Even if you’ve never heard Jerry Kennedy’s name, you’re familiar with his masterful guitar work. Kennedy’s guitar licks stand out on timeless classics like Roy Orbison’s “Oh, Pretty Woman”, Jeannie C. Riley’s “Harper Valley PTA”, and Tammy Wynette’s legendary “Stand By Your Man”. A four-time Grammy Award winner, he also helped launch the careers of Roger Miller and Bobby Bare as a producer at Mercury Records.
Jerry Kennedy died on February 11, 2026, at age 85. Today, we’re honoring him on what would have been his 86th birthday…