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Ken Lyon is featured on Outbound Radio |
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 Ken Lyon was born in Newport, Rhode Island in 1941 to jazz drummer and methodist preacher Walter Lyon and classical singer Ruth Popple. The stage was set for his musical journey at an early age. Sing-alongs with his grandparents at the family piano, singing at his dad’s church, vocal studies with his mom and the acquisition of a guitar, a Stella acoustic, contributed to his avid interest in all things musical. Shortly after making his professional debut as “Calypso Ken” in 1959 at the height of the folk-revival, he made his first single for Dot Records. This lead to a second single and national tour for Epic Records in 1961. Upon his return, Ken became a familiar face on the Cambridge folk scene centered around Harvard Square and worked with such up and coming stars as Tom Rush and The Charles River Valley Boys. After a two-year stint in the Navy, Ken moved to Greenwich Village in 1964. He made a lifelong friend in Richie Havens who showed him the ropes. He was soon performing at such legendary spots as Cafe Wha? and Cafe Bizarre playing his by now signature folk-blues. By 1967, eager to explore the electric side of the blues, he formed the original version of The Tombstone Blues Band with Mark Taber and Duke Robillard. These two endeavors, each showcasing one side of this multi-talented performer, were the most crucial of his career. He became a favorite on the northeast coffeehouse scene, which resulted in the release of his first album, “Ken Lyon In Concert” on Decca. The band evolved into one of the first jam bands in the country and their sell out club dates resulted in a deal with Columbia. “Ken Lyon & Tombstone” was a best-selling LP and the single, “Sing Song City”, charted around the world. They toured America with Queen and Mott the Hoople and became national stars. In 1975, Tombstone disbanded and Ken decided to concentrate on his family and a teaching career. By 1990, he was ready to return to music and he’s been a regular on the scene ever since. He continues to explore his acoustic roots as a solo performer and as a member of Celtic greats Pendragon. He also slipped back into his rock ‘n’ roll shoes, performing with new versions of Tombstone and other blues-rock outfits such as The Outriders. Today, in addition to performing with Pendragon, Ken leads a regular blues jam at Chan’s jazz club in Woonsocket and has recently unveiled his latest, eclectic acoustic band, The Shoe Fly Orchestra. |
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