The Kennedys (band)

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The Kennedys

Origin	Northhampton MA
Country	United States
Years active	1994–present
Genres	folk-pop
Labels	Appleseed Recording
Members	Pete Kennedy Maura Kennedy

The Kennedys are an American folk-rock band, consisting of husband and wife Pete and Maura Kennedy. Their first album, River of Fallen Stars, was released under the name "Pete and Maura Kennedy"; they released all subsequent albums as "The Kennedys". They met in Austin, Texas in 1992, when Pete Kennedy was playing in Nanci Griffith's band, and for their first date, each drove 500 miles to meet at Buddy Holly's grave in Lubbock, Texas. Soon, Maura Boudreau joined Griffith's band as a harmony singer, and they began their career as a duo when they opened for her during her tour in Ireland. They are influenced by the Byrds and other 1960s rock and folk-rock artists. Their 1998 album Angel Fire featured many songs with literary references, such as "A Letter To Emily" and "Just Like Henry David".

When performing live Pete plays the acoustic guitar, electric sitar, and ukulele. Maura plays the acoustic guitar and the uke.

They have performed in clubs and theatres throughout the United states, a cruise, and at Bill Clinton's first and second inaugaurations.

Pete is from the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington DC. Maura grew up in Syracuse, New York. After many years living in the East Village in New York City in 2006 joined the many other folk musicians living in Northampton, Massachusetts.

In addition to their music career they are DJs on Sirius Satellite Radio.

[edit] Influences

Richard Thompson - They have recorded covers of Wall of Death and How Will I Ever Be Simple Again. Anna and the Magic Gown on Get it Right is written in the style of Thompson's old band, Fairport Convention
The Beatles - They include at least one Beatles song at most performances
Bob Dylan - They have recorded covers Chimes of Freedom and A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall. They perform at the Dylan Tribute at the Warwick Wineries every year.
The Byrds - When they started writing songs they aimed for a sound similar to The Byrd's Eight Miles High. They cover it on Songs of the Open Road
Dave Carter - They often refer to him as the greatest songwriter of his generation. They cover Happytown and Gypsy Rose and When I Go.