Adam Kenyon (above) and Randy Tate shot a music video in front of the Kent Theatre.
By Judy Reed
Cedar Springs might not be giving out tax incentives to make movies here, but it didn’t stop two Cedar Springs residents from filming a big band music video on Main Street.
Adam Kenyon and his long-time friend, Randy Tate, shot the video in front of the Kent Theatre, for an internal talent competition at Meijer, where Kenyon works. It’s also been uploaded to YouTube.
Kenyon performed the song “We are in love,” while Tate stayed behind the camera. “This could not have happened by any stretch of the imagination without his talented eye for visually pleasing film shots and his technical knowledge of how to capture them correctly,” said Kenyon.
So why big band? “I’ve always loved big band music,” explained Kenyon. “It’s a style that seems to excite almost everyone no matter what age they are. It makes toddlers and their grandmas want to move around, sway and snap their fingers. The good vibrations of songs like this are contagious.”
He said they picked the Kent to be the background for several reasons. “We love the fact that the video showcases a nostalgic landmark from our home town…but also the Kent Theater just looks amazing in the night shots with those dazzling neon lights, and for the record I rarely use the word dazzling. Having the Kent in the video is a little like Back to the Future. The exterior of that building takes you back to the era of big band music. It was a perfect fit for a lot of reasons.”
Kenyon said that the feedback he’s received from people has been positive, and he recently found out that he’s made it to the finals of the talent competition, which means he’ll be performing live at the anniversary celebration. “I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve performed as a singer quite a bit in my life, but this is the first time I will have gotten to do big band stuff,” he said. “I can’t wait. I might need a new suit though.”
Kenyon doesn’t rule out making a big band CD someday. “It sure was a great time recording the song and making this video, and I am certainly interested in doing more of it at some point down the road, but I coach soccer here in town so it will at least have to wait at least until the spring season is done,” he said with a smile.
To see the video, go to www.youtube.com and type in “Adam Kenyon we are in love” and it should bring it up. Or go directly to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OKrBbsbPjE.
