The late Kenny Hall. photo by Cookie Segelstein

We received the sad news that Fresno, Calif.-based master mandolin player and fiddler Kenny Hall passed away Wednesday evening, September 18th, following complications from a recent heart attack, just a few weeks shy of his 91st birthday. Kenny was a “fiercely independent old-time musician” who was an inspiration to generations of revival musicians in his home state.

Born blind on October 14, 1923, in San Jose, California, Kenny Hall became a master mandolinist and fiddler in old-time music styles, drawing inspiration from regional styles throughout U.S. as well as Ireland, Mexico, Latin America, and many parts of Europe. A Kenny Hall performance drew from all those influences, weaving tunes, stories and folk songs.

His regular Friday night barn dances, highlighted a band featuring his wife Marta Hall (boudhran), Andy Brown (guitar), Terry Barrett (mandolin/fiddle), Bill Lehr (guitar/banjo), Linda Guerrero (fiddle), Jeff Shelby (fiddle/mandolin), Chris Darden (mandolin), and Mike Mueller (autoharp/banjo).

Last October (2012) saw the Fresno Folklore Society present a “Kenny Hall Festival” as a benefit to raise funds to support Circle of Friends: The Life and Music of Kenny Hall, a documentary being assembled by filmmaker Chris Simon.

Kenny spent his days performing in festivals and concerts throughout the U.S. He had a standing gig, Wednesday nights at the Santa Fe Basque restaurant in Fresno, and he taught mandolin and performed for students at Mendota Unified. He we be sorely missed by his friends and admirers from all over.

Our condolences to his family and friends.

Here’s Kenny on mandolin playing “Rainbow” (courtesy of UNC, Chapel Hill Folk Archives and The Bluestein Family):

… and on fiddle and vocals swinging “Angeline the Baker”: