Herman D. Kenin

Who was Herman D. Kenin?

Herman D. Kenin was an American musician, orchestra leader, and trade unionist.

In August 1911 Kenin moved to Portland, Oregon from his birthplace. In the early 1920s he secured a position playing violin in the up-and-coming dance band led by George Olsen. In 1925 Olsen and some of his orchestra members left Portland for Los Angeles, to accept a hotel job there. Kenin and several other band members stayed behind to fulfill Olsen's engagement at the Portland Hotel. Within a year Kenin had secured a new position as band-leader at the Multnomah Hotel. The group came to the attention of Victor Records' West Coast office in Oakland. Victor sent their mobile recording equipment to Portland and recorded Kenin's Multnomah Hotel Orchestra. The records proved to be a success, and subsequently Kenin accepted an engagement at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, continuing to make more sides for Victor Records.

He was head of American Federation of Musicians and later was a leader at American Federation of Labor. His work landed him on the master list of Nixon political opponents.