Kenny Muhammad
Kenny Charles Correll (born December 3, 1968), better known for his stage name Kenny Muhammad, The Human Orchestra, Kenny X or Dr Beatbender, is a US Beatbox artist from Queens, New York.
Early Life
Correll grew up in Far Rockaway, a peninsula south of JFK airport, and lived in an apartment in one of The Edgemere Houses, which were later renamed into The Beach Channel Houses.
In 1974(?) to 1979 (?) he attended P.S. 105 Bay School on 420 Beach Channel Drive 51st Street.
As a teenager he joined the local baseball club, but gave it up in favor of his musical career.
In 1979(?) he went to J.H.S. 180 on 320 Beach 104th Street, which was later changed into The Scholars Academy.
In 1982(?) he commuted to High School of Art and Design on 245 East 56th Street in Manhattan.
As a teenager Correll became friends with Ozzie, which had a strong effect on both their styles. They also performed together in shows and literally underground battles and in subway stations and on the street.
They often went to these battles right after hight school to compete with other beatboxers from the Bronx and Harlem. Popular stations were 59th Street Lexington and Broadway-Nassau, which was later renamed into '. According to Correl the police was not capable to control these events from happening as there were too many participants and they could also quickly move to other subway stations.
A car accident that punctured his left lung left no permanent damage.
Musical Career
In 1992 Correll performed as Kenny X at the Apollo Theater in Harlem and won the Amature Night contest on February 8, 1992.
https://www.historicfilms.com/tapes/45605
(min. 31:39)
Kenny Muhammad appeared on NBC's The Tonight Show hosted by Jay Leno on ???
https://youtu.be/55C0RirU3yA?t=37
When Correll was at The Manhattan Center for an event in 1998, Carrol Pope introduced him to her friend and composer David Eaton, who was also the conductor of the New York Symphony. He came to his office in the New Yorker Hotel, which is located in the same building as The Manhattan Center on 311 West 34th Street, and gave him a demonstration of his beatboxing skills. Eaton was so impressed that they immediately decided to work together.
Within a few days Eaton composed a piece for strings, which he called "Kenny's Joy" in reference to Correll's first name. When hearing the MIDI-file on their second meeting Correll immediately started beatboxing along to it, which was later recorded for a demo track later.
The piece had its premier The Manhattan Center in the same year.
https://youtu.be/55C0RirU3yA?t=89
He also gave two short performances at the TV series 30 Seconds to Fame hosted by Craig Jackson, which was aired by the Fox Network in 2003 ??? (from July 17, 2002 to June 26, 2003).
He later stated that the show was obviously rigged as the dancing couple won, even though the male dancer dropped his partner during the performance.
In 2010 Correll was featured in on Stan Lee's Superhuman - Super Sound Episode in the episode "Hammer Head" (Season 1, episode 3), which was aired on the History Channel on August 19, 2010.
Even though Correll has never released an official album he had guest appearances. On the album Traffic Jams (1997) by DJ Skribble he can be heard on the track "The Battle", in which two DJs and two beatboxers are having a (staged) competition. Here Correll and Rahzel take the chance to show their groundbreaking skills.
https://youtu.be/of5jZA0c9Us?t=1654
This track is a shortened version of the last (hidden) track Man vs. Machine, which was released two years later on Rahzel's Album "Make The Music 2000" (1999) inspiring a whole new generation of beatboxers around the world.
While Rahzel's album contains all the 'four elements' (earth, wind, fire, water), Traffic Jams has only 'two elements' (fire and water).
His so-called "water-technique" covers the beat of James Brown's popular track "Funky drummer". Whereas his so-called "wind-technique" makes use of Kraftwerk beat of "Nummern" (engl. "Numbers").
Among serious beatboxers both techniques are considered beatbox classics. The French beatboxer Polpo even made uncredited use of Correll's "wind-technique in a video commercial for Vodafone.
https://youtu.be/eJ9ny60DeTA?si=xvRGwmzxWFgiBLXb
Beatboxing
Correll was probably the most influencial beatboxer popularizing the Ozzie Snare.
Beatbox Style
Ozzie snare, Kenny whirl(wind),
Later Live
Later Correll moved to Mexico.
Individual credits