Keith (98.6) - From the streets of Philadelphia to swinging London, touring in Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention to his present work on the West Coast in TV & Film, here is Philadelphia's own, Keith.....

 

Geo:  Where in the Philadelphia area did you grow up & what schools did you attend?  

Keith: I grew up in North Philadelphia around the  Fairmount Park and Strawberry Mansion area. I went to William Mc Kinley grade school until my family moved to Atlantic City where I lived for 6 years. We returned to the Philadelphia area in the late 1950's to the suburban borough of Clifton Heights which is located a few miles west of 69th st. I attended Clifton Heights High School from which I graduated in 1963.

Geo:  When did you first start singing & with who?

Keith: In the 5th grade at Clifton Heights High School. Each year all of the underclass rooms had to perform a play or operetta as they were called for the upperclasses. Our homeroom teacher, Mrs. Slaughter, had each of us audition by singing a song from the production we were going to perform. She would then select the person best suited for each part. I got the lead in our production of "King Puddin' Head" as Prince Roland.

Geo:  What was your main influence that led you to choose music as your career?

Keith: I just always felt it was something I was born to do. People liked the sound of my voice and all I was doing was what came natural to me and that made me feel good and gave me confidence to continue. Those first High School shows I guess were the biggest influences because from that point I just became completely absorbed in music and art.

Geo:  In your early years, were you influenced by the then local (Phila.) TV show 'American Bandstand' & it's guest stars?  

Keith: Of course. My sister and I would turn the T.V on the minute we got home from school and practice our dance steps trying to mimic Bob and Justine. Bobby Rydell's fan club President was my neighbor and he would come to her house every now and then and that was quite a thrill for my sister and I to see someone in the flesh that we had seen on American Bandstand.

Geo:  Did you frequent any of Philadelphia's underground clubs in the mid to late 60's such as: The Trauma, Electric Factory, 2nd Fret, etc. & did the British Invasion of bands have an influence on your career?


Keith: Oh yes. A local Philadelphia D.J who you may remember from the mid 60's,Long John Silver, and I lived at the Electric Factory watching the performances of such bands as Cream, Big Brother and the Holding Co. and the Kinks to name a few. Oddly,the guy who ran the Factory, Larry Magid, was a couple of years later, with the first booking agency that handled all my gigs! Small world! I saw Todd and the Nazz at the Trauma and had my first L.S.D experience at "The Artists Hut".So yes I had some WONDERFUL times at those places.


Geo:  How did you first meet Kal Rudman (of F.M.Q.)?

Keith: My first accapella group, Barry and the Bel-aires, performed frequently at a local Friday night record hop that he hosted. It was held at a Catholic grade school ,St. Eugenes in Secane,Pa. He really liked our sound and felt we had potential so he hooked us up with a local record producer friend of his who also would have his acts perform their recent record releases at these dances. His name was Jerry Ross, who in a short period of time, would end up being my producer on all my Mercury recordings.


Geo:  When did you first connect with producer/arranger Jerry Ross?

Keith: See above

Geo:  How did the sessions go for you when you recorded the L.P."Ain't Gonna Lie - 98.6?


Keith:  They were a lot of fun. How could they not be having the "top" studio players of that era working with you. Jimmy  "wiz" Wizard, Joe Renzetti, Artie Butler, Hal Blaine, Bobby Gregg to mention only a few

Geo:  When your single, '98.6' went to #7 in it's first week, how did you feel with the sudden success of your single? Did your friends start to treat you differently?

Keith:  It was a dream come true! Every artist enjoys seeing their work being appreciated and there's an indescribable feeling you get when something like that happens. No,everyone was always very supportive.

Geo:  On the Mercury Records L.P. '98.6' you covered a Hollies song: 'Tell Me To My Face' (that went to #37 in Billboards single charts). How did you come to choose this song?

Keith:  I was promoting and performing in England, going on this one occasion, a popular variety show called "The Jimmy Savoy Show".The Hollies were on the bill as well and we were talking and Tony Hicks mentions that they would like to have a song on my next album. I, of course being a huge fan said "great".They head off to the mens room, guitar in hand, and come out not 20 minutes later, and play me "Tell Me To My Face".


Geo:  After the chart success of "98.6', did you play many shows in Philadelphia? If so, at what venues did you play in Philadelphia?

Keith:  Not that many. I remember doing "The Robin Hood Dell" with the Soul SurvivorsŠŠ.and a bunch of local D.J's T.V shows of that time, Hy Litt's being one I recall, but that's about it.


Geo:  You also went to London. What was it like to do a show there for you? What was the response from the British audience?  

Keith:  They were wonderful and I was always treated regally. The "Top of the Pops" show was a blast as were all the shows I did there. Where else could you be at a club (The Bag o Nails) washing your hands in the same sink with Paul McCartney telling me what a great song "98.6" is!


Geo:  When did you compose the song: 'Happy Walking Around'?

Keith:  In the second story stairwell of the house I grew up in, in Clifton Heights, Pa.  At the age of 15.


Geo:  In 1969 you released the excellent L.P. : 'Adventures Of Keith' on RCA records. How did this record come about & how did you assemble your new band (David Jimnez- guitar, Joe Coyle - guitar, Dave Fiebert - bass & Rick Fox - drums)?

Keith:  I changed labels that year, from Mercury, and was given the opportunity to do my own material.

Geo:  I met Dave Jiminez while living in New York City. He was playing lead guitar in a band called the Raves at a club in the Village called "The Café Wha where people like Bill Cosby and Jimi Hendrix got their starts.
Rick Fox, Joe Coyle and Dave Fiebert were with the band that I had during my days of playing Fraternity and college gigs and also old childhood friends.


Geo:  Also on this L.P. you now were working with producer, Ted Daryll & arranger, Larry Fallon (of the song 'Brandy'). How did you wind up working with these two men? Did you like the record & the way it was produced?


Keith:  R.C.A assigned Ted to me and he brought Larry on board. Ted had produced a couple of hits for "Jay and the Americans" and I think he too wanted to do something a little more experimental as well. I thoroughly enjoyed working with them and I'm still very proud of their efforts and how the album turned out.


Geo:  During the turbulent 60's we had the Vietnam war. I understand that the draft board followed you about for draft invasion. Can you tell me a little about this unfortunate situation?

Keith:  I was living in New York and all of the notices they were sending were going to my old Philadelphia address so I never knew I was being beckoned. They let me know eventually !!!


Geo:  In the early 70's, did you record a single with Frank Zappa called: 'In & Out Of Love' for his Discreet label? How did this recording come about?

Keith:  A song done originally by Bobby Vinton. Frank wasn't on that recording, but yes it was on his "Discreet" label and produced by Denny Randell, who was, writing wise, responsible for many of the "Four Seasons" hits. Frank started his own label and signed me as an artist.


Geo:  I understand that you were part of Zappa's touring band in 1973. How did you join up with Frank?  How was this tour?

Keith:  The Vice President, and dear friend, of my management in N.Y.C (Lenny Stogle Associates) Zack Glickman, had left and gone to the West Coast to work for Herb Cohen .He managed Linda Ronstadt, Tom Waits and Frank Zappa. Zack brought me into the band when Mark and Howard (of The Turtles fame) left to do their own thing. It was a blast working with the likes of Ruth and Ian Underwood, and a baby George Duke and the Fowler Brothers and of course Frank. He was a wonderful man.


Geo:   Going back to your early days (67-68-69) of touring & package tours, do you have any found memories of working on the road with: the Beach Boys, Stevie Wonder, Tommy James, Sam the Sham, etc. ?

Keith:  I would need another 10 pages to tell you "just" how memorable !!! But all of those things will be in the book I'm working on entitled, what elseŠŠ.. "The Adventures of Keith"


Geo:   How has the West Coast been treating you with your TV & Film work?  Do you enjoy this part of the entertainment world?

Keith:  It's been a very rewarding and inspiring experience. I get to be on the front lines of all the action with all the biggest stars in the business and get to hang with people like Dick Clark, Jay Leno, Jennifer Lopez, and L.L Cool J. It also allows me to keep in touch with a lot of people who also were in the music biz when I was. You would be amazed at how many of us are now working in the T.V industry.


Geo:   Will America see a remastered Keith compilation CD soon?

Keith:  There is one out already. Jerry Ross digitally remastered "all" of the songs we did on Mercury and had it distributed in Japan .And as of our last phone conversation, he was working on getting the same happening in the U.K and eventually here in the U.S


Geo:   Do you have any plans to do a package tour with the Jerry Ross stable of acts? If so, with what artists would you tour with?

Keith:  We have talked about that and I hope it comes to fruition!!! The bill would most likely be Bobby Hebb, Jay and the Techniques, The Duprees, and who ever we could coax from Spanky and Our Gang, myself and I would love to see the Dreamlovers doing their songs.


Geo:   What will the recording world see next from Bazza Keefer? I'm in the process of putting some of the 100 plus songs I've recorded over the years that have never been released on my website,www.keith986.com for purchase in 10 song increments. So keep your eyes and ears open !!!

 

 

For more information, sounds & photos of Keith check out: http://www.keith986.com