Maine Guitarist Ken LaVoie
Guitarist, singer, songwriter, author
Performing on-stage at the
CMOA Eagle award competition in Las Vegas.
CMOA Eagle award competition in Las Vegas.
Biographical Information
- Kenneth F. LaVoie III
- From: Glocester & Providence, R.I.
- Instrument: Guitar
- Favorite Band: Rolling Stones
- Favorite Musician: Keith Richards
- Influences: Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Mick Taylor, Ry Cooder, Brent Mason, Kevin Fallon,
Awards: Pine Tree Country Music Organization
- "Instrumentalist of the Year" - 2000 & 2001
- "Modern Country Band" 2000 & 2001 (as lead guitar for Cherokee Band)
- "Modern and Traditional Country Band" - 2001 (as lead guitar for Cherokee Band)
- "Modern and Traditional Vocal Group" - 2001 (as lead guitar for Cherokee Band)
Awards: Country Music Organization of America
- "Instrumentalist of the Year - International" - 2000
- "Rising Star, New Country" - 2000 (as lead guitar for Cherokee Band)
Musical History:
Ken LaVoie began playing guitar when he was ten years old, focusing on old folk tunes, beach boys and Elvis. In 1977,
Ken moved to Rhode Island with his Father, who bought him his first guitar (a Yamaha FG-110 acoustic), and introduced him to the more emotional overtones of the blues and rock and roll. "Music for the neck down" as Ken's guitar hero Keith Richards would say.
Ken remained a "closet musician" until 1997 when an employee of his lawn care company asked him to become the lead guitarist for the band he was playing drums for at the time (Cherokee, later named Rick West & Cherokee). He then spent the next 2 years transitioning from rock n roll and blues to the twang of country, trading in his Stratocaster for its simpler but twangier cousin the telecaster. Cherokee had a great run, opening for headliners such as Blake Shelton, Darrell Worley, Buddy Jewel, Mark Willis & the Bellamy Brothers.
Cherokee continued its stealthy climb, gaining popularity and winning many state-level music awards from the Pine Tree State Country Music Association In 1999, & 2000 Ken won "instrumentalist of the year" from the same organization and was given the chance to compete, along with the Cherokee Band, in Las Vegas at the Country Music Organization of America's annual competition. Ken won "instrumentalist of the year" on the international level, which was his "crowning achievement".
Ken also operates Central Maine Web, which specializes in template-web design, SEO, and hosting services. In early 2009, Ken and Deb opened Southern Angel Properties, an apartment rental business which is their primary activity now, along with authoring two business-related books.
Ken remained a "closet musician" until 1997 when an employee of his lawn care company asked him to become the lead guitarist for the band he was playing drums for at the time (Cherokee, later named Rick West & Cherokee). He then spent the next 2 years transitioning from rock n roll and blues to the twang of country, trading in his Stratocaster for its simpler but twangier cousin the telecaster. Cherokee had a great run, opening for headliners such as Blake Shelton, Darrell Worley, Buddy Jewel, Mark Willis & the Bellamy Brothers.
Cherokee continued its stealthy climb, gaining popularity and winning many state-level music awards from the Pine Tree State Country Music Association In 1999, & 2000 Ken won "instrumentalist of the year" from the same organization and was given the chance to compete, along with the Cherokee Band, in Las Vegas at the Country Music Organization of America's annual competition. Ken won "instrumentalist of the year" on the international level, which was his "crowning achievement".
Ken also operates Central Maine Web, which specializes in template-web design, SEO, and hosting services. In early 2009, Ken and Deb opened Southern Angel Properties, an apartment rental business which is their primary activity now, along with authoring two business-related books.