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 BETTER than 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 Liston as 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 Club in Orange County with Dino Larson and Al White in July of 1982 at the Lion D' Or in Downey, Ca. and later moved to the King's Table Lounge/Press Box in Westminster, CA. Soon after he joined Sonny Watson in many nightclubs in the Los Angeles / San Fernando Valley area as well. Kenny's Club (R.e.b.e.l.s.) 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.