Tillman Franks' Story of the Month

     Jerry Kennedy was a ten-year-old kid in Shreveport, La. when I first met him in 1951. I was teaching guitar lessons at J&S; Music Co. on Milam St. His father, Gordon Kennedy, who was a deputy with the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Department, dropped him off. It was important to his daddy for Jerry to learn to play the guitar. Unfortunately I never got to meet his daddy, as he died a few days later.
     I think God sent Jerry to me. After the death of his father, he was always like a son to me. When his mother, Miss Essie, had any trouble with him, all she had to do was call me.
     Jerry was my best student. It wasn't long until he was a member of the Louisiana Hayride and was going all over the country with us performing, including performing with Johnny Horton.
     He married Linda Brannon, also a performer on the Hayride, and they had three wonderful boys. Each of them in engaged now in the music business. They are Gordon, Shelby and Brian. Sadly, their mother died a few years ago.

A Young Jerry Glenn Kennedy

     Jerry and Linda moved to Nashville in 1961 and the rest is history. In addition to working recording sessions as a guitarist, Jerry went to work as A&R; Man for Mercury Records under Shelby Singleton. He eventually took over Mercury's operation in Nashville. In 1984, Jerry left Mercury to form his own business, JK Productions.
     One of the favorite items in my collection, is a post card that Jerry Glenn Kennedy sent me in 1953 when I was in California on tour with The Carlisles. Jerry had a new record out and we had postcard made to send disc jockeys to promote it. And the good part was that Jerry thought enough of me to send me the first card. And he autographed it.

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