Tommy Keenum
Nashville, Tennessee, United States | SELF
Music
Press
"It’s a wonderful composition, really uplifting serious feelgood music, and actually one of my favourite of the year, and I buy a LOT of music!!"
...Roger Williams (DJ and Host of Soulsorts on Solar Radio U.K. (www.Soulsorts.co.uk) - Solar Radio
The Nashville Scene
Friday, 28 October 2005
TOMMY KEENUM — In a town crawling with singer-songwriters, it’s refreshing to stumble upon the occasional unhyphenated singer, particularly someone blessed with a voice as rich and silky as Keenum’s is. On Sentimental Jamboree, he essays a delightful assortment of writers from Ron Sexsmith to Isaac Hayes to Nick Drake, tying them together in smooth, soulful arrangements that border on lounge music without kitsch or irony. Produced by Bees frontman Daniel Tashian, Keenum’s record shares some of that band’s soft-focus pop dreaminess. While the rounded edges and lush tones, not to mention Keenum’s lyrical sax work, make Sentimental Jamboree great bedroom listening, its music goes deeper than that, probing themes of love more from the spirit than the body. The Basement —JACK SILVERMAN
- Nashville Scene
Out & About Newspaper
Tuesday, 01 May 2007
Tommy Keenum
Since moving to Nashville a decade ago, singer/saxophonist/percussionist Tommy Keenum has lent his soulful touch to a wide range of live shows including David Mead, Bobby Bare Jr., The Bees, and Steff Mahan. He is also a charter member of the hugely successful band of Nashville glitterati that is Guilty Pleasures. With the release of his first solo record last year, Keenum’s unique style was placed front and center. Produced by Bees frontman Daniel Tashian, Sentimental Jamboree is packed with fresh takes on a delightful assortment of writers from Isaac Hayes to Nick Drake and is the perfect showcase for Keenum’s lush vocals and lyrical sax work. Jack Silverman of the Nashville Scene called Sentimental Jamboree “great bedroom listening that goes even deeper than that, probing themes of love more from the spirit than the body.”
His self-penned new release "Details Within..." builds on the same pop/jazz dreaminess while the songs chart one man’s journey to grow up, get real, and live with passion and integrity. For more info go to www.tommykeenum.com
- Out and About Newspaper
Music
TOMMY KEENUM Jazzy pop with understated funk rhythms and crisp horn arrangements, Tommy Keenum’s latest full-length, Details Within…, finds the Nashville singer and alto saxophonist comfortable with open-ended song structures and conversational lyrics. The disco-flavored “I’ll Be Around” fleshes out Details’ theme of self-acceptance, as Keenum sings, “Jesus was a peace-loving, radical queer.” The Mississippi native has a knack for simple, effective songs that make melancholy sound like just another state of mind—and his music never overplays its hand. Touches of cello, accordion and organ combine with disciplined rhythm-section dynamics, and Keenum sings in a soulful, sincere tenor. —EDD HURT - NASHVILLE Scene
Discography
"Sometimes Never Always" (2/2011)
"All These Pretty Thoughts" (8/09)
"Details Within..." (1/08)
"Sentimental Jamboree" (10/06)
Photos
Bio
An accomplished visual artist and designer of everything from exquisite houses to burlesque costumes, Tommy Keenum is now bringing his distinctive style and eclectic vision to song writing. For the past decade Keenum has been a sought after side-man, lending vocals, sax, and percussion to a wide variety of rock and pop acts including David Mead, Bobby Bare Jr., Sara Beck, and the greatest '80's cover band of all time "Guilty Pleasures". His publishiing company "Other Boy Music" was established with BMI in 2009 and is home to over 50 songs.
For his first solo effort in 2005, Tommy meticulously selected gems from his favorite songwriters of the ’70’s, and with dreamy production from “Silver Seas” front man Daniel Tashian, the result is the perfect Sunday chill record.
In 2008, Tommy released his first self-penned record,”Details Within…”. He dipped into almost every genre and found a way to combine influences as disparate as Joni Mitchell and Marvin Gaye. Although eclectic, what ties it all together is the underlying theme of self-empowerment and Keenum’s “heart on sleeve” vocals. The backing band is a team of all stars that turn in some amazing performances.
With his 2009 release “All These Pretty Thoughts”, Tommy stripped everything down and enlisted retro-pop master Brad Jones to produce. The songs go from sparse to fully orchestrated; sometimes in the space of one phrase and Keenum’s soulful delivery and lush harmonies bring honest emotion to the stories.
His latest effort "Sometimes Never Always" (2011) is a tribute to his family. When his father's health began to fail Tommy decided to help him realize his dream of "being in the music business". Several of the songs are inspired by the poems his dad had written over the years. The result is a retro-country/soul lovefest not to be missed!
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