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Manchester Union Leader
Manchester, New Hampshire
March 1995
Ken, Simone MacKenzie Remembered
Through New Album
Release
By BARRY PALMER Entertainment Editor
Most New Hampshire country music fans over 40 probably picked up their
love of that kind of music in the 1940s or '50s by listening to
Manchester's WFEA, going to the Lone Star Ranch in Merrimack or
listening to one of the Maine radio stations. One of the genuine New
England stars of that era who were country "when country wasn't
cool," was Ken MacKenzie, who formed a musical and marital
partnership with his wife, Simone.
Although they are both members of the Maine Country Music Hall of
Fame, their roots are deep in New Hampshire. Although born in Boston,
MacKenzie grew up in Concord, graduating from Concord High in 1936. He
returned in 1986 for his 50th class reunion. As for Simone, she was
born on the West Side of Manchester, as Simone Labrie. Both were
highly talented and popular musicians. Simone died in 1984 at age 64;
Ken died in October 1993, a month before his 75th birthday.
Ken MacKenzie never cut an album during his lifetime, although many of
his programs were taped for radio broadcast. Some Of those tapes were
recently discovered by a family friend, recorded in 1951 and
1952 at the height of MacKenzie's popularity. He had a top-rated radio
show in Portland, Maine at the time. Twenty-one of those songs have
been compiled into a fine tribute cassette titled, "I'm Following
the Stars," featuring some well-known standards as "Texas
Plains," "Beyond the Sunset, and "Oklahoma Hills."
But most of all it offers some superb yodeling, the kind of music that
is awfully hard to find these days.
Handling the distribution of the cassette is son, Richard MacKenzie,
who lives in Maryland is not sure how many people still recall his mom
and dad, but he feels it's important to provide such a tribute for
those who long to hear some good, down-home country music.
As a teenager, Ken MacKenzie worked as an usher at a Concord theater,
and at the same time, he worked for two years at WFEA as a cowboy
singer, with just his guitar and harmonica. A unique side benefit (in
addition to his $3 per show) was the fact that one of its sponsors,
Genest Bread, carried a picture of Ken on the wrapper. Also, like
every other country singer in the state, Ken often played the
now-defunct Lone Star Ranch in Merrimack. After Ken and Simone married
in 1938, their careers blossomed, with radio shows, Maine television
shows and appearances at state and county fairs, grange halls,
auditoriums, and just about anywhere an audience could gather.
Those interested in obtaining a cassette of "I'm Following the
Stars," can write to: Richard MacKenzie, Box 5849,
Darlington, MD 21034-5849. Tapes are $10, plus $2.75 for shipping and
handling. CD’s are available for $15.00, including shipping and
handling.
Copyright © 1998 MacKenzie
Family Productions
All Rights Reserved. Do not duplicate or redistribute in any form.
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