 Nigel Kennedy - As one of the most successful classical
performers of his time, violinist Nigel Kennedy's genre-defying music helped him
achieve a level of fame typically reserved for pop stars. A native of Brighton,
England, he studied music at the Yehudi Menuhin School and at Juilliard; his
debut recording, Elgar Violin Concerto, appeared in 1984, shortly followed by
Nigel Kennedy Plays Jazz. In the years to follow, Nigel Kennedy collaborated not
only with the more traditional likes of Riccardo Muti and the Philharmonia
Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, and Andre Previn, but also with
pop figures including Paul McCartney and Kate Bush; his fame reached new heights
with the 1989 release of his recording of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, which went
as high as number three on the U.K. pop charts and went on to sell well over a
million copies. In 1992, neck surgery forced Nigel Kennedy to retire for several
years; when he resurfaced with 1996's Kafka, Nigel Kennedy performed his own
compositions for the first time, broadening his scope to include not only
classical music but also elements of Celtic, rock, and jazz. The Jimi Hendrix
tribute The Kennedy Experience followed in 1999. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
Contact Grabow for more information or to book Nigel Kennedy
for your next corporate or private event.
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