Congratulations to my special guest, San Antonio jazz crooner extraordinaire, Ken Slavin, celebrating 30 years as a professional singer!
Ken’s music has been heard around the world and he has performed at hundreds of venues across the country, including New York’s iconic Triad Theater.
It’s great to catch up with my longtime friend, as he shares his unique perspective on what it takes to make it in the music business.
Ken is truly a San Antonio treasure!
About Ken
Ken Slavin is one of the most exciting classic jazz singers in the country – with an international following of all ages.
Some folks describe him as a younger Tony Bennett, Johnny Hartman or Mel Torme. One reviewer dubbed him “Mr. Tuxedo Voice.” Texas Monthly says he’s one of the “Swing Set.” In reality, his voice, persona and performance style put him in a category all his own. But no matter how you describe him, there isn’t anybody on today’s music scene quite like jazz crooner KEN SLAVIN.
Long before the current crop of young interpreters of classic jazz and the Great American Songbook embarked on their careers, Ken — who celebrated 25 years in the music business in 2015 and recently became a voting member of The Recording Academy, which produces the GRAMMY Awards — was working the microphone in a town known more for rock, country and Tejano music than jazz. Over the years he literally has appeared everywhere from hamburger joints to formal concert halls, earning scores of fans and positive reviews along the way.
Ken’s classy and fresh approach to the Great American Songbook and Spanish language classics has landed him headline appearances as far north as Alaska and as far south as Mexico City – and radio airplay around the world. He has opened for such jazz legends as The Four Freshmen, Eddie Palmieri, David Sanborn, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Chico Hamilton, performed in concert with the internationally acclaimed Jim Cullum Jazz Band (whose National Public Radio Program, “Riverwalk, Live From The Landing,” ran for more than 20 years), and has given private performances for GRAMMY Award winners Helen Reddy and Vikki Carr.
Ken is an exciting and naturally gifted singer and entertainer whose good taste and showmanship make him a first-class choice for any setting. A late bloomer who began singing professionally at the age of 29, he was voted BEST VOCALIST by readers of The San Antonio Current two years running. He also has been named BEST MUSICIAN, BEST LOUNGE/JAZZ ACT, BEST LOUNGE/SWING ACT and nominated numerous times as BEST MALE VOCALIST by the same publication.
Ken’s Links
Official Page: http://KenSlavin.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jazz_crooner/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ken.slavin