Kenny J

Kenwrick Joseph (15 July 1952 – 2 January 2022), known professionally as Kenny J, was a Trinidad and Tobago calypsonian and Assistant Superintendent of Police who was best known for his soca parang hits, including "The Paint Brush".

Musical career Kenny J sang ballads before venturing to calypso and later soca parang, for which he became best known. He made it to the finals of the National Calypso Monarch competition four times. One of his best performances was in 1990 when he placed second performing "Addicted to Sweet Soca" and "Leave She Alone". Newsday columnist Yvonne Webb described his "well-crafted, risqué parang soca contributions" as his most lasting contributions.

Kenny J, who was Dougla (of mixed African and Indian ancestry), is discussed by Ferne-Louanne Regis as one of only three Dougla calypsonians (the others being the Mighty Dougla and Brother Marvin) to discuss this aspect of their identity in their creative work.

In "Baboolal", Kenny J tells the story of a failed relationship from the context of a man who does not understand why his wife left him, and from the position of a narrator who references the man's domestic violence against his wife. In her analysis of gender negotiations in chutney soca, Aisha Mohammed fits "Baboolal" into both the tradition of Indian folk songs about heartbreak, and the context of domestic violence in Indo-Trinidadian culture.

Personal life and death Kenny J was born on Prince of Wales Street in San Fernando, on 15 July 1952 and attended St. Benedict's College. He retired from the Police Service with the rank of Assistant Superintendent. Kenny J died from COVID-19 on 2 January 2022, at the age of 69. His daughter reported that he was fully vaccinated, and had participated in a series of public service announcements encouraging people to get vaccinated.