Bobby Keys
Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Music
Press
Bobby Keys
BY MARGARET MOSER
Bobby Keys' drawling laugh is 100% Texan as he talks on the phone from his hotel room in Seattle. It's also colored by nearly 40 years of performing at the left hand of Keith Richards, which makes the Slaton, Texas, native the longest-standing member of the Rolling Stones' auxiliary musicians. Keys' tenor sax punched brassy soul into Stones' songs such as "Live With Me" and "Bitch." Most famously, Keys laid into "Brown Sugar," slurring and honking with such outrageous abandon that his solo defines the song as much as the jubilant whoops at the end.
"I first went on the road with the Rolling Stones in the year of our Lord, 1969," he proclaims, rolling the "R" in Rolling with dramatic flourish. "But my grandfather gave me away to a drummer when I was 15 years old."
The drummer was J.I. Allison of the Crickets, a little ol' hometown band, and the next year, Keys was on the road with Buddy ("Party Doll") Knox. The other Buddy, Buddy Holly, was also around, just one of the gang from Lubbock who made tracks back and forth to Norman Petty's studio in Clovis, N.M. It was the beginning of his career in rock history, but Keys pooh-poohs any notion that he's a master of the instrument. "I just stick it in my face and blow."
Keys' platinum credentials include work with Barbra Streisand, Marvin Gaye, John Lennon, Lynyrd Skynyrd, B.B.King, Eric Clapton, Sheryl Crow, Delaney & Bonnie, and Joe Cocker. He also recorded and toured with Joe Ely for Lord of the Highway in 1987 and sometimes finds time for his own band, the Ace Liquidators. Still, he's the Stones sideman, the one who earned his stripes the old-school way.
"Lots of stories outta Lubbock in the Fifties," he agrees. "Buddy was recording there, and Waylon Jennings did some stuff. The Fireballs. Then I left Lubbock because the police department suggested I do so."
That's followed by more cackling laughter, the sort that must have accompanied the infamous television-throwing incident in Denver captured on film in Cocksucker Blues. Keith and Keys orchestrated that bit of music lore that's come to epitomize the sanity-testing mentality of being out on the rock & roll road.
"I play with toys," Keys boasts proudly about today's less extreme hotel room activities. More specifically, he plays with radio-controlled model planes, and on tour off-days, he can often be found with Blondie Chaplin buzzing the skies. "I have one plane that travels with me. It travels with the equipment. Sometimes," his voice takes on a jovial shade of confessional regret, "I play a round of extremely poor golf. Then I drink."
Mainly, Bobby Keys gets to do what he wants. As section leader for the Rolling Stones, he's top brass, hand-picking the horn players for the tour and leading them through the band's road-tested classics. Along the decades, he's bonded with Richards, an ax-and-sax friendship that's kept them working on projects together even when the Stones aren't rolling. But there's nothing like touring.
"My favorite thing about being on the road is waking up every day and seeing Keith awake at the same time. We're both 12-18-43, astrological twins. My other favorite thing is making sure he's still breathing and not climbing any 2-foot-tall trees. Now that was the silliest thing I ever heard of in my life. Defeated by a dwarf tree."
- Austin Chronicle
Discography
The tracks in media files Whatever gets you through the night - Only the Strong Survive feature Bobby Keys. The tracks Brickell Rain- The Toad are compositions from my album shutupandlisten and do not have sax. Waterfall is me on acoustic piano in my living room. These are for song competitions.
DISCOGRAPHY for Bobby Keys
Ace No Strings, Horn
Allan Rich Glass Heartk, Saxophone
American Flyer Spirit of a Woman, Horn
Andrew Gold Andrew Gold, Horn
Audience Lunch Saxophone, Sax (Tenor)
B.B. King In London Horn, Saxophone, Sax (Tenor)
Barbra Streisand Barbra Joan Streisand, Horn
Bianca Forever, Guitar
Bill Staines The First Million Miles, Guitar (Electric), Guitar
Billy Preston Late at Night Saxophone
Bonnie Bramlett I'm Still the Same, Saxophone
Carl Carlton Love and Respect, Saxophone
Carly Simon No Secrets Saxophone, Sax (Tenor)
Carly Simon Hotcakes Saxophone, Sax (Baritone), Sax (Tenor), Trombone
Chris Jagger Chris Jagger Saxophone
Chuck Berry Hail! Hail! Rock 'N Roll Saxophone
Chuck Leavell What's in That Bag? Saxophone
Country Joe & the Fish Reunion Saxophone
Country Joe McDonald Paradise with an Ocean View Saxophone
Dana Gillespie Weren't Born a Man Saxophone
Dark Star On Tour Vocals, Guitar
Delaney & Bonnie Motel Shot Saxophone
Delaney & Bonnie D & B Together (Bonus Tracks) Vocals, Musician
Delaney & Bonnie Accept No Substitute Saxophone
Delaney & Bonnie On Tour With Eric Clapton Saxophone
Donovan Cosmic Wheels (Epic) Saxophone
Dr. John The Sun, Moon & Herbs Saxophone, Sax
Eddie Hardin Home Is Where You Find It Saxophone
El General General Is Back Producer
Eric Carmen Boats Against the Current Horn, Saxophone
Eric Clapton Eric Clapton Saxophone
Eric Mercury Eric Mercury Horn
Etta James Come a Little Closer Horn
Faces Long Player Saxophone, Sax (Alto)
Fanny Fanny Hill Saxophone
Gary Wright Footprint Saxophone
Genya Ravan Goldie Zelkowitz Saxophone
Geoff Muldaur Motion Horn
George Harrison All Things Must Pass Saxophone
George Harrison All Things Must Pass (30th Anniversary Edition) Sax
Graham Nash Songs for Beginners Saxophone
Harry Nilsson Nilsson Schmilsson Saxophone
Harry Nilsson Nilsson Schmilsson (Bonus Tracks) Saxophone
Harry Nilsson That's the Way It Is (Expanded) Saxophone
Harry Nilsson That's the Way It Is Saxophone
Harry Nilsson Duit on Mon Dei Saxophone
Harry Nilsson Pussy Cats Saxophone
Harry Nilsson Nilsson Schmilsson (Import with Bonus Tracks) Saxophone
Harry Nilsson Son of Dracula Saxophone
Harry Nilsson Son of Schmilsson Horn, Saxophone, Sax (Tenor), Soloist
Humble Pie Rock On Saxophone
Ian McLagan Troublemaker Horn
Ian McLagan Bump in the Night Horn
Jerry Lee Lewis Young Blood Guitar
Jim Carroll Catholic Boy Saxophone
Jim Price Kids Nowadays Ain't Got No Shame Saxophone, Sax (Tenor)
Jim Price Sundegos Travelling Orchestra Saxophone
Joe Cocker Mad Dogs & Englishmen Saxophone
Joe Cocker Live in L.A. Saxophone
Joe Cocker Jamaica Say You Will Sax (Tenor)
Joe Cocker Luxury You Can Afford Saxophone
Joe Ely Lord of the Highway Saxophone
Joey Stec Joey Stec Sax (Baritone), Sax (Tenor)
John Hiatt Beneath This Gruff Exterior Sax (Baritone)
John Lennon Sometime in New York City/Live Jam Saxophone
John Lennon Walls and Bridges Horn, Saxophone, Tenor (Vocal)
John Lennon Rock 'n' Roll Saxophone
John Martyn Inside Out Saxophone
John Simon Don't Forget What I Told You Vocals
John Simon John Simon's Album Sax (Tenor)
Kate & Anna McGarrigle Kate & Anna McGarrigle (Carthage) Saxophone, Sax (Tenor)
Keith Moon Two Sides of the Moon Saxophone
Keith Richards Talk Is Cheap Sax (Baritone), Sax (Tenor)
Keith Richards Live at the Hollywood Palladium (Dec. 15, 1988) Saxophone
Keith Richards Live at the Hollywood Palladium (Box Set + CD Limited Edition) Saxophone
Kracker Kracker Brand Saxophone
Leo Sayer Endless Flight (Expanded) Horn
Lesley Duncan Maybe It's Lost Saxophone
Lynyrd Skynyrd Second Helping Horn, Saxophone
Marc Benno Ambush Saxophone
Martha Reeves Martha Reeves Horn
Marvin Gaye Let's Get It On (Deluxe Edition) Saxophone
Michael Pinder The Promise Saxophone
Nicky Hopkins The Tin Man Was a Dreamer Saxophone
Renee Geyer Renee Geyer (Portrait) Saxophone
Ringo Starr Ringo Saxophone, Sax (Tenor)
Ringo Starr Goodnight Vienna Horn, Saxophone
Ron Wood 1234 Saxophone
Ron Wood Gimme Some Neck Saxophone
Ron Wood Mahoneys Last Stand (Japan Bonus Tracks) Sax (Tenor), Brass
Ron Wood Mahoney's Last Sta
Photos
Bio
Special note: The 1rst four songs in audio are for the Bobby Keys concerts, the next ones are for Sonicbids song writing competitions. BOBBY KEYS
Born 18th December 1943, Slaton , Lubbock County, Texas, USA.
Bobby has been playing the saxophone professionally since he was 15 years old, touring with Bobby Vee, working with Buddy Holly and many other rock 'n roll icons in his early youth
Bobby Keys was a successful Muscle Shoals session saxophonist long before he met the Stones, but once he did back in '69, he quickly became the R & B sax player every British pop and rock act wanted to have on it's records. He's still around and still shows up on Stones records every once in a while. On most (but not all) of his late 60's/early 70's appearances he's teamed with trumpet player Jim Price.
John Horn remember's " Bobby Keys is undoubtedly one of the most unforgettable characters I've ever met. He's been playing saxophone for the Rolling Stones for a long time. When I was in England in 73', we worked together on the Goats Head Soup album with the Stones.There were no rock and roll horn players in London or Europe during the 70's,so the sound andour style of playing was in demand. We would sleep all day in Bobbys'country cottage,then by evening wine & dine at our favorite inn, The Baily Wyck, outside London. One night when 'The Who' were cutting tracks for their next album, we walked in with our horns and Bobby said with his Texas drawl, "What time do you want to put the horns on tonight"? They couldn't refuse. Every night was a different experience."
BIOGRAPHY / PROFILE
Best-known for his long association with the Rolling Stones, tenor saxophonist Bobby Keys spent several decades as an in-demand session man and touring musician, able to play blues, R&B, and rock & roll with equal flair. Born and raised in Texas, Keys was playing in rock & roll bands as early as the '50s, and worked with Buddy Holly and Bobby Vee, among many others. Keys worked regularly at the famed Muscle Shoals studios in Alabama before meeting the Stones in 1969; his work on Let It Bleed (not to mention the simple fact of association) quickly made him a hot property. Over the next few years, Keys played on albums by George Harrison (All Things Must Pass), Delaney & Bonnie, Eric Clapton, Humble Pie, the Faces, Carly Simon, Nilsson, Joe Cocker, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and B.B. King. He also continued his relationship with the Stones, appearing on classics like Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main Street, and striking up an instant chemistry with Keith Richards. In 1972, Keys recorded a self-titled solo album for Warner Bros., which featured an all-star guest lineup including members of the Beatles, Cream, Mountain, and Traffic, plus his longtime trumpet-playing partner Jim Price. By the mid-'70s, his activities with the Stones were beginning to tail off, though he maintained a working relationship with the band over the years, both in the studio and on the road. He continued to find work through his old connections, and in 1979 joined Ron Wood's touring band the New Barbarians. In more recent years, Keys has continued to tour with the Stones and guest on the occasional album (including Sheryl Crow's The Globe Sessions), and also performed with the Lubbock, TX-based band the Ace Liquidators. ~ Steve Huey,
New Barbarians: Mac, Woody, Bobby Keys,
Zigaboo Modeliste, Keith and Stanley Clarke 1979
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