Though the recipient of classical training, violinist
Joe Kennedy, Jr. is best known for his work in jazz, performing alongside his cousin, the saxophonist
Benny Carter, as well as pianists
Hank Jones and
George Shearing.
Kennedy was born in Pittsburgh in 1923, and his childhood friends included another future jazz great, pianist
Ahmad Jamal. Inspired by classical violin grandmaster
Yehudi Menuhin,
Kennedy went on to perform with the Camp Lee Symphony Orchestra in Petersburg, VA, during World War II, but after his Army tenure ended he returned to Pittsburgh, joining
Jamal, guitarist
Ray Crawford, and bassist
Edgar Willis in the jazz combo the Four Strings. Their
Mary Lou Williams-produced debut, Trends, appeared on the Disc label in 1949, with Down Beat dubbing
Kennedy's work "the cleanest violin we've ever heard." After studying applied music at Carnegie Mellon,
Kennedy moved on to Virginia State College, earning a staff teaching position with the Richmond public school system. He remained a Richmond educator for 32 years in the capacities of instrumental music specialist, supervisor of music, and eventually supervisor of secondary arts and humanities -- among his students was the future tennis great Arthur Ashe. In 1962
Kennedy recorded what would remain his sole jazz date as a leader for close to two decades: the Red Anchor release Strings by Candlelight, which featured contributions from
Hank Jones, guitarist
Kenny Burrell, and bassist
Milt Hinton. The following year he was the first African-American musician admitted to
the Richmond Symphony, remaining resident violinist for the next 18 years; during that time he also recorded with
Jamal, toured as a member of the Benny Carter All-Stars, and composed a handful of original songs, including "Be Sure," "Tempo," and "Opticas." After reuniting with
Jones and recruiting bassist
Major Holley and drummer
Oliver Jackson,
Kennedy again assumed a leadership role for 1980's Magnifique!, released via the French Black and Blue label. (The sessions were reissued in 2002 under the title
Falling in Love with Love.)
Kennedy retired as Professor Emeritus of Music from Virginia Tech in 1995; he died April 17, 2004, in Richmond. ~ Jason Ankeny