Spirits of the House
The Kenny Bill Stinson Band will be performing a tribute to John Lennon as an extension of the annual John Lennon Birthday Party held at Enoch’s Irish Pub and Cafe in Monroe since 1980.
This tribute has fast become a favorite festival tradition! John Lennon was named after his paternal grandfather, John 'Jack' Lennon, who was born in 1858 in Dublin, Ireland. Like many men of his time, Jack eventually emigrated to Liverpool to seek better prospects of employment.
A self-prescribed Beatles fanatic, West Monroe native Kenny Bill Stinson is a multi-talented pianist, guitarist and vocalist who maintains such North Louisiana traditions as rockabilly, blues and country music. Stinson has shared the stage with such prominent musicians as Jerry Lee Lewis, Bob Dylan, Rodney Crowell, and the late Charlie Rich, and he currently works with swamp pop sensation Lil' Band 'o' Gold, in addition to leading his own popular band. Stinson was featured in the documentary film River of Song, produced by the Smithsonian Institution. He was recently honored to play the famous piano on which John Lennon composed the song "Imagine" in 1971, as part of a project by George Michael and Kenny Goss to bring awareness and a message of peace to cities hit by natural disasters. Kenny’s latest CD Kickin’ in My Stall has received high praise from Offbeat Magazine and his recent set at the 2009 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival saw a crowd of thousands on their feet, dancing, singing and in general coming together through music.