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American
Harmonica
April, 1995
Radio
Days Remembered
Sons
pay tribute to Ken and Simone MacKenzie with a new tape of their
western music Ken MacKenzie and Wife, Simone,, Were Radio Cowhands In
New England
Throughout New England and the Canadian
Maritimes Ken MacKenzie and wife Simone took country-western music and
their talented troupe of entertainers. Ken started radio shows in 1936
and continued them until 1957. In 1939 Ken organized the first
Country-Western Variety show in the State of Maine. In 1954 the Ken
MacKenzie Show began a weekly televised program that for many years
was a favorite in the New England area. (This barely touches on the
many aspects of Ken's career that began as a teenager, when his Dad
bought him a guitar, picks, case and instruction book from Spiegel's
for $8.00). His TV series ran until 1971.
Ken MacKenzie and Simone (Labrie) were to
the eastern seaboard as radio and TV cowhands, like Roy Rogers and
Dale Evans to America. Ken said he was most influenced by Bradley
Kincaid and his music. At one stretch the MacKenzie troupe did 80
consecutive nightly shows, with a one night break, followed by 14 more
shows.
Stations WFEA in Manchester, NH and WGAN
(now WGME) in Portland, carried Ken and Company live during the 30s,
40's, 50's, 60's and early 70's. Only recently have his two sons come
across 21 old recording discs that were done at the Portland station
for a sister station in Bangor, ME. From these discs the sons have put
together an album titled, "I'm Following The Stars" -
a theme song composed by Ken and used throughout his career in
entertainment.
Ken put a post on his guitar on which he
mounted a Harmonica, and used this method of accenting his music, but
Ken MacKenzie is best remembered for being an excellent, accomplished
yodeler, and featured yodeling more expressively to color his cowboy
act.
Ken worked with many regional and national
stars, and is credited with being the first person to bring a country
variety show to all of the sizeable grange halls, auditoriums, and
county fairs throughout the State of Maine, before Nashville, even
became big country.
In memory of Ken and Simone the excellence
of early country style music can be yours on cassette for $10 + $2.75
s/h - Check or Money Order to: Richard MacKenzie, PO Box 5849 ,
Darlington, Maryland, 21034. Order today. Ken MacKenzie was inducted
into the Maine Country Music Hall of Fame on April 30,1978, Simone in
1984. a true legend serving country-western traditions as an excellent
entertainer all of his life - A legacy.
Copyright © 1998 MacKenzie
Family Productions
All Rights Reserved. Do not duplicate or redistribute in any form.
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