Northeast Philadelphia Family Requests Musical Tribute In Memory Of Son
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A Northeast Philadelphia family is hoping to preserve the memory of their son with a tribute from country music superstar Kenny Chesney.
Kenny Kline, 18, was killed Saturday evening in a motorcycle accident at the corner of Castor and Napfle Avenues in the city's Rhawnhurst neighborhood. Before he graduated last year, he was a football standout at Northeast Philadelphia High School who loved country music, especially Chesney's song about football players: "Boys of Fall."
Kline and several friends dubbed themselves the "Boys of Fall"; he even had a tattoo with the song title on his back and the jersey numbers of several of his teammates.
His friends and family have now launched a website and Facebook page called "Kenny 4 Kenny" with the hopes of getting Chesney to dedicate his performance of "Boys of Fall" at his Philadelphia concert this summer to Kline. Kline had tickets to go to that concert, which is scheduled for Lincoln Financial Field this June.
"I can't listen to that song on a good day," said Kline's father, also named Ken Kline. "Football is equated to life and relationships in that song, and it's spot on how things are."
Family members say Kline had just bought the motorcycle he was riding on Friday, although he had owned several motorcycles prior. He was wearing a helmet his father says, but still suffered a severe brain injury.
He was studying criminal justice in community college, with the hopes of being a Philadelphia Police officer. Kline's organs, including his heart and lungs, were donated, and went to four different people.
"He wanted to save lives, and he totally still got to do that," said Jen Kline, his sister.
For more information on this story, visit the Kenny 4 Kenny website or Facebook page.
Reported by Ben Simmoneau, CBS 3
