I Said What I Said: Observations, Declarations, Rants, Missives and Musings of a Black, Semi-Successful Bass Player from the Projects, Living in a Mostly White Right World - Softcover

Smith, Kenery Kent

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1666404306 ISBN 13: 9781666404302

Publisher: K2s Productions, 2024

Synopsis

Anatomy of a Creative. And a story of being a Black Man in America

I Said What I Said is NOT your average memoir or self-help tome—and it most definitely isn't written that way! I Said What I Said is a uniquely honest attempt by its author Kenery Kent Smith, to make sense of a world that makes less and less sense each day. It is the story of hard-earned personal truths, and often painful firsthand experiences told in the most amusing ways. Also, ISWIS is written in a way where, hopefully, it informs, jumpstarts, or reignites its readers own journeys of healing and self-discovery.

I Said What I Said explores many topics and questions that at some point, life challenges us all to answer for ourselves, such as:
·      Love and Relationships, Marriage and Divorce
·      The importance of Self Love
·      The often-complex Dynamics of Family and Friendships
·      The difficult path to Self-Help and Self-Actualization
·      Depression and Mental Health for Men
·      The challenge of Caregiving for parents and loved ones
·      The pain of loss of a Loved One
·      Finding your Spirituality and Purpose, versus finding religion

ISWIS even touches on those sometimes controversial "tentpole" topics that are often difficult for many of us to acknowledge or engage in, including:
·      Social Inequity
·      Racism
·      Politics

Kenery Kent Smith does all of this with humorous and engaging stories by way of prose, poetry, and quips; he tells of the life lessons learned by a little Black boy growing up in the infamous Chicago Robert Taylor Housing Projects; the wisdom gained from being a professional world-travelled musician; and hard truths that have been force-fed and digested by a Black Man navigating This African American Life.

Yet in I Said What I Said, Kenery Kent Smith manages to not only tell his own story, but to also tell the story of US; by transcending his personal opinions, and his own uniquely lived and learned experiences—and thoughtfully weaving them together with the commonalities we all have that exist beyond our cultural, age, and gender boundaries and differences.

Those personal truths, musings, stories, and testimonials about "lifing" as told in I Said What I Said, will draw you in, pique your curiosity, and activate your critical thinking caps. They will earn your laughter, elicit your empathy — possibly even fuel your anger. And maybe—just maybe—these stories will help you to understand not only a little something about Kenery Kent Smith, but also to learn something more about YOURSELF, and this wonderfully weird, complicated world in which we ALL live.

About this title

About the Author

A music industry veteran of more than 45 years, Kenery Kent Smith is part of a rich tradition of World Class Chicago bassists. His performance resume showcases the Chi-Town musical trademarks of extraordinary talent, and a versatility to work in any musical genre. He has toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe with many prominent and well-known musical artists and entertainers. Kenery has also provided musical support for the world-renowned tap dance ensemble MADD Rhythms, and touring nationally with both Jackie Taylor's Black Ensemble Theater, and Chicago's Free Street Theater. Kenery also appeared in and wrote and produced original music for the independent film by director Stacie Hawkins entitled, "The Rise and Fall of Miss Thang". And for 15 years Kenery was co-founder and bassist of Chicago's very own Nu-Jazz legends Detour JazFunk, with whom he shares writing, arranging, and co-production credits on their debut CD entitled JazFunk. He currently holds down the bassist chair for the nationally syndicated weekly services of Victory Apostolic Church in Matteson, IL.
 
Kenery's first published foray into his written expression of Creativity came in the form of being a Contributing Author in the Amazon #1 Bestseller book, Lessons for The Little Boy. In it, he explores his personal journey to manhood, along with 12 other men, and the personal insights of the book's creator and co-author, Jaime A. Gill. Kenery has also been a contributing writer and reviewer for the renowned music industry publication Bass Musician Magazine. And his latest book of self expressive ramblings titled I Said What I Said, is a book of musings, remembrances, and messages for the masses. It's a memoir, but with self help tendencies; an often humorous, sometimes clear eyed and serious—yet always honest and revealing tale of a lifelong journey of discovery and personal truths as a musician, self proclaimed "Worderer", observationist, and as a Black Man simply lifing in America.

From the Back Cover

When you are a little Black boy from the Chicago housing projects with something to say — how do you find your voice — in a world that often tries to silence it?
...You get "CREATIVE!"


Kenery is a 40-plus-year music industry professional, who went from the humble beginnings of Chicago's infamous Robert Taylor Housing projects, to travelling the world, sharing his joy and passion for music. To say that he has seen and done some
interesting things in his life would be an understatement. And, along his musical journey, Kenery also developed a passionate love of storytelling—not only through his music, but through his words. Now, he would like to share some of those amazing stories and life experiences with you.


In I Said What I Said, Kenery strives to transcend his personal opinions, and his own uniquely lived and learned experiences, by thoughtfully weaving together commonalities which exist beyond our cultural, age, and gender boundaries. The musings, stories, and testimonials in I Said What I Said will draw you in, pique your curiosity, and activate your critical thinking cap. They will earn your laughter, elicit your empathy—possibly even fuel your anger. And, maybe
(just maybe), they will help you understand not only a little something about Kenery Kent Smith, but also learn something more about YOURSELF, and this wonderfully weird, complicated world in which we ALL live.

"This book will transport you through the world in which we live according to Kenery. His knowledge of social, political, and historical issues are mind-blowing and will make you laugh, rethink some things and hit you square between the eyes. Page after page, you will be introduced to, and challenged by, new and different ideas, feelings and questions about the goings on in the world around us."

-Natalie R. Murphy


"If l ever had the opportunity to create a superhero, or better yet to BE A SUPERHERO, my superpower would be to read people's minds. I Said What I Said is our opportunity to have that superpower, to read the mind (literally) of Kenery Kent Smith. Each page is a glimpse into the mind of a man, a Black man, an American, a musician, an author, an artist, a gift. His bravery to share his experiences, his perspective, his pain, and his passions is remarkable! It is raw, honest, engaging, and entertaining."

-Jaime A. Gill

From the Inside Flap

HE SAID WHAT HE SAID...FOR A REASON!

I didn't grow up collecting comic books, but I have always been amazed of the stories of superheroes. If I ever had the opportunity to create a superhero, or better yet to BE A SUPERHERO, my superpower would be to read people's minds. I would love to be able to hear the thoughts before a person says them, or moreover know the thoughts that people will never share. That would definitely be intriguing.

This book is the world's opportunity to have that superpower. I Said What I Said: Observations, Declarations, Rants, Missives, and Musings of a Black, Semi-Successful Bass Player from the Projects, Living in a Mostly White-Right World - is our opportunity to read the mind (literally) of Kenery Kent Smith. The journey through each page is not just a page through a book, it is a glimpse into the mind of a man, a black man, an American, a musician, an author, an artist, a gift. His words give us a unique perspective into his world.

Not only does Kenery provide a muse - HE IS A MUSE! His bravery to share his experiences, his perspective, his pain, and his passions is remarkable. Remarkable because it is raw, honest, engaging, and entertaining.

In this book, you will not only "see" Kenery, but I believe it also serves as a mirror. Through the sharing of his story, it serves as an amazing opportunity for you to reflect on your life, your experiences and how it shapes your mood, your responses, your relationships, and your movements through your life journey.

Kenery and I met on social media through mutual friends and supporting friends on their video podcast. We often agreed in the "virtual audience" on various topics. Then one day, I saw a post that he compared building a guitar to life, and I was completely blown away. It was obvious to me immediately that this man had so much to offer the world. His ability to see the world through such an artistic lens, is refreshing and very much needed in our world today.

I invite you to read each page with an open mind and fully engage to all that is being shared.
Be aware of what you are thinking and feeling as you are reading, and then examine why. Why you feel what you feel? Why are you thinking what you are thinking? And then, what provoked those thoughts and emotions. May these observations, declarations, rants, missives, and musings remind us all, that we don't have to think the same, nor have the same experiences to be able to co-exist and create beautiful harmony BECAUSE OF OUR DIFFERENCES,

Thank you Kenery for being our superhero by creating the space that we can feel safe in not having all the answers, not being perfect, but still being fully equipped to offer something to this world This is Kenery's story...but it is reflective of so many of our stories. May you be engaged. May you be inspired.

- Jaime A. Gill
Award winning Author, Lessons for the Little Girl

Edition details

• Publisher: K2s Productions
• Publication date: 2024
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1666404306
• ISBN 13: 9781666404302
• Binding: Paperback
• Illustrator: Smith Bryant
• Number of pages: 370