- Grace

Guitar for Life
by Grace Belew

         If you lived in one place your entire life what would keep you there? For Kenny Englishoe, a lifelong guitarist, it is something as simple as the view. Englishoe grew up in Homer, Alaska. “I’ve been up and down every road,” he said proudly. Not only does he love the view but the tourists really keep him going at his career of playing the guitar. Although he jokes, “don’t hang out with a guitar player, they’re poor,” you can tell that nothing else in the world makes him happier than strumming on his guitar.
         Englishoe has made a career out of his love of music. Everyday that the weather is nice, he takes his guitar and a chair and sits on the boardwalk of the Homer spit. “If it is a nice day, I have to go out and people watch and play my music,” he said. He plays songs all day long, and accepts donations for his talent. He doesn’t usually get much for his work, but loves it all the same.
         Englishoe has been playing the guitar for 40 years and it has become part of his everyday life and history.  “It [why I play the guitar] is a long story, it goes back 40 years,” he said. Englishoe likes what he likes, so even if the public doesn’t love his song choice he will play it because it’s what he likes. However, he still hopes that someone out there will enjoy it. “I play songs that I like but nobody hears it. If it comes from the heart and if even one person hears it, it makes me happy,” Englishoe said.
         Englishoe has fallen in love with sharing the music he loves with the Alaskan people, and never wants to stop. Although his career has put him in tight spots with money he loves playing the guitar and will never let anything keep him away from his music.