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Swing DJ and Hall of Fame dancer - Kenny Wetzel shown DJ'ing
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Stage Name

Birth Name

Kenny Wetzel Kenneth Wetzel

---Kenny Wetzel started dancing as a teenager in east Saint Louis, IL. Kenny would become the best swing dancer in all of Illinois, dancing with his sister. He was known as the 'King of Flying Lindy' and the 'St. Louis Shag', THERE WAS and IS NONE ANY BETTERthan he, he was amazing even in his 60's. Those whoHe would also excel in Latin dancing in the 1950's.

---Kenny came to California in the 1950's and settled in Glendale, CA. with his mother, sister and nephew Mike. Here he would meet many swing dancers and start teaching for the Arthur Murray studios in Glendale and later Palm Springs.

--- Kenny was well versed in all styles of dance and would win many Dance & Swing Contests including the Harvest Moon Ball. Kenny was also a Champion Golden Gloves Prizefighter who would work with Sonny Listonas well as a successful comedian who also worked with Lenny Brucefor many years which you could see in his brand of 'colorful comedy'.

    Later, Kenny would hold many dances and would be one of the very first DJ's to spin records for dancers here in the United States starting in the 1960s. Kenny would hold his very first swing dance, with he as D.J. at the Legendary "Staircase" in Downey CA. This would prove to be his special calling in life as no one could spin music as well as Kenny. Kenny probably did more to keep swing dance alive than any other human, through his Dancing, Choreography, Teaching, Emceeing, DJ'ing and support of all who danced or competed. Kenny is mainly known for his swing dance formats but many don't realize he DJ'ed many other types of dance venues as well such as Hustle and Latin dances in the 1960s and 1970s. Kenny Choreographed many winning swing dance routines for some of the best names in the swing dance world such as Mary Ann Nunez and Lance Shermoen, Jim Fisk and Sharlott Jansen-Bott, Eddy Vega and Lisa Nunziella, Robert Cordoba and many more.

   AS A LEADER IN THE SWING DANCE COMMUNITY Kenny formed the Rebels Swing Dance Clubin Orange County with Dino Restlli and Al White in 1972 and later joined Sonny Watson in many nightclubs in the Los Angeles area. Kenny's Club was so popular that other clubs throughout the country would franchise with Kenny on his club name. Kenny was emcee / or DJ to almost all swing events throughout the country as well as the U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships for 18 years. Kenny supported everyone who was into dancing and knew just about everyone as well in the dance community.

Kenny semi-retired in November of 1998 after DJ'ing and MC'ing for over 25 years. Kenny passed away due to a brain tumor in March of 2000 at the age of 71. Kenny is missed by many who knew him well and those who never knew him unknowingly benefit from Kenny Wetzel's life in dance today.

Birth Place

Birth Date

Spouse

Offspring

E. St. Louis, IL. 4/3/1929 - 4/2000 Never Married None
                       
 

Dance Types

Dance Partners

Music Titles

Ballroom "Showstoppers Dance Team" Handclappin' (Baxsters)
Flying Lindy (WCS) Cyndi Pecka      
Hustle His Sister      
Jitterbug Judy Thomas      
Latin (Cha, Mambo etc) Lynn Vogan      
Lindy Hop Mary Ann Nunez      
Pachanga Cha Reina      
St. Louis Shag Shirley Fietsem      
'Tune Down Bounce'        
West Coast Swing        
 

Night Clubs

Contests

Stage

Chi Chi Club (CA) 1st. - Harvest Moon Ball Many Las Vegas Stage shows  
Club Imperial (IL) Goodfellow & West Florisant 1st. - Murray Medal Ball's
Crest Lounge (CA) 1st. - St. Louis City Jitterbug Championships
El Mirador (CA) 1st - Midwestern U.S. St. Louis City Competition
     
Golden West Club (CA)      
Lion d' Or (CA)        
Kings Table/ Press Box (CA) Awards      
Latin Quarter (IL) (Grand & Olive) 1991 California Swing Dance Hall of Fame, Shining Star Nomination
     
Quiet Cannon (CA)      
Sleuth's Grill and Bar (CA) 1992 California Swing Dance Hall of Fame, Shining Star Award      
Staircase, the (CA)      
Top of the West (aka: Golden West - Norwalk, CA) 2003 DJ Hall of Fame "Wetzel Award"      
3 Time Feather Award Winner (Best Dj)
         
         
 

Films

Television

Publications

n/a Eye On LA 9/1992 - Jitterbug Magazine
            Winter/Spring 2000 In The Swing
NOTE:Kenny wrote a book just before he passed away entitled "Our World with Rhyme and Reason"... Check it Out!.
November 12, 2004
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