Widely-known musician honored by LIMEHOF for documentary film

Singer/songwriter, music producer and Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF) inductee Kenny Vance has become the first filmmaker to receive the LIMEHOF Documentary Film Festival Legacy Award for his debut commercial feature documentary, “Heart & Soul: A Love Story.”

“The LIMEHOF Music Documentary Film Festival Legacy Award honors Kenny Vance for transforming a lifetime of musical influence into lasting cultural preservation, most powerfully through “Heart & Soul: A Love Story,” his deeply personal tribute to the doo-wop pioneers who built the foundation of rock and roll,” said Tom Needham, LIMEHOF music documentary film festival executive director. “His work ensures that the voices of this first generation are not only remembered but rightfully celebrated as essential to American music history.”

Vance, born in Flatbush, Brooklyn, has had a 60-year career in music, television, and film. In addition to his own music, he has worked on movie soundtracks (“Animal House”/”The Warriors”) and TV music, and was a former musical director of Saturday Night Live (1980-81).

“It’s the culmination of my life’s work really,” Vance said. “I made this movie honoring these young artists who I grew up with that were my heroes to show the world that these young artists really were impactful and meant something not only to me, but to the musical history of America.” 

After Superstorm Sandy destroyed his house of 40 years in Belle Harbor, Queens, Vance decided to use what was left of all his personal footage, some of which survived the hurricane, to make and direct his documentary, which was broadcast on PBS and played at various festivals. Vance is now launching this film on streaming platforms including Amazon Prime, Fandango, Plex and DVD.

The second annual LIMEHOF Music Documentary Film Festival will take place on Sept. 25 through Sept. 27, and is now accepting film entries on FilmFreeway.com. Click here for more information.