In 1953 the British Empire celebrated the Coronation of Elizabeth, a new queen of England. Kernel was then a rug rat in Trinidad, part of The British West Indies. His family went to the festival celebration in San Fernando — locally they called it ‘Jump Up.’
Calypso and steel drums were everywhere and a huge parade marched through the streets — his parents suddenly realized that their little guy had joined the revelers — until they convinced him he needed to watch from the sidelines! That experience left a big impression.
Then too, on the ship back to America Kernel saw his first movie: ‘Calamity Jane.’ He was fascinated and couldn’t stop singing the ‘Whips Crack Away’ tune — though after just a short time in America he somehow got the lyric to be ‘Ritz Crackers Way.’ So much for advertising !
An early recollection of being in the family home in Yorktown Heights, NY listening with his mother to the radio: ‘This Old House’ and ‘Green Door’ really got his attention. Then a few years later , The Platter’s version of ‘Smoke Gets In Your Eyes’ was an introduction to what a metaphor could be and feel like. For a young boy the ‘when a lovely flame dies’ lyrical line symbolized the loss of a great uncle who he’d gotten to know and love.
It would be many years later until Kernel would realize his dream of writing songs to capture feelings of being alive and some of the experiences a life may hold. This journey brought him to the 12 songs in his album: ‘Engagement.’
