Ken Lyon: An Introduction
Ken Lyon, Dot Records publicity photo, 1960
For more than 50 years, Newport native Ken Lyon has been at the center of the Rhode Island music scene. From his early days as a soloist at the height of the folk revival in the late 1950s to his leadership of the many lineups of the mighty Tombstone Blues Band during the 1970s and ’80s, to his present status as one of the “godfathers” of the blues in southern New England, Ken Lyon has produced a long string of memorable recordings and unforgettable performances. He was a pivotal figure in placing Rhode Island back on the map during the Rock ‘n’ Roll era.
Along the way, he recorded for six major labels and released many independent recordings in the gaps between deals. His Tombstone Blues band has proved to be the launching pad for some of the finest and most important artists to take off out of the Rhode Island including blues and swing guitar giant Duke Robillard, roots music pioneer Steve Nardella, guitarist and bassist Tom Enright, singer-songwriter Brenda Mosher Bennett of Prince’s Vanity Six, and jazz star Scott Hamilton, one of the finest tenor saxophonists in the world.
Due to the sheer volume of work Mr. Lyon has produced and the five-decade plus length of his career, The Rhode Island Popular Music Archive has established and produced a separate website chronicling his achievements.
To learn more about this great and legendary Rhode Island musician, please visit the website linked below:
Ken Lyon, 2007