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Looking for an Echo
Kenny Vance & the Planotones
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Kenneth Rosenberg was born on December 9, 1943. He grew up in
Belle Harbor, in the New York City borough of Queens. Kenny was a
charter member of Jay & the Americans, where he changed his name to
Kenny Vance. He continued with the Americans during their 11 year stint.
He launched a new phase in his career in 1978 with the release of the
film American Hot Wax, which depicted events in the life of rock ‘n'
roll radio pioneer Alan Freed. Vance wrote "Hot Wax Theme" for
the score, appeared in the movie as Professor La Plano and led his
fictional group, the Planotones, in a performance of "Rock and Roll
Is Here to Stay." He also produced the soundtrack album, which made
the Top 40. Within months, he was represented again in movie theaters
with National Lampoon's Animal House, producing the soundtrack album,
which also made the charts. In 1992, Vance re-formed the Planotones, his
fictional group from American Hot Wax, as a real group to sing the doo
wop music he loved. The group consisted of other music business veterans
with similar taste: Murray Weinstock (formerly of the Fifth Avenue
Band); songwriter Garry Bonner (co-author of the Turtles hit "Happy
Together"), who joined in 1994; Angel Rissoff; and Johnny Gale.
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