More Info on Robert Earl KeenSimilar Undetermined MusicSearch Artistopia
Biography
Infobox musical artist|image=robertearlkeen.jpg || name = Robert Earl Keen, Jr.| | caption =| background = solo_singer| birth_name =| alias =| birth_date = birth date and age|1956|1|11 || death_date = || origin = Houston, Texas , United States|U.S. | instrument = Steel-string guitar|Acoustic Guitar || genre = Country music|Country , Texas Country|Texas country , outlaw country , country rock , alternative country , Folk music|folk , Americana (music)|Americana | occupation = Singer , Songwriter | years_active = 1984& ndash;present| label = Arista Records Sugar Hill Records (bluegrass)|Sugar Hill Records KOCH Records | associated_acts =| website = http://www.robertearlkeen.com RobertEarlKeen.com| notable_instruments = Robert Earl Keen, Junior (born January 11, 1956Henkle, Doug, http://www.folklib.net/index/discog/birth2days.shtml "FolkLib Index") is an United States|American country music|country and folk music|folk guitar|guitarist and singer-songwriter from the southern state of Texas . He is popular with fans of various musical genres including traditional country, alternative country, folk, Americana, and college radio. Keen currently resides in Kerrville, Texas , and maintains a ranch in Medina, Texas .
Early life
Growing up in Houston, Texas , Keen was interested in music, sports, movies and writing. Keen graduated from Sharpstown High School in 1974. http://www.hisd.org/HISDConnectDS/v/index.jsp? vgnextoid=c3783acb02efc010VgnVCM10000052147fa6RCRD HISD Connect - Alumni
College
Keen attended Texas A& M University , where he majored in English. Disappointed in the College Station, Texas|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.
Career
In 1980, Keen graduated from Texas A& M and moved to Austin, Texas . 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 (album)|Chippy . Keen's 1997 album Picnic (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 .
Robert Earl Keen Persondata | NAME =Keen, Robert Earl | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH =January 11, 1956 | PLACE OF BIRTH = | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Keen, Robert Earl Category:1956 births Category:American acoustic guitarists Category:American country guitarists Category:American folk guitarists Category:American rock guitarists Category:American male singers Category:American singer-songwriters Category:Kerrville New Folk Competition finalists Category:Living people Category:People from Houston, Texas Category:People from San Antonio, Texas Category:Texas A& M University alumni Category:Country musicians from Texas Category:Musicians from Texas Category:Arista Records artists Category:E1 Music artists Category:Musicians from Houston, Texas
