Over the years I’ve directed many fans to Amazon or to some of our fan sites or even Wikipedia (it’s mind boggling that we’re on Wilipedia) to get information about the band. Invariably I get the same question over and over. Are you Marvin Kaminowitz, the guitarist? Yes I am. Let me explain.
What’s the Name of the Band?
Sometime in the mid 70’s I was leading a trio playing 5 nights a week at a hotel lounge in the Boston suburb of Newton. Our agent approached me and said he needed to know the name of the band so he could do some promotion. Without thinking I said The Marvin Kane Trio. That was the first time I used Kane instead of Kaminowitz. But I didn’t just pull the name Kane out of thin air. Both my father’s brothers changed their names from Kaminowitz to Kane. In fact, my father was the only Kaminowitz left, except for me of course. So when I was put on the spot I just blurted out Kane. And that’s been my name ever since.
Making it Legal
Things got a little sticky when I had a son. He was always known as Kane too except for the inconvenient fact that it wasn’t legal. So somewhere around 1984 I made it official by legally changing my name. And that’s the story. So if you ever have the occasion to look at some of Sweet Smoke’s early reviews and see the skinny long haired guy with the cherry red Gibson ES350 stereo guitar, it’s me, Marvin Kane, formerly Kaminowitz.
