"He didn't inspire me musically, but he is definitely the reason I do what I do. He was so passionate about music his whole life and that's what I want."
The Bayfield High School singer-songwriter is off to a good start, winning the Smokefreerockquest Otago regional finals on Saturday night and the Lowdown Best Song award.
Along with Logan Park High School band Sewage, which was named runner-up, and John McGlashan College band Triggered, which won the People's Choice award, Kane now must compile a DVD of his music in the hope of being selected as one of eight national finalists.
A generation of Dunedin young people flirted and courted to Harry Strang's dance music at the legendary Dunedin Town Hall dances between 1947 and 1968.
Strang, a trumpet player, also ran a rival dance at St Kilda for many years. He died in November 2007.
Kane said his grandfather had retired from dance bands by the time he (Kane) was old enough to become aware of him.
"He still used to potter around on his trumpet though."
Music permeated through the Strang family, with Kane's father, Richard, and his uncles Jim and David all involved in dance bands.
Kane learnt clarinet and drums and was in a band himself until last year when he decided to follow a new direction as a solo singer-songwriter, eventually finding his niche with his voice and an acoustic guitar.
He said he was not sure how to describe his style, but said he tried to be experimental as well as easy to listen to.
Other results. - Third, Fun Time (Kavanagh College); musicianship, Rory MacMurdo (drummer, Sounds of the Womb, Logan Park High School); women's musicianship, Ellena Zellhubber-McMillan (lead singer, Scout, St Hilda's Collegiate School); lyric writer, Amy Carr (Champayne, Taieri College).
