Kenny Barron (born June 9, 1943) is an American jazz pianist, who has appeared on hundreds of recordings as leader and sideman and is considered one of the most influential mainstream jazz pianists since the bebop era.

Barren was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He had four siblings; his eldest brother was tenor saxophonist Bill Barron (1927–1989). At the age of 15, Barron played briefly with Mel Melvin’s orchestra. In 1959, still at school, Barron had local gigs with saxophonist Jimmy Heath. He also played a gig with Yusef Lateef two months before graduating high school.

A few days after graduating, Barron set off on a week-long tour with Lateef. Seeking to further his musical career, Barron moved to New York in 1961. He soon had a regular spot in saxophonist James Moody‘s band, and in the same year he was briefly a sideman with bands led by Lou Donaldson, Roy Haynes, and Lee Morgan. Barron then joined Dizzy Gillespie‘s band, with which he toured internationally between 1962 and 1966. Barron was briefly a member of the Jazztet around 1962, but did not record with them. In the 1960s, he also married and moved to Brooklyn.