Tina Turner called Kenny Moore the “Ambassador of the Tina Turner band”. She would dismantle and rebuild her world class live performing backing band many times over the years but the one constant that always remained with her and by her side was Kenny Moore. He affectionately called her “Mother” and remained loyal to her until his passing during their 1997 Sydney tour.

 

A true professional both artistically and as a live performer, I am proud to showcase his life and work on this website so visit his page, learn about his life and milestones then sample a few tracks of his music!

 

Kenneth L. Moore was born in Sumter, South Carolina, on April 2nd, 1951, and at the early age of 4 he started playing piano. His first musical schooling was listening to his mother and aunt playing the instrument. At the age of 10 he formed the gospel group “The Moore Singers” with his three sisters performing in and around Baltimore and Washington. He had also begun playing keyboard at the Church of Rev. James Cleveland, a highly influential gospel musician, often referred to as the "King of Gospel".

 

Kenny attended Frederick Douglass High School in 1969 and while in high school, he took piano lessons at Peabody Institute in Baltimore. After graduating High School he attended Morgan State University.

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In 1973 Kenny moved to Los Angeles. That same year he performed his first television show: Duke Ellington's "We Love You Madly" with Quincy Jones as the musical director. He also recorded songs with Carley Simon and James Taylor and worked with Carol King on her release, "Tapestry Revisited".

 

In 1976 he composed and performed "Pipe Dreams" for Gladys Night and The Pips. and played on their release “I Will Survive” touring with the band in the United States and England.

 

Kenny toured with Billy Dee Williams in a play called “I Have a Dream”, The Life of Rev. Martin Luther King. He performed with Elton John at Dodger’s Stadium in Los Angeles. He also recorded with Arlo Guthrie, Noel Pointer, Della Reese, and Ray Charles. He toured South America with Billy Preston and contributed to the recording of his album "A Whole New Thing".

 

In 1977 Kenny joined Tina Turner becoming a key member of Tina Turner's band, serving as her musical director, background vocalist, and keyboard player. He was known for his close musical relationship with her and their fun onstage interactions.

 

In 1980 he co-wrote "Love Me Forever" for Aretha Franklin’s release “Aretha” and working with Bob Dylan he co-created and contributed to the melody of “The Lady with The Red Dress On".

 

Kenny collaborated with Lionel Richie during this time, including performances in New Jersey. Tina Turner opened for Lionel Richie's "Can't Slow Down" tour in July 1984, and they performed a duet of "Three Times A Lady" and "Hot Legs"

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During 1984 and 1985 Kenny joined Tina Turner, The Rolling Stones, and Lionel Richie for various performances and recordings in New Jersey. Also, during 1985, Kenny had been performing on his own in Europe and writing songs for Patti LaBelle and Dave Koz. During his European solo tours he met Enki Anuna, and together they started a production company with the goal to record and release solo albums.

 

Working with Patti LaBelle in 1994 he co-wrote two tracks for her release “Gems”.

 

During the 1997 leg of Tina Turner’s “Wildest Dreams” tour, Kenny suffered health problems. In Sydney, New South Wales, he was admitted to the hospital and on March 25, was pronounced deceased due to apoplexy, he was 45 years old. Turner dedicated every performance thereafter to Moore.