Artist Spotlight: Kenny Loggins
The Genesis of My Love for Kenny
As I go through my mental rolodex of favorites, there is no one that compares to Kenny Loggins. I didn’t quite understand how deeply connected I could feel to an artist’s music until I stumbled upon him. Kenny Loggins is extremely special, my adoration for him grew rapidly. I’ll never forget the first time I heard his voice. I was watching the music video to “We Are The World” during my study of Michael Jackson in the early 2010s. When Kenny sang his line “We are the ones to make a brighter day, so let’s start giving,” I was completely captivated. It wasn’t until years later in September 2022 that I listened to Kenny’s debut solo album, Celebrate Me Home.
Kenny’s debut solo album was released in April 1977. Recording this album gave Kenny the opportunity to showcase his R&B/Soul and smooth jazz leaning sound! It’s a beautiful, warm album.
A Moving Target
One of the aspects of Kenny’s artistry that I appreciate most is his ability to transcend genres. He proclaims himself as a moving target, and his description couldn’t be more accurate. The stylistic variety throughout his discography showcases his vast array of influences. From his early 70s folk, rock, and country roots as ½ of Loggins & Messina to his pop, rock, smooth jazz, new-age, R&B, and gospel-oriented sound that emerged during his solo career in the late-70s through the 2000s, it’s clear that Kenny has no issue diverting from what’s expected of him.
Throughout his career, Kenny has showcased an ability to move from genre to genre in a way that appears to be intuitive and natural. He attributes this ability to growing up with two older brothers with distinguishing tastes in music. This aspect of his upbringing had a profound impact on his artistic style.
1985’s Vox Humana is one of the most potent displays of his R&B/Soul, smooth jazz, and funk tendencies. The liner notes on this album are truly impressive. Supporting vocals are provided by Earth, Wind and Fire’s Philip Bailey, El DeBarge, as well as The Pointer Sisters. The instrumentation and vocal delivery throughout this album are deliciously soulful. “Love Will Follow”, the beautiful, atmospheric closing track is sung entirely in falsetto.
Kenny’s sound has so much black influence, and it’s beautiful. Vox Humana is the album that followed the incredible success of “Footloose”, released in 1984 as one of the singles of the accompanying soundtrack album for the film. There are many artists who after experiencing commercial success at that level would make the decision to continue in that direction sonically. ().
Although there was an attempt made to mimic the sound and success of “Footloose” in the form of the title track and first single of Vox Humana as requested by Kenny’s label, overall, he went in the opposite direction and decided to put out the most heavily R&B/Soul, smooth jazz, funk oriented album in his discography at that time. This audacious decision to divert from what was expected of him is so inspirational. Kenny’s dedication to following his heart and making artistic choices most favorable to him is a throughline of his career. The release of Vox Humana certainly wouldn’t be the last time he would display courage and determination at this level.
Vox Humana was released in March 1985. This album showcased to me Kenny’s impressive ability to go in a musical direction unexpected of him.
Tracks like I’ll Be There (feat. El DeBarge), I’m Gonna Do It Right (feat. The Pointer Sisters), At Last (feat. Philip Bailey), Loraine and Love Will Follow really aid in this.
The album that further solidified Kenny’s ability to create music from a wide range of genres was Leap of Faith, Kenny’s 7th studio album, released in September 1991. Sonically, Leap of Faith goes in so many different directions. It’s R&B/Soul, new age, folk, gospel…it’s everything rolled into one. It feels as if he really let his heart lead on this album, which is the absolute truth.
Kenny explains in detail the reasoning behind this decision in his memoir, Still Alright, released in 2022.
…I was forty years old and tired of recording songs aimed at chart position and singles sales, sick of chasing the formula that has brought me so much success. I wanted to make the music I wanted to hear. That’s why, when I went into the studio in 1988 to begin recording what would become “Leap of Faith”, the first thing I did was tape a sign to the wall with two words on it: ‘Fuck radio.’ This thing had to stand on its own, apart from the demands of the pop charts. In my mind, anything that remotely fit the hit-single formula had no place in my studio. Fuck radio. (Kenny Loggins, Still Alright, 2022)
I love how much of an intentional decision this was for him. Even though he has come to be known as the ‘King of the Movie Soundtrack,’ and became well-known for his movie hits in the 1980s, he still chose to follow his heart to create the music that aligned most with a path that excited him. I can’t emphasize enough how much this inspires me. Reading this for the first time brought about a lot of feelings of excitement for me. It was before I had even listened to Leap of Faith, it geared me up to experience an emotionally and sonically provocative album.
I appreciate the mellow and acoustic-driven nature of this album. There are tribal, R&B, smooth jazz and folk inspired sounds that emanate from it; it's the most gorgeous blend. Leap of Faith is a beautiful representation of Kenny’s spirit.
The Ultimate Comfort Artist
Kenny’s tone carries a warm and enchanting quality, one that really benefits my inner child. Experiencing his growth as an artist as I’ve gone through his discography has brought me a lot of encouragement. As I’ve studied him as an artist and done research to gain a deeper understanding of the man behind the music, I’ve learned that Kenny possesses qualities that I really appreciate. Now that I have a better understanding of who he is, it makes perfect sense why I was initially drawn to him and why his music resonates so deeply with me.
Among the conclusions I’ve been able to draw about Kenny through research, watching, and listening to as many interviews I’ve been able to access, there is one overarching realization that I’ve come to. That is, Kenny Loggins is a highly emotionally intelligent and sensitive man. At the beginning of his career, he felt inspired by artists like James Taylor, who showcased vulnerability and sensitivity through their lyrics. This inspiration led Kenny in the direction of starting work on himself through therapy. It’s this decision that has leveraged his ability to really dig deep through his lyricism. His dedication to being vulnerable and allowing the primary goal of his art to be self-expression and catharsis are two of the many things that make him so special.
Not only does Leap of Faith showcase, once again, Kenny’s ability to be stylistically diverse, it represents a turning point in his life; it chronicles the emotions he went through as his first marriage came to an end. There is a wide range of emotions represented on this album: from the pain, confusion, and eventual acceptance of an ending chapter to the excitement for and openness to a new one. Upon first listening to Leap of Faith, I felt my love and connection to Kenny’s music deepen. It’s certainly a turning point in his discography. It’s a vulnerable, transparent, and personal work of art. This album is one that I can identify with on an emotional and spiritual level; it feels like a warm hug after a long, hard day. Kenny expanded on the personal element of Leap of Faith in Still Alright.
Part of my passion stemmed from the fact that, unlike my recent albums before it, Leap of Faith came from an intensely personal place. The record opens with the breakup of my first marriage and ends with the hope and excitement of what would become my second. It’s a death-rebirth process, the stuff of mythology and romance. I’m writing so much about it here because I think it’s the best work I’ve ever done… (Kenny Loggins, Still Alright, 2022)
Kenny’s music has provided me with so much comfort and guidance. I didn’t realize this would be the case when I began my journey through his discography. It’s a mystifying experience to be continually guided in the direction of beautiful artists. Kenny’s one of a kind. There are so many positive messages embedded ever so beautifully in his lyrics; his approach is loving and gentle. In a world that teaches us to bury our emotions and never let on that we’re hurting, Kenny’s intentional honesty and transparency is refreshing and encouraging.
I highly recommend checking out these two beautiful shows from the Leap of Faith era. they are perfect representations of the intimate atmosphere Kenny’s music creates. (links: Live from the Grand Canyon | Outside from the Redwoods)The depth of my admiration for Kenny stems from his insistence on doing what feels good to him. He has allowed that to be the determining factor of his art’s value rather than commercial success. That is one of the biggest takeaways from my continual study of Kenny as both a human and as an artist. I feel so blessed that I was drawn to his music. There are so many examples of songs throughout his discography that bring comfort and solace through his lyricism. (a few favorites are linked below!)
“Wait A Little While” (from the album Nightwatch, 1978)
“Sweet Reunion” (from Live from The Grand Canyon)
“The Art of Letting Go” (from the album The Unimaginable Life, 1997)
The Experience of a Lifetime
When I learned that Kenny’s next tour would be his final, I immediately understood how important it would be for me to experience it. I was lucky to secure a VIP ticket to his New York City show at the Beacon Theatre. This would include access to soundcheck and a signed vinyl and setlist. I figured it would be a nice gift to myself to experience this. I got my roundtrip train ticket for my first solo trip to the city and booked a hotel room for the night.
When I made it to the Beacon Theatre in Manhattan after quickly checking in to my hotel room, the surrealness really began to kick in. I was checked in by two sweet women at the table who gave me a tote bag with the signed record, setlist, a wristband and lanyard with a VIP laminate to wear around my neck. They complimented my vintage Leap of Faith tour t-shirt that I got from eBay to show that I was a true fan (lol). I expressed to them that I was worried that I was too late, and they assured me that “the music gods must be on my side” because I was right on time. As I settled in and joined the rest of the VIP group, I felt like I could finally breathe. I made it.
As we were given instructions, I could hear Kenny and his band warming up. I couldn’t believe my ears…it was really him. When the door was opened to us and we entered the theater and walked down to the first two rows, my anxiety turned to an assurance. Somehow it felt like exactly what was supposed to be happening. I didn’t feel starstruck, and my disbelief faded. I think this speaks volumes to the atmosphere Kenny’s music creates. I came alone but was now a part of a community bonded by a deep love and appreciation for an incredible artist.
As the soundcheck ended, two groups of us had a photo taken with Kenny and his band. When my group finished with our photo, the mother and daughter who became my buddies for the evening and others turned to talk to Kenny. They complimented him, told him about the impact his music had on their lives. My shyness caused me to hesitate, but something told me that this was a moment that I needed to take advantage of. I had to put my anxious feelings aside to tell him something. Before heading back to my seat, I told Kenny that he was amazing and blew him a kiss. It was a brief statement and gesture, but one that he appeared to be grateful for as he thanked me with eyes full of light.
The show that Kenny put on was unlike any other experience I’ve had seeing one of my favorite artists live. Kenny’s music creates an atmosphere of love, togetherness, and community. The feeling of warmth and camaraderie in the room was expected. Even though I was very likely the youngest person in the room, I felt very much apart of the whole. Kenny even dedicated “If You Believe,” one of my favorite songs from Leap of Faith to the young people in the audience. I felt so special and seen, as those around me smiled at me. Connecting with Kenny, someone whose music has impacted my life and has helped me cope through a challenging year was so special. It felt so amazing to be in that room as apart of the audience. Seeing Kenny take in all the love and appear overwhelmed with emotion during certain moments was a highlight.
Tuesday, September 12, 2023, was a beautiful day. It came with its anxieties, from train delays to traffic. After all, it was my first time in NYC by myself, but by the grace of God it all worked out exactly as it was supposed to. I feel so blessed and so lucky that I was able to make this experience happen for myself. I was filled with so much gratitude as I waited in the Philly train station for my ride back to Jersey. What a lovely 24 hours it had been.
Giving flowers
Kenny Loggins is an artist who deserves to bask in love and appreciation after dedicating so much of his life to sharing his gifts with the world. He has been in the music industry since his early 20s and deserves to enjoy the fruits of his labor. This post has been a work in progress for some time. Words never feel quite enough when it comes to artists who are as personally impactful to me as Kenny. The goal is to make it known how grateful I am to him for following his heart’s desire to be an artist. I somehow feel as though I have only scratched the surface. The beautiful thing is that there are still so many posts to still be made, so much of Kenny’s music to highlight and analyze. This is simply just the first dedicated post to him.
Mr. Kenny Loggins, you are truly a gem. Your dedication to being authentic, vulnerable, listening to your heart and following the fun is inspiring. Thank you for all the work you have done to bare your soul and shine your light so brightly. You are appreciated.
love,
cheyenne
here are some links to my favorite interviews!
July 23, 1985: Kenny Loggins talks about how his childhood influenced his music
The Big Interview with Dan Rather
LA Stories Season 3, Episode 92
Kenny Loggins, A Moving Target
Kenny Loggins on The Ed Bernstein Show
Kenny Loggins on Fear Me Out - A Psychology Podcast
