Back to Full List Daydream Believer Kenny Nagamatsu Digital Collage Janell Davidson, artist Janell Davidson writes: We planned to meet at the Chevron on the corner of Front St. and Gilman. I waited with anticipation in the parking lot for a few minutes until I saw him bopping through the gas station looking for someone that should be there to pick him up. He was wearing his trademark black jacket zipped up to the top, headphones on and CD player in hand. I drove up to him and waved. Without hesitation he gave me a wide smile, jumped in my car, and away we went. True to northwest fashion, we decided to go to Starbucks for our meeting. Along the way, we conversed like two friends who hadn't seen each other in a while. Over a white chocolate mocha and an iced latte, we talked for more thanan hour. He had a quiet voice, raspy from screaming song lyrics, and he ducked behind his CD player anytime he felt that someone (other than me) was looking at him. He kept his jacket and headphones on, but I think the music was turned off. Many people recognize him as the energetic guy who dances on the sidewalk, radically moving his body to an unknown rhythm while advertising for a local business. He may be one of the most recognizable people in Issaquah, but I suspect that most people don't know much about him. His name is Kenny Nagamatsu. Born in 1977 and raised in the Issaquah area, he is a graduate of Issaquah high school, and at present resides near downtown Issaquah. He has been dancing on the sidewalks for 10 years, and has become a colorful icon of Issaquah. It all started at the age of 18 when Kenny listened to a Monkees CD his father owned. He connected with the music instantly and that is when he started dancing on the streets. His favorite song is "Daydream Believer" by the Monkees and, by his calculations, he has listened to it for approximately 22,954 hours. After falling for the Monkees he also began listening to the Beatles and other bands from that era. So where does Kenny get his energy? He doesn't know. It is just how he is. He proclaims himself to be a shy, happy, and energetic hippie infatuated with the 60's. I also found him to be a very kind person, and a gentleman. He doesn't really care what people think about him, but still wishes that they would not judge him. He will not accept the mold that society tries to place on us all. He is his own person and true to himself. Dancing and advertising on the sidewalks is how Kenny makes his living for now, but he aspires to be a postal worker. He admitted that he would have to give up the CD player if he were to ever get a job with the postal service. I would like to be the lucky person who would get my mail delivered by such a lively person. I felt like I could have talked with Kenny for hours but we both had other things we needed to do. I offered to take him home and he gladly accepted the ride since he either walks or takes the bus everywhere. I dropped him off in front of his apartment building and as he left I realized how happy I was to have finally met him. I have seen Kenny for 10 years around the streets of Issaquah, and I was curious about him. I thought he looked like a dynamic guy who would be fun to talk with and I was right. Janell wanted her art to be reflective of Kenny's love of the 60's era, and his endless energy and liveliness. Although he may look like an extrovert, Kenny is actually quite shy, so the pictures she made of him are quiet in color, but surrounded by the bright colors that seemingly explode from him. She also integrated photographs of Kenny's Monkees and Beatles CD covers that have been with him for the past 10 years. Not only does he idolize these bands, but it is through their music that he is able to express himself. Lastly, Janell has woven in the song title, Daydream Believer, which, after listening to it for so many hours, must be engrained in every part of his being. Personal Item: Picture of Favorite Albums