He performed and recorded with pianist Ahmad Jamal and was director of jazz studies at Virginia Tech from 1984 to 1995. Kennedy performed with Benny Carter, Toots Thielemans, Billy Taylor, and the Modern Jazz Quartet and appeared at major international jazz festivals including the North Sea Jazz Festival and Monterey Jazz Festival.
He collaborated with pianist Ahmad Jamal and headed jazz studies at Virginia Tech from 1984 to 1995. Kennedy performed alongside Benny Carter, Toots Thielemans, Billy Taylor, and the Modern Jazz Quartet and appeared at major international jazz festivals including the North Sea Jazz Festival and Monterey Jazz Festival.