About
Kenneth Samuel Charles Mercer
Born in Plymouth (UK) on the 2nd April, 1978.
Ken always had an interest in music from an early age and played clarinet and piano in school as well as singing in the school choirs. Music became more of a serious thing for him when he left school. He bought his first guitar at the age of 16 and with a book started to learn his first chords.He went to London and started out busking in the underground and the squares in the West end.
His musical talents came to the attention of the Rocky Horror Picture Show author Richard O'brien, who passing by Leicester Square stopped to listen to his performance. Richard tried to help Ken pursue his career by putting him in touch with some casting agencies who work for theatre and television companies, although nothing came of it.
Ken had one more stroke of luck and met Art Garfunkel from the Simon and Garfunkel duo. Art offered Ken a job as his personal assistant and took him on two European tours in 1997. On both tours Art kindly gave Ken the possibilty to open the show so he could gain experience on the stage in front of larger audiences.
During a trip to New york in late 1997 Art invited Ken to Ted Spencer Studios to record a demo tape. Together in an afternoon's work they recorded a Hermans Hermits song "Mrs Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter". Ken Played acoustic guitar and sang lead vocals, Art sang harmonies.
Ken left New York and went to live in Italy, where he settled for 11 years.
You can find Ken almost every night in Florence performing for tourists outside of the Uffizi Gallery from 9.30pm until 11pm (weather and health permitting).
Ken just finished his latest Cd "Let The Night Be Mine" featuring a total of 18 tracks, 6 new original songs and 12 covers.