See Hear - Interview with Kenny Vance about Heart And Soul: A Love Story

The use of non-diagetic songs in cinema is often designed to provoke a type of nostalgia, or at least an understanding of the era the film is set in. Apocalypse Now opens very effectively to the sounds of The End by The Doors. Goodfellas keeps updating the jukebox as the story travels over the years (Scorsese is a master of that). So, if you watch a film set in the 50s like American Graffiti or That’ll Be The Day, the jukebox soundtracks to these films are like characters constantly reminding the viewers where they are timewise. The romantic (and sometimes

lascivious) songs of the doo wop era paint a picture of American life in the 50s somewhat removed from the turmoils of segregation, a conflict in Korea, and McCarthyism….they paint the picture that many films are trying to portray.

Welcome to episode 125 of See Hear Podcast.

One of the singers in the latter part of the original doo wop era was Kenny Vance, a member of beloved group, Jay & The Americans. His experience as a young man singing with the group brought him into contact with so many other doo wop groups and eventually figures in the soul and pop world (he supported The Beatles on an American tour). He went on to be a musical director consultant for many films focusing on the 50s era. Eventually, he decided to become a director and document the original doo wop scene as he and some of his colleagues recalled it, what they went on to do, and how their pioneering sound influenced many others who don’t even realise the gigantic shoulders they’re standing on. The film he directed is called “Heart & Soul: A Love Story”, and it is a thing of beauty.

Tim and I were joined by Melbourne doo wop guru Peter Merrett (of the Malt Shop Hop radio show) to chat with Kenny not only about his film, but a vast number of topics all related to his time in doo wop, the people who ran the labels, the session musicians, and the singers he

worked with. WE get stories about Little Anthony & The Imperials, The Flamingos, The Chantels and so much more.

I have to say that Kenny’s memory is sharp and he regaled us with many incredible stories from a life in music. He’s a true mentsch….and he even sang for us!!!! We’ve done our share of

episodes, but this is one I will be remembering for a long time. If you haven’t tuned into an episode in a while (or never have), start here….you don’t need to have seen the film to appreciate this wonderful conversation, but we would certainly encourage watching it first

chance you get.

Our thanks not only go to Kenny for hanging out with us, but also to executive producer Liz Nickles who put us in contact with him. Tim and I also are grateful to Peter Merrett for bringing his expertise to the conversation.

For details about screenings, go to https://www.heartandsoulthemovie.com/

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See Hear is proudly part of the Pantheon Network of music podcasts. Check out all the other wonderful shows at http://pantheonpodcasts.com

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You can download the show by searching for See Hear on whatever podcast app you favour (except Spotify). You can also download the episode from the website at

https://seehearpodcast.blogspot.com/2025/03/see-hear-125-interview-with-kenny-vance.html

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