“What I like about the arts is that it brings people together from all
walks of life, allowing them to express themselves unapologetically.”
–Daniell Kenney, Founder, Listen-Up AMS
by Joycelyne Fadojutimi
Daniell D. Kenney is a fluid technician at Pro Frac
Services. He and wife of 13 years, Teressa Ann Turner-Kenney, adore their
adopted three-year-old son Zameon. Their service to those around them is a
blessing both ways as they and those they serve as foster parents reap the
rewards of their selfless labors For Kenney, his precious Teressa is his
driving force.
“She provokes me
to be successful by reminding me who God has called me to be,” he says.
“She encourages me to maintain my integrity, always calling me her king,
her pastor, her rock, etc.”
Kenney dearly loves his
lifelong home of Longview, where parents Larry and Angela Kenney brought him up
and prepared him for the success he has become. Both parents worked for and
retired from STEMCO but did much more than just work for a living. Larry still
serves as associate pastor for Faith Tabernacle of God in Kilgore. He taught
his son how to be a father not just to his own children, but to others who,
without him, would have no fathers at all. Local children still love to be with
the elder Kenney, listening to his Bible stories over dishes of ice cream.
Angela keeps active,
cooking for others and helping them in any ways she can while also organizing
vacations, reunions, church programs and conferences. Her son has inherited
these artistic abilities as he motivates others to loving service through singing, event planning and creation. For
Danielle Kenney, rhythms are a direct path to worship.
“Music has always
been a part of my life. I would write songs and jingles [in order] to remember
important information on tests,” he says. “What I like about the arts
is that it brings people together from all walks of life, allowing them to
express themselves unapologetically.”
In his younger days,
Daniell stayed active in church as an usher, choir member, song leader, drummer
and choir director. He would annually organize a gospel music workshop in
Kilgore, calling it Praise Fest. He would even fill in as a disc jockey for
station KJTX, collaborating with Ray Williams, who taught him to promote shows
and connect with recording artists.
The Year of Our Lord
1996 saw him graduate from Longview High School, after which he took a
sabbatical from education and spent 13 years working in the vast East Texas
oilfields. In 2009, his Teressa convinced him to pursue his dream of a college
education. After he got started, it did not take long. In 2011, he earned his
associates of arts in business from Kilgore Junior College, a Bachelor of
Science in accounting from LeTourneau University in 2013, and, also from
LeTourneau, a master’s degree in Business Administration in 2014.
When he met Longview’s
beloved Elaine Reynolds, his love for Longview, arts and culture moved to
higher heights.
“She was a great
and caring person, willing to give any information and tools that I needed to
be successful,” he says. “After a brief involvement with her, my life
took a different turn for the better.”
After losing an unborn
baby to miscarriage, he and Teressa took in two foster children. This new
obligation was so time-consuming he had to resign his executive director job
and stop his education. Soon afterwards, with Reynolds encouragement, he came
up with an idea for a local nonprofit modeled on the Dallas-based Black Academy
of Arts and Letters (BAAL.) This would entail using the performing arts to
inspire local young people to move forward into careers in engineering,
technology, mathematics and science. She encouraged him to launch this
organization and to organize gospel music events like one she had been to while
attending a convention.
He was worried that he
would need a name like Billy Graham, Joel Osteen or TD Jakes in order to convince
businesses to sponsor such a gospel music-oriented event, but Reynolds had
faith in him. After speaking with BAAL founder Curtis King, he got started. On November
17, 2017 Listen-Up AMS opened for business. The next day, after being the
catalyst for this cultural-arts non-profit, he went to city hall to tell Reynolds
the good news. “There were many sad faces and I asked them what was going on.”
It was then I learned Elaine Reynolds had passed away. My heart sank into my
chest.”
“I could only
remember the conversation we had that caused me to change my perception of the
place I have grown and lived in my entire life,” he says. “That’s why
I dedicated the July 6, All The Way Life Gospel Music Festival in
her honor.”
Last year, Kenney
worked with Joshua Mathis and Clive Ennis to produce the first show as Listen-Up
Nickelodeon’s Kel Mitchell. They gave away more than 700 tickets to such local
charities. Kenney, Mathis and Ennis were honored June 17, 2018 with their own
Listen-Up Day at city council.
Kenney’s ideal life, “is
to be a servant to the people, helping them to reach their goals.”