Acceptance Speech
Kevin Henry was the winner of the 2000 Los Angeles Music Award for Best Male Singer/Songwriter. His debut CD, East on Sunset (Coastal Records), mixes trip-hop and acoustic pop styles and arrived in the summer of 2001.
Kevin Henry hails from Madison, WI, which he describes as “15 square miles surrounded by reality.” East on Sunset refers to the Silverlake section of Los Angeles he later called home. The songs on the album are largely metaphors for love and life in the big city. East on Sunset was recorded at Smart Studios, which is owned by producer Butch Vig, and where Garbage, Nirvana, and Smashing Pumpkins often recorded.
Kevin Henry was previously a member of the jazz-funk project named Gotham, based in New York City. They released one CD, Invisible Ghetto, and toured the U.S. and Europe. Henry has written and produced for R&B singer Tina Moore (on All in My Vibe ) and pop singer Mercedes. Kevin Henry’s influences range from the melodic pop of Billy Joel to the electronic experimentation of Bjork.
In addition to the praise from the Los Angeles critics, Henry’s music has been heard on prime time television. “Next Year,” which is included on his debut, was featured in the sitcom Friends. With six weeks of independent promotion, “Next Year” was noticed on the New Music Weekly Pop (number 39) and Most Added (number seven) charts.