Meet the Maker: Kenny Hill

by Cyndy Burton

Originally published in American Lutherie #90, 2007



I Spoke to the many-faceted Kenny Hill at the 2006 GAL Convention in Tacoma. The previous evening he played Bach’s Toccata, Adagio, and Fugue in C on the magnificent Fritts organ in Lagerquist Hall to a very appreciative audience.


How was it that you decided to treat us to a demonstration on the organ?

What an opportunity! I’ve played since I was about ten. My dad taught me and I did a little child-prodigy year, when I was ten or eleven years old.


On a church organ?

Yeah; in a Baptist church. My dad was real involved in church, and he made us be real involved for our growing-up time. But it wasn’t until college that I got excited about pipe organ. I had learned guitar and played Dylan songs and other stuff. But then I heard the pipe organ and the music of Bach. I thought, “I can really understand that. I can relate to that.” It led to a tremendous amount of work, but I figured that’s what you had to do.