Robert Earl Keen, Junior (born January 11, 1956) is an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Texas CountryTexas 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-songwriterSinger-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, TexasKerrville 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, TexasMedina 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 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 SchoolSharpstown 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 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 StationCollege 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 LovettLyle 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 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, TennesseeNashville 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, TexasBandera 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 TexturesWest 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-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
ChippyChippy, 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
PicnicPicnic 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 NelsonWillie 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 DinnerNo. 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 CountryTexas 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 BandDave 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
Live albums
Compilation albums
Singles
Music videos
External links