Kenin was born in Vineland, New Jersey, on October 26, 1901, but in August 1911, his family moved to Portland, Oregon.
In the early 1920s he secured a position playing violin in the up-and-coming dance band led by George Olsen.
In 1925 Olsen and some of his orchestra members left Portland for Los Angeles, to accept a hotel job there.
Kenin and several other band members stayed behind to fulfill Olsen's engagement at the Portland Hotel.
Kenin died on July 21, 1970 This biographical article about a United States activist is a stub.