church, in Newark. We are just a wonderful church family. I love all the paritioners, everyone is beautiful, everyone is supportive of one another. We’re still at the beginning, molding stages, but everything’s cool!

D/V: When can we expect another album?

KB:
Actually, we’re talking about it! We’re just trying to decide who we’re going to get to work on the new album. But more than likely, we’re probably gonna do something... (Kenny gets close to the mic , "inside scoop", "inside scoop" !) with Masters At Work, as well as Kerri Chandler, Big Moses and others as well. I also plan to feature artists, ‘cause I love to collaborate... it’s a joy to collaborate! My wife’s gonna be featured on some stuff. We’re also gonna try to get Arnold Jarvis, you know, just get some people that we know about, but who haven’t had the opportunity that others have had.

D/V: ...like Charles McDougald?

KB: YES!!! He’s actually a great friend of mine!

D/V: ... Michael Watford?

KB: Yes! Also a great friend! One time, we were talking about putting together a Men of Song tour that would feature myself, Michael Watford, Ce Ce Rogers, Gerideau, and Byron Stingily. I was really talking about it, and I had the idea of doing an album project to support the tour. It’s something that’s still up in the air. I haven’t approached the guys yet, but it would be wonderful, right?

D/V: Oohhhhh! So you’re presently under contract with Soundmen On Wax?

KB: Uhhhmmm... I was! You know, like anything else, contracts run out, but my label Kentertainment is distributed by Soundmen.

D/V: You also work with King Street?

KB: I was, but we still do some collaborations.

D/V: So right now, are you under contract?

KB: (pauses, smiling) No, not really. (Now, Kenny bursts into an almost hysteric laughter)... OK, well I shouldn’t be saying this, but (whispering), to be honest with you, I am! I’m a free agent right now, and I’ve had a few offers. We’ll see what happens.

D/V: If you had 3 wishes?

KB: (laughter quickly dissipates into seriousness) I would wish for love and unity with all mankind, all races, all creeds, all countries. That would be my #1 wish! Love and unity, meaning that everybody would feel the peace of God, like I have. That would be my #1 wish. That people would ask, "you know God, I wanna know who you are. Show me who you are" and He’ll do that! Wish #2: that the House and Dance music scene would become an intricate part of the music industry, as rock, pop, r&b, and what hip hop has become. We’ve had our time, but we haven’t had it fairly. It’s coming back again, so that wish has come true somewhat, but my 2nd wish would be that that would happen RIGHT NOW! Wish #3: ...I don’t want anything, ‘cause I’ve been blessed , but I would just want complete happiness, meaning not wanting or needing anything (Kenny, speaking gently, eyes sparkling), but just happiness... all the way around... family, friends... all the way around... all the way around.

D/V: What do you think of Montreal?

KB: (the mood changes) I AB-SO-LU-TELY love this place! It’s my first time here, but I love this place. My God, I ate at 2 of the most beautiful restaurants in the world, Ginger and Sophia’s... Unbelievable! Coming back for the praline dessert (laughter erupts).

D/V: May I ask how old you are?

KB: (almost offended by my politeness) It’s Ok, it’s OK, I’m 32!

D/V: It’s time to play my favorite game!: I say a name, you tell me the first word that comes to mind!
Michael Jackson: strange
Michael Watford: (smiles) fun
Michael Bolton: (grimaces) weird
Jimi Hendrix: (confidently) history
Celine Dion: (with a look of admiration) princess
(DJ) Timmy Regisford: (laughs) CRAAAZY
Marvin Gaye: (with dreamy eyes) phenomenal
Bob Marley: (long pause) To be honest with you... Great... the word that comes to mind is GREAT (repeats 2 more times)
Kerri Chandler: Oh God!!! UNBELIEVABLE... UNBELIEVABLE...
Duke Ellington: oohh! ... hip
Jim and Tammy Faye Baker: oohhhh... that's deep... that's DEEP
Stephanie (Cooke, his wife): (dreamy again) Amazing (3 times). Just what I've been looking for... amazing!
Kenny Bobien: (peacefully) .... Blessed!

D/V: Any last words?

KB: Not last words, let’s just say final words for this interview session, ‘cause I’m gonna always have something to say. But, I just want us, the dance music community, to understand and realize what we have. I want us to understand the power that lies within us and the power that lies within the industry. We need to support it to the fullest. We need to WANT the world to see and understand, because they only know in part. But we need to make sure that they understand the fullness of what’s going on. They need us to remix their pop records and all their major artists, because they know that not everyone will listen to a hip hop record, so they need to call on our MAW’s and Mousse T’s and Todd Terry’s, and everybody to remix their records and sometimes they’re gonna need Kenny Bobien to remix their record (laughing). I mean, we got the Grammies, but, hey, the remixes aren’t doing it by themselves. We got the dance recording category, but, hey, there’s more to dance than what the Grammy board knows. There’s a whole world out there and we need to be responsible, come up to the plate and say "hey, we’re gonna make ourselves visible, we’re going to do what we have to do, we’re gonna put the money into it, we’re going to promote it". Our community needs to come together and say what is it that we have to do. Let’s help everybody, ‘cause everyone is gonna benefit from this, not just the big men (begins to smile), but the small men!

D/V: Kenny, I am truly honored to have lived this experience with you. Thank you!

KB: The pleasure was all mine... This was one of the best interviews I’ve ever had. Thank you!


Michael Terzian sinister@deepvibes.org Copyright 2000. All rights reserved.
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