Vault Sessions: Kenny Vaughan

NEW VAULT SESSIONS! In the episode, guitar slinging legend, Kenny Vaughan, talks about judging a “Flying V-Off” between Tom Petty and Mike Campbell, his first guitar, and learning Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues”. This episode also stars a couple of interesting guitars housed at the Songbirds Guitar Museum- a killer 1958 Desert Sand Fender “Toploader” Esquire and 1959 Gibson ES335.
FOLLOW US for more Vault Sessions! Coming soon: Blackberry Smoke, Kenny Olson, Hal Ketchum, Kenny Vaughan, and more. Special thanks to John Dooley for the awesome video! w/ Todd Sharp Amplifiers

[@charlespeterson3798]

His playing is so honest and lacking in bullshit, I learn every time I listen.

[@isaiahneilguitaristofficia549]

Mr.Kenny Vaughn my first exposure to this great player was I just moved to Nashville,back in 2004 ,went down to Broadway on a Wednesday night, went Roberts western world and Don Kelly was telling Kenny how to play a intro, to a very fast bluegrassy song by just vocalizing the intro “dah,dah,dah,dah” etc in the Key of B... Kenny said “ Ok, give me one second” after that second Kenny said “let’s do it “ and they counted it 1,2,3,4, and Kenny just tore into the riff, and I was blown away, and I went home and my roommate who has been In Nashville for many years , told him about this great player I heard, and I didn’t know who he was, he said what does he look like, where was he playing, so I described him and he said “Oh that’s Kenny Vaughn, he’s Killer!” I said “ No shit!” Been a huge fan of his playing since.

[@lwoodt1]

Kenny could sell an album of him just tuning a guitar. I can listen to him anytime.He is one of the great players.

[@kurtleftridge6530]

Tone Monster

[@SeeCSeesCC]

❤ Watched him tonight in Napa California. It was a wonderful show and Kenny slayed

[@colerainfan1143]

One of the relatively unsung great players. He’s graced a lot of stages.

[@SongbirdsFoundation]

This was one of our favorite interviews!

[@floridadawg9857]

Kenny is Cool cat...… Could watch him play all day

[@johnwhite2923]

They dont get much better than cousin Kenny. The best reason to watch the Marty Stuart Show reruns.

[@jfinester]

Love this! Cuzzin Kenny is one of the hottest pickers around. Of course, his pickin’ bud Marty Stuart is no slouch either...

[@jeffclark7888]

Any mention of Buck Owens/Don Rich is great for me.

[@jimfitzgerald6510]

Guy’s a virtuoso. Watching him play is one of life’s great joys🍀

[@KellyNealKeene]

I've enjoyed knowing Kenny throughout my 21 years in Nashville. We played one gig together at Roberts, and were supposed to work together at Tootsies, but got bumped for another artist. He is very well-spoken, and once described working with a particular artist as "laborious, whose songs were contrived!"

[@dreamwell2020]

The way he shares that first lick he learned on the guitar he bought with his paper route money is a profound encouragement for the rest of humanity.

[@johnhardesty3167]

Vaughan is such an under-rated guitarist, he's probably the greatest in the world!

[@mugsypea]

One of the finest Nashville guitarists ever!

[@FrancescoAlcozer]

Nashville is a beatiful city of music, country-rockabilly and beautiful girls. Greetings. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pamuaJdnd7aeask *💢NASHVILLE BOOGIE💢* Gibson Guitar cover by *Bert 💜Weedon*

[@deanmary1969]

Kenny you are one of the Greatest Guitar Players of all time..lovin every note no matter what Guitar you play Biggest Fan ..71 man wat down in TX...jd

[@briandolan631]

So cool just caught Cousin Kenny with Marty and his Fabulous Superlatives in Fort Collins, Colorado. They were great as usual, so fun!

[@barrykarpowich731]

Love this guy really he is just great honest and just good

[@scottsoucy6186]

I would love to see Kenny on stage with Jack Pearson, another phenomenal player that the general public doesn't even know!

[@joeywho534]

I know them both. Seen Kenny live!

[@smokepeddler]

Personally my favorite living guitar player. No pedals no gimmicks. Just a Tele straight into a princeton.

[@titobattaglia7932]

What a guitar freak he is! Can't stop doodling and interjecting about the sounds he gets! You gotta love Cousin Kenny… what a guitarist!

[@floydgrobinson]

got to sit in a session and watch this guy with some other bad ass players, great learning experience!

[@johnulrich5572]

Nashville cats play clean as country water.

[@tankhalffull]

You are something special Kenny... it has been a blast getting to know you.... uuuuh, on KZbin... LOL! Still a thrill though....

[@fukhue8226]

What a great guy and guitar player!

[@denisereuther8250]

Beautiful musicians, Beautiful people !

[@wrenchhead6840]

Genius. Kenny vaughn is one of the best guitars players currently breathing…..

[@justinwills79]

Love Cousin Kenny!

[@thomasreid4798]

I won't even try to play like you Kenny ! HaHaHaHaHa ! Been trying to play guitar like that for 50 years ! I ain't got enough time left ! HaHaHaHaHa ! Thank you , Brother ! AMEN !

[@skobywankenobi]

You can find that joy in a single moment. As long as you have a moment left you have time to step into it. Hope the road rises to meet you.

[@dat219]

Seems like one of the nicest people out there.

[@justiceforall6412]

Mr. Vaughn is a very good guitarist. Glad to see him being out there. He favors flat wounds.

[@TBlanktim]

Flat wounds?!? I would never have guessed. Good tidbit. He's a monster.

[@justiceforall6412]

@@TBlanktim Yeah he is

[@HootNightowl]

As I always say, "Cousin Kenny, coolest dude on the planet". Look up the definition of cool. & you will see Kenny's pic.😊

[@danmoreno37]

Kenny is one of the best!!

[@donlovell6708]

Todd Sharp builds great amps. I had him rebuild a 65 Fender Pro Reverb for me. I was running a set of Vintage 30 Celestine speakers Tod had that amp dialed in. Killer tone, reliable gigging amp

[@kurtleftridge6530]

Cool // Any videos of it? I would love to hear it.

[@SelectCircle]

Pat Metheny - call your office. A collab with Kenny Vaughn would be mind-blowing.

[@jeffcramer2463]

This is one dude that would honor me by letting me buy him a couple beers, or whatever it would take, and let me listen to him play and tell stories.

[@Achase4u]

That is so cool Kenny and his dad knew Johnny. That guy was a monster player.

[@TheOpinionatedGuitarist]

1st guitar - 66 Tele! Sweet!!!

[@unclemayhem6696]

ikr. wonder if he still has it.

[@tedadlington1777]

You've told him now Kenny. Love the sound of that tele

[@GedTheRed]

Marvellous ❤

[@christiaandemarezoyens4720]

Man this guy can PLAY!!

[@stringbender57]

Kenny is a great picker and a nice guy! I remember when he first came to Nashville. First time I saw him play was at Tootsies. He was working with a band and playing some good stuff. He had the signature muffler around his neck and I thought that was odd indoors. I knew he was going to do well in Nashville.

[@Mission2Transition641]

i saw enjoy watching this Cat play guitar, going up and down the neck of the Tele and the Gibson 335. Saw him w/ Marty Stuart couple years ago.

[@lawrencegenereux8567]

Not trying fo be a dick, but the Fender he's playing here is a single pickup Esquire. If you ever have the chance to play one, do it; they sing better than a tele. Not having the magnetic pull from the rhythm pickup lets the strings vibrate to the fullest.

[@oldgittarist]

Touch & tone!

[@catheryndenton1766]

Tom Petty said music is the closest thing to magic there is. He was RIGHT.

[@dekalbes335]

Kenny's great.

[@syncopowerstations]

The best guitar song ever played was a number by Lucinda William's group. It's called Pineola. There were two lead guitar players that played so well together on that, it's the first song that's impressed me in a long time. Austin City Live 1989.

[@Terra148]

Hot pickin' guitar! I seem to recall someone telling me once that his early guitar teacher was Bill Frisell . . .

[@Jplent1]

I would expect to hear a little more harmonic laden lines.

[@dhand34]

I want to see a vid on all of his guitars

[@aliceborealis]

Kenny's an Ace!

[@FYMM69]

Kennys one class act !!

[@thomasreid4798]

If you don't like Kenny Vaughan, there's something wrong witcha !

[@user-et2fj8xm5l]

All killer No filler for cousin Kenny..

[@brianmehalso2219]

Jacket game is on point

[@TheClemcaster]

As with a lot of these timeless licks; 'they're not very hard,' until you try to invent them from scratch.

[@mojorayjones]

Cousin Kenny doing what he does best!

[@SongbirdsFoundation]

This interview was one of our all-time favorites!

[@loungecruz]

Damn, K.V. is dope!

[@daneallan1320]

Like you I love real country music 🎼. I'm still looking for it, tho. I'll let you know if I find any. You're playing is great too...d.

[@riobabic8960]

Kenny’s song Mysterium is the best !

[@MrMusicguyma]

Great guitars, but as we all know, the "magic" is not in the instrument, but in the guitar player's hands (and ears) Tasteful playing by Kenny. Seems a nice low-key guy.

[@midwestfisherman]

Cousin Kenny! 👍👍

[@daneallan1320]

P.S. I also have a tele . The Buck Owens three colours. Wish I could trade it for Don Rich's champagne sparkle tele! That's a sick guitar.

[@ronfrey6639]

Yea man dig this guys playing alot Hes great...

[@SongbirdsFoundation]

Kenny is an awesome (and laid back) player! One of our favorite interviews!

[@edgarmcbee2474]

He is the coolest

[@syncopowerstations]

I'm not sure if this is the guy on the right or not. His look then was kind of Buddy Holly look. The contrast between the looks and the sound seemed to make it all the more cool.

[@ivanposa8101]

Kenny is the best picker of all the Vaughan clan.

[@RamenNoodlez258]

Howard stern showcases some licks

[@unclemayhem6696]

Ozzy

[@richardleonard4281]

Kenny could make an air guitar sound good.

[@gustavorenovalez5229]

Guitar encyclopedia right there....

[@larryholland7192]

Awesome X 10

[@TracyLanebike]

Definitely a Tele man!

[@maxkomine1934]

Superbly superlative

[@donprice732]

One bad dude!!!

[@tjcolatrella943]

What year was that wonderful Dot ES-335?

[@michaelolz]

Hey! An Esquire!

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

I hope he still has that 66 tele!!

[@georgeshaw8925]

#songbird #pafpickups #es335 Is it just me or does 59 es335 get more play time than any other guitar? Things that make you go hmmmm

[@chrismorgan7494]

Kenny could make an upright bass twang.

[@knowmusicman157]

With a name like Vaughan, he has to be a good picker. Kenny is an Okie. Oklahoma is North Dallas, you know Dallas where JImmie and and better known younger brother Stevie Ray are from. It's a Luther Perkins lick. That is FPB lick.

[@commanderthorkilj.amundsen3426]

Agree. Kenny and Stevie Ray, two of the most talented, yet humble, in their respective genres!

[@philjohnson7160]

Oodles of noodles! Very cool.

[@mistergamba80]

old school, Yes! no bullshit

[@johndurant8687]

Cat can play the heck out of that Tele!

[@skobywankenobi]

I'm convinced this guy is just Marty Friedman moving between Japan and the US faster than the speed of light.

[@claytonkopachynski4563]

👍

[@jduke4664]

Mr. Vaughan !!!! W H A T

[@syncopowerstations]

He's going to meet someone and both their lives will get off the ground like they never have. Not even the world will get over the band they make.

[@billhillify4924]

On the Gibson....

[@MaximVful]

veliki gitarero!

[@davidmohr1920]

Love the long hair dam can you fricking play guitar Brother you inspire me to practice :-)

[@timhoovermusicman]

Saw him last August and no long hair.

[@timhoovermusicman]

Saw him last August and no long hair

[@christiaandemarezoyens4720]

Man this is what guitar playing is all about! As far as I’m concerned all those “guitar heroes” with Italian names playing Japanese guitars should get arrested!

[@Jplent1]

Nice playing although nothing outside ie. Bm7b5 over the G root.

[@MrMusicguyma]

And "outside" is better? My mom was always telling me to go and play outside. :)

[@Jplent1]

I don't think you understand...infant.

[@MrMusicguyma]

@@Jplent1 I think I understand you, Senor Jazz Hipster, sans sense of humor. C'est rien. Finis.

[@commanderthorkilj.amundsen3426]

Pete TheMan You should explain your rationale in detail, for diminishing Ken’s playing here....

[@deanchenry]

He smiled? Lol!

[@rickyboothe2434]

Kenny Vaughn is one of the best guitar players ever He ain't handsome but he can dang sure play !

[@stringbender57]

And there's ZZ Topp and you can't forget that ole' brother Willie's gettin' soakin' wet.........

[@smasica]

He and Waddy Wachtel should hook up for a session.

[@MrDavemiley]

Kind of wondering what that Pick up selector is doing on that single pic-up Tele ?

[@SongbirdsFoundation]

MrDavemiley it is a top-loading Esquire. Selector allows you to bypass the tone controls.

[@MrDavemiley]

Thank you for the information. I will certainly visit there if I am ever in that part of the country. Amazing collection of instruments !

[@billpileggi3284]

that single pick up has more than one sound, its an Esquire.

[@c.p.1589]

Try 'Google', all the young people are doing it.

[@MrDavemiley]

@@c.p.1589 Thank you for the smart ass reply. Hope it made you feel 9.5 % better about yourself.

[@thedownsides]

If your last name is Vaughan, you play great guitar. Simple as that.

[@seosamhv]

Bband Im still trying ;)

[@jwa718]

There's proof that's true---Cousin Kenny, Stevie Ray and Jimmy too---yeah sumpin' to it! :)

[@wgnation351]

I was born in 1966. I'm a antique, but not very collectable.

[@thomasprice1760]

Check out chris scruggs too..

[@shakeyjonez]

Ain’t many pickers out there better than Kenny.

[@MaximVful]

К

[@michaelagood9358]

Z

[@DougHinVA]

he has money and can get his teeth fixed if he will just do it

[@ohiosouthpaw4283]

Doug H. in VA He’d rather spend it on Guitars & I don’t blame him. lol.