Robert Earl Keen
Encyclopedia
Robert Earl Keen, Junior (born January 11, 1956) is an American
Texas Country
singer-songwriter
. He is popular with fans of traditional country music, folk music, college radio, and alt-country. Keen currently resides in Kerrville, Texas
and maintains a ranch in Medina, Texas
.
, Keen was interested in music, sports, movies and writing. Keen graduated from Sharpstown High School
in 1974.
, where he majored in English. Disappointed in the College Station
music scene, he began playing guitar and learned to read and write music, basing his style on folk, country, blues and rock roots. In 1974 he rented a house from landlord Jack Boyett, where his neighbor was a then-unknown Lyle Lovett
. The two became fast friends and performed together on the front porch many evenings. This eventually grew into inspiration for a song entitled "The Front Porch Song", which both would add to their repertoire.
, where he began writing for a newspaper. Soon he was performing in Austin's nightclubs and live music venues, building a solid following. In 1984 he financed the recording of his own EP and distributed it regionally. In 1986, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee
. Discouraged by the polish of the new country sound and unable to land a recording contract, Keen moved back to Austin. In 1988, he was living in Bandera, Texas
, with his wife, Kathleen. In 1989 he released his national debut album, West Textures
. His 1993 release, A Bigger Piece Of Sky
, gained wider acclaim, both amongst fans and critics. Over the next ten years, Keen would continue to write, record, perform and tour. In 1994 he performed in the musical Chippy
. Keen's 1997 album Picnic
features a picture of Keen's own car in flames at Willie Nelson
's 1974 Fourth of July picnic/concert. He tells the story on the No. 2 Live Dinner
album in the introduction to the song "The Road Goes on Forever."
Keen tours frequently across the United States. He plays to large and small concert halls, often tours with popular Texas Country
bands such as Reckless Kelly and Randy Rogers Band, and has opened up for Dave Matthews Band
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Texas Country
Texas Country
Texas country music is a rapidly growing sub-genre of American country music. Texas country is known for fusing traditionalist root sounds with the outspoken, care-free views of outlaw country...
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...
. He is popular with fans of traditional country music, folk music, college radio, and alt-country. Keen currently resides in Kerrville, Texas
Kerrville, Texas
Kerrville is a city in Kerr County, Texas, United States. The population was 20,425 at the 2000 census. In 2009, the population was 22,826...
and maintains a ranch in Medina, Texas
Medina, Texas
Medina is a census-designated place in Bandera County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,960 at the 2000 census. It is part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
Early life
Growing up in Houston, TexasHouston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, Keen was interested in music, sports, movies and writing. Keen graduated from Sharpstown High School
Sharpstown High School
Sharpstown High School is a secondary school located at 7504 Bissonnet Street in Greater Sharpstown, Houston, Texas, United States with a zip code of 77074. It serves grades 9 through 12 and is a part of the Houston Independent School District...
in 1974.
College
Keen attended Texas A&M UniversityTexas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
, where he majored in English. Disappointed in the College Station
College Station, Texas
College Station is a city in Brazos County, Texas, situated in East Central Texas in the heart of the Brazos Valley. The city is located within the most populated region of Texas, near three of the 10 largest cities in the United States - Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio...
music scene, he began playing guitar and learned to read and write music, basing his style on folk, country, blues and rock roots. In 1974 he rented a house from landlord Jack Boyett, where his neighbor was a then-unknown Lyle Lovett
Lyle Lovett
Lyle Pearce Lovett is an American singer-songwriter and actor. Active since 1980, he has recorded thirteen albums and released 21 singles to date, including his highest entry, the number 10 chart hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, "Cowboy Man"...
. The two became fast friends and performed together on the front porch many evenings. This eventually grew into inspiration for a song entitled "The Front Porch Song", which both would add to their repertoire.
Career
In 1980, Keen graduated from Texas A&M and moved to Austin, TexasAustin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, where he began writing for a newspaper. Soon he was performing in Austin's nightclubs and live music venues, building a solid following. In 1984 he financed the recording of his own EP and distributed it regionally. In 1986, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. Discouraged by the polish of the new country sound and unable to land a recording contract, Keen moved back to Austin. In 1988, he was living in Bandera, Texas
Bandera, Texas
Bandera is the county seat of Bandera County, Texas, United States,in the Texas Hill Country, which is part of the Edwards Plateau. The population was 957 at the 2000 census, and according to a 2009 estimate, the population had jumped up to 1,216 people...
, with his wife, Kathleen. In 1989 he released his national debut album, West Textures
West Textures
West Textures is an album by Texas-based folk singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen, released in the United States in 1989 on Sugar Hill. It is notable for the track "The Road Goes On Forever" which has become one of Keen's signature songs and has been covered by other bands including the country...
. His 1993 release, A Bigger Piece Of Sky
A Bigger Piece of Sky
-Credits:Musicians:* Robert Earl Keen – lead vocals and acoustic guitar* George Marinelli – harmony vocal on "Paint the Town Beige", and electric guitar* Tommy Spurlock – acoustic guitar, steel, lap steel, and gut string guitar...
, gained wider acclaim, both amongst fans and critics. Over the next ten years, Keen would continue to write, record, perform and tour. In 1994 he performed in the musical Chippy
Chippy (album)
Chippy, also known as Songs from "Chippy", is an album by Terry Allen, Joe Ely, Butch Hancock, Robert Earl Keen, Wayne Hancock, Jo Harvey Allen and Jo Carol Pierce...
. Keen's 1997 album Picnic
Picnic (album)
Picnic is an album by Texas-based folk singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen, released in the United States in 1997 on Arista Records.-Track listing:All tracks written by Robert Earl Keen, except where noted#"Undone" – 3:47#"Over the Waterfall" – 4:30...
features a picture of Keen's own car in flames at Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
's 1974 Fourth of July picnic/concert. He tells the story on the No. 2 Live Dinner
No. 2 Live Dinner
No. 2 LIVE Dinner is an album of live music by Texas-based folk singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen, released in the United States in 1996) on Sugar Hill Records. The performances are from two different dates, the first fourteen tracks were recorded at Floores Country Store in Helotes, TX on August...
album in the introduction to the song "The Road Goes on Forever."
Keen tours frequently across the United States. He plays to large and small concert halls, often tours with popular Texas Country
Texas Country
Texas country music is a rapidly growing sub-genre of American country music. Texas country is known for fusing traditionalist root sounds with the outspoken, care-free views of outlaw country...
bands such as Reckless Kelly and Randy Rogers Band, and has opened up for Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band, sometimes shortened to DMB, is a U.S. rock band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1991. The founding members were singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer/backing vocalist Carter Beauford and saxophonist LeRoi Moore. Boyd Tinsley was...
.
Band
- Rich Brotherton - guitar
- Bill Whitbeck - bass
- Tom Van Schaik - drums
- Marty Muse - steel guitar
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country |
US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US Heat Top Heatseekers Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical... |
US Indie Independent Albums The Billboard Independent Albums is a chart of the highest-selling independent music albums and extended plays in the United States, compiled by Nielsen SoundScan and published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is used to list artists who are not signed to major labels... |
US Folk Folk Albums Folk Albums is a music chart published weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks the top selling "current releases by traditional folk artists, as well as appropriate titles by acoustic-based singer-songwriters" in the United States. The chart debuted on the issue dated December 5, 2009... |
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| No Kinda Dancer No Kinda Dancer No Kinda Dancer is the first album by Texas-based Folk singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen, originally released in the United States on Sugar Hill in 1984) and re-released in 2004 by KOCH Records with additional tracks... |
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| West Textures West Textures West Textures is an album by Texas-based folk singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen, released in the United States in 1989 on Sugar Hill. It is notable for the track "The Road Goes On Forever" which has become one of Keen's signature songs and has been covered by other bands including the country... |
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| A Bigger Piece of Sky A Bigger Piece of Sky -Credits:Musicians:* Robert Earl Keen – lead vocals and acoustic guitar* George Marinelli – harmony vocal on "Paint the Town Beige", and electric guitar* Tommy Spurlock – acoustic guitar, steel, lap steel, and gut string guitar... |
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| Gringo Honeymoon Gringo Honeymoon Gringo Honeymoon is an album by Texas-based folk singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen, released in the United States in August 1994 on Sugar Hill Records.... |
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| Picnic Picnic (album) Picnic is an album by Texas-based folk singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen, released in the United States in 1997 on Arista Records.-Track listing:All tracks written by Robert Earl Keen, except where noted#"Undone" – 3:47#"Over the Waterfall" – 4:30... |
Arista Records Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records... |
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| Walking Distance Walking Distance (album) Walking Distance is an album by Texas-based folk singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen, released in the United States in 1998 on Arista Records.-Track listing:All tracks written by Robert Earl Keen, except where noted#"Down That Dusty Trail" – 3:39... |
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| Gravitational Forces Gravitational Forces Gravitational Forces is an album by Texas-based country/folk singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen. It was first released in the United States on August 7, 2001 on Lost Highway.... |
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| Farm Fresh Onions Farm Fresh Onions Farm Fresh Onions is an album by Texas-based Folk singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen, first released in the United States on October 7, 2003 .-Track listing:*All tracks written by Robert Earl Keen, except where noted.... |
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| What I Really Mean What I Really Mean What I Really Mean is an album by Texas-based folk singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen, first released in the United States on May 10, 2005 by Koch Entertainment.-Track listing:*All tracks written by Robert Earl Keen, except where noted.... |
Music download A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment... |
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| The Rose Hotel The Rose Hotel The Rose Hotel is an album by American folk music artist Robert Earl Keen. It was released on September 29, 2009 by Lost Highway Records. The album peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.-Track listing:... |
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| Ready for Confetti |
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Live albums
| Title | Album details | Peak positions | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country |
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| The Live Album The Live Album The Live Album is an album by Texas-based folk singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen, recorded live at the Sons of Hermann Hall in Dallas, TX and released in the United States in 1988) on Sugar Hill.-Track listing:... |
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| No. 2 Live Dinner No. 2 Live Dinner No. 2 LIVE Dinner is an album of live music by Texas-based folk singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen, released in the United States in 1996) on Sugar Hill Records. The performances are from two different dates, the first fourteen tracks were recorded at Floores Country Store in Helotes, TX on August... |
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| The Party Never Ends |
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| Live from Austin TX |
New West Records New West Records is a record label based in Los Angeles, California, Austin, Texas, and Athens, Georgia. It was established in 1998, and has been home to several indie rock and alternative country bands as well as representing the PBS show Austin City Limits... |
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| Live at the Ryman Live at the Ryman: The Greatest Show Ever Been Gave Live at the Ryman: The Greatest Show Ever Been Gave is the fourth live album from Robert Earl Keen. The recording was released via Koch Records on July 11, 2006 in the United States and six days later in the United Kingdom.... |
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| Marfa After Dark Marfa After Dark Marfa After Dark is a live album by Texas-based Folk singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen that was available for free download on his website. The album was recorded live at the Marfa Ballroom in Marfa, Texas in January 2008. The album is no longer available for download.-Track listing:#"Intro Marfa... |
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Compilation albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Best Best (Robert Earl Keen album) -Track listing:All tracks by Robert Earl Keen except were noted#"No Kinda Dancer" - 3:07#"Willie" - 2:36#"Armadillo Jackal" - 3:26#"Paint the Town Beige" - 4:34#"Whenever Kindness Fails" - 3:38#"Corpus Christi Bay" - 3:59... |
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Singles
| Year | Single | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | "Over the Waterfall" | Picnic |
| "Levelland" | ||
| "Undone" | ||
| 1998 | "Down That Dusty Trail" | Walking Distance |
| 1999 | "That Buckin' Song" | |
| 2003 | "Furnace" | Farm Fresh Onions |
| "All I Have Is Today" | ||
| 2005 | "What I Really Mean" | What I Really Mean |
| "The Great Hank" | ||
| 2009 | "The Rose Hotel" | The Rose Hotel |
| 2010 | "The Man Behind the Drums" | |
| 2011 | "I Gotta Go" | Ready for Confetti |
Music videos
| Year | Video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | "Over the Waterfall" | Steven T. Miller/R. Brad Murano |
| 2004 | "Merry Christmas from the Family" | David McClister |
| 2005 | "What I Really Mean" |
External links
- http://www.robertearlkeen.com - Official Site