Kenny Howard
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Kenneth Robert Howard (September 7, 1929–September 19, 1992),[1] also known as Dutch, Von Dutch, or J. L. Bachs (Joe Lunch Box), was a motorcycle mechanic, artist, pinstriper, metal fabricator, knifemaker and gunsmith. His father, Wally Howard, was a Los Angeles sign painter; and, by the age of ten, the young Kenny Howard was able to paint and letter at a professional level.
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[edit] Education
While attending Compton High School, Howard excelled in track and field and was referred to as "the fastest man in LA." He had an appreciation for music and was also an accomplished flautist.
[edit] Work
In the early 1950s he started earning money by doing pin striping along with fellow pin striper Dean Jeffries.[2] Von Dutch has been a major influence in the customizing of vehicles from the 1950s to today. Some of his famous works include the flying eyeball and the custom Kenford truck[1], along with numerous custom motorcycles and many award-winning custom cars. Among many custom car and motorcycle enthusiasts, he is thought of as one of the fathers of Kustom Kulture.
In 1958, Von Dutch designed and produced the "Mare's Leg", a cut-down Winchester rifle for the television series Wanted: Dead or Alive.
[edit] Death
Von Dutch's lifelong alcoholism led to major medical issues later in life. He died on September 19, 1992 from alcohol related complications, leaving behind his two daughters, Lisa and Lorna. His ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean.
[edit] Von Dutch Originals, LLC
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Von Dutch; Pioneer in Automobile Pin-Striping". Los Angeles Times: pp. 24. September 26, 1992. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/61680487.html?dids=61680487:61680487&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Sep+26%2C+1992&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Von+Dutch%3B+Pioneer+in+Automobile+Pin-Striping&pqatl=google.
- ^ St. Antoine, Arthur. - "Interview: Dean Jeffries, Hollywood legend". - Motor Trend Magazine
[edit] Further reading
- Koch, Richard; Tony Thacker (2007). Sundays with Von Dutch. Osceola, Wis: Motorbooks. ISBN 0-7603-2626-6. http://books.google.com/books?id=gF9UPdVG-8AC&dq=%22von+dutch%22+howard&output=html&cad=0.
