It can safely be said that more people danced to the music of Mart Kenney than to that of any other Canadian orchestra and they continue to enjoy those memories with the CD, Celebration , Swinging Musical Showcase recorded in 2000.
Mart celebrated his 93rd birthday with an interview with Marc Montgomery for the CBC Radio Canada International show, "Spotlight", which aired on March 19th, 2003. At 92 years of age, Mart made guest appearances with a number of big bands at events across Canada including The Stage West Dinner/Theatre in Mississauga, Ontario, The Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver, "The Mad Hatter's Ball, in Penticton, and at the Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver.
Mart always remained active with his community and friends. He acted as "ambassador at large" for the Fraser River Heritage Park and was one of it's early founders, along with his wife, Norma Locke Kenney.
Mart Kenney blended the swinging sounds of an era with a unique, contemporary style. He was always a man in "tune with the times". "He picked up a saxaphone when he was a teenager and didn't put it down until old age began to erode his mind into his '90s", says Christine Toth in her feature in the Abbotsford Times, "Fond farewell to an icon".
Mart passed away on February 8, 2006. A moving memorial service was held at the Clarke Theatre in Mission, BC on February 26th. Fans and musicians paid a musical tribute to Mart at the Hot Jazz Club in Vancouver on March 14, 2006 and featured the 2 remaining members of Mart's "A Band of Vancouver, Gerry Adamus and Jack Fulton along with some of Vancouver's finest musicians. |
