Keith (singer)
Encyclopedia
Keith is an American
vocalist. He legally changed his name to Bazza Keefer in 1988, in memory of his mother.
with Columbia Records
, after camping out on the doorstep of A&R
executive Jerry Ross. The resulting single
, 1966's "Caravan of Lonely Men," was credited to Keith and the Admirations. When Ross moved across to Mercury Records
he took Keefer with him, and the singer soon appeared in the Billboard Hot 100
chart
, with his solo
single, "Ain't Gonna Lie".
"98.6"; the recording
was issued on the Mercury Records
, and reached #24 in the UK Singles Chart
in 1967. It was considerably better received in his homeland. The single reached #7, and remained for 14 weeks in the bestsellers in the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It sold over one million copies worldwide, earning a gold disc
. The track
was written
by Tony Powers (lyrics
) and George Fischoff (music
), arranged
by Joe Renzetti, and was produced
by Jerry Ross.
Its title relates to the normal human body temperature
in degrees Fahrenheit.
His debut album, 98.6/Ain't Gonna Lie, was also issued on the Mercury label.
At the height of his career, Keefer was making $15,000 a week, and getting his back slapped by a Beatle
, who told him what a great record his "98.6" was. "John Lennon
was standing next to me in a urinal in London
," he said.
, Out of Crank, failed to create public interest. The low point in Keefer's life came when United States Army
officials arrested him for draft evasion
in the middle of a concert tour. He was inducted and stationed for a year in New Jersey
. "I was making coffee for generals
," said Keefer. When he got out, Keith did some independent recording and joined Frank Zappa's
1974 touring band, trying to inject some Philadelphia soul
into "toilet-joke" tunes like "Don't Eat the Yellow Snow". "I think they brought me in to commercialize Frank," Keefer said. Soon after he recorded three singles for Zappa's DiscReet Records
label.
Keefer recorded one last album, The Adventures of Keith for RCA Records
, with no luck, and then left the music industry until 1986, when an attempted comeback under his real name proved unsuccessful.
He set up A.I.R. Records in 1986 in Redondo Beach
, California
, and produced albums for several local musicians. These included the singer-songwriter
Chuck Hill, and Keith's drummer
Shawn Smith, who were both from Denver, Colorado
.
In the 1990s, the singer moved into the television industry
, although he continues to play live dates.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
vocalist. He legally changed his name to Bazza Keefer in 1988, in memory of his mother.
Early days
Keefer earned his first recording contractRecording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
with Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
, after camping out on the doorstep of A&R
A&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
executive Jerry Ross. The resulting single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, 1966's "Caravan of Lonely Men," was credited to Keith and the Admirations. When Ross moved across to Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
he took Keefer with him, and the singer soon appeared in the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
, with his solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
single, "Ain't Gonna Lie".
Chart success
He is best remembered for his hitHit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
"98.6"; the recording
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
was issued on the Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
, and reached #24 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in 1967. It was considerably better received in his homeland. The single reached #7, and remained for 14 weeks in the bestsellers in the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It sold over one million copies worldwide, earning a gold disc
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
. The track
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
was written
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
by Tony Powers (lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
) and George Fischoff (music
Melody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
), arranged
Arrangement
The American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
by Joe Renzetti, and was produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
by Jerry Ross.
Its title relates to the normal human body temperature
Normal human body temperature
Normal human body temperature, also known as normothermia or euthermia, is a concept that depends upon the place in the body at which the measurement is made, and the time of day and level of activity of the person...
in degrees Fahrenheit.
His debut album, 98.6/Ain't Gonna Lie, was also issued on the Mercury label.
At the height of his career, Keefer was making $15,000 a week, and getting his back slapped by a Beatle
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, who told him what a great record his "98.6" was. "John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
was standing next to me in a urinal in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
," he said.
Later days
His 1968 second Mercury LPGramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
, Out of Crank, failed to create public interest. The low point in Keefer's life came when United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
officials arrested him for draft evasion
Draft dodger
Draft evasion is a term that refers to an intentional failure to comply with the military conscription policies of the nation to which he or she is subject...
in the middle of a concert tour. He was inducted and stationed for a year in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. "I was making coffee for generals
General of the Army (United States)
General of the Army is a five-star general officer and is the second highest possible rank in the United States Army. A special rank of General of the Armies, which ranks above General of the Army, does exist but has only been conferred twice in the history of the Army...
," said Keefer. When he got out, Keith did some independent recording and joined Frank Zappa's
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
1974 touring band, trying to inject some Philadelphia soul
Philadelphia soul
Philadelphia soul, sometimes called the Philadelphia Sound or Sweet Philly, is a style of soul music characterized by funk influences and lush instrumental arrangements, often featuring sweeping strings and piercing horns. The subtle sound of a glockenspiel can often be heard in the background of...
into "toilet-joke" tunes like "Don't Eat the Yellow Snow". "I think they brought me in to commercialize Frank," Keefer said. Soon after he recorded three singles for Zappa's DiscReet Records
DiscReet Records
DiscReet Records was a company founded by Frank Zappa and his then business partner/manager Herb Cohen. It was created in 1973 when their previous companies Bizarre Records and Straight Records were discontinued...
label.
Keefer recorded one last album, The Adventures of Keith for RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
, with no luck, and then left the music industry until 1986, when an attempted comeback under his real name proved unsuccessful.
He set up A.I.R. Records in 1986 in Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach, California
Redondo Beach is one of the three Beach Cities located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 66,748 at the 2010 census, up from 63,261 at the 2000 census. The city is located in the South Bay region of the greater Los Angeles area.Redondo Beach was originally part of...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and produced albums for several local musicians. These included the singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Chuck Hill, and Keith's drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Shawn Smith, who were both from Denver, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
.
In the 1990s, the singer moved into the television industry
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
, although he continues to play live dates.
Singles
- "Ain't Gonna Lie" (1966) - USBillboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
#39 - "98.6" (1967) - US #7; UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#24 - "Tell Me To My Face" (1967) - US #37; UK #50
- "Daylight Savin’ Time" (1967) - US #79
- "Easy As Pie" (1968)
- "Candy Candy" (1968)
- "Hurry" (1968)
- "I Can't Go Wrong" (1968)
Albums
- 98.6/Ain't Gonna Lie (Mercury, 1967)
- Out Of Crank (Mercury, 1968)
- The Adventures of Keith (RCA, 1969)
External links
- Official Keith website
- [ Biography at Allmusic website]