Kenny Vance

Mr. Vance joined James Stephens and I to discuss the ubiquity of "Eddie and the Cruisers"; his early influences; Alan Freed; rock 'n' roll; Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers; buying 45's; being one of the first modern "teenagers"; singing doo wop on the corner; Brill Building; doo wop and rap being music movements that started on the street; Jay and the Americans opens for The Beatles and The Rolling Stones; Jay and the Americans were one of three American bands that survived the British invasion (with The Beach Boys and The Four Seasons); "This Magic Moment", their biggest hit was in 1969; Steely Dan started as their backup band; performed as musical guest on SNL in 1977 singing "The Performer"; hiring Leon Pendarvis to the band; writing the new opening and closing themes; putting together a new SNL band; Eric Mercury; performing on The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson in 1962; Captain Beefheart; James Brown; Woody Allen; Tracey Ullman; Rachel Sweet and Hairspray; Animal House, recording "Louie, Louie" with John Belushi