Robert Earl Keen, Junior
(born January 11 1956 in Houston, Texas) [1] is a Texan singer-songwriter. He is popular with traditional country music fans, folk music fans, the college radio crowd and alt-country fans. Keen currently resides in Kerrville, Texas and maintains a ranch in Medina, Texas.
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ROBERT EARL KEEN TICKETS
EVENT | DATE | AVAILABILITY |
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Key West Songwriters Festival: James Slater, Danny Myrick, Paul Jenkins, Clint Daniels, Ronnie Bowman & Trent Tomlinson Tickets 5/3 | May 03, 2024 Fri, 8:00 PM | | Willie Nelson & Robert Earl Keen Tickets 5/10 | May 10, 2024 Fri, 8:00 PM | | Willie Nelson & Robert Earl Keen Tickets 5/11 | May 11, 2024 Sat, 8:00 PM | | Lone Star Jam: Lee Brice, Eli Young Band, Robert Earl Keen & Casey Donahew - 2 Day Pass Tickets 5/25 | May 25, 2024 Saturday | | Robert Earl Keen Tickets 8/6 | Aug 06, 2024 Tue, 7:30 PM | |
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Early life
Growing up, Keen was interested in music, sports, movies and writing. Keen graduated from
Sharpstown High School in 1974.
[2]
College
Keen attended
Texas A&M University, 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.
Career
In 1980, Keen graduated from Texas A&M and moved to
Austin, Texas, 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 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."
Band
- Rich Brotherton - guitar
- Bill Whitbeck - bass
- Tom Van Schaik - drums
- Marty Muse - steel guitar
Discography
Year
| Album
| Chart Positions
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US Country
| US
| US Heat
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1984
| No Kinda Dancer
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1988
| The Live Album
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1989
| West Textures
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1993
| A Bigger Piece of Sky
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1994
| Gringo Honeymoon
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1996
| No. 2 Live Dinner
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1997
| Picnic
|
| 160
| 4
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1998
| Walking Distance
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| 149
| 3
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2001
| Gravitational Forces
| 10
| 111
| 1
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2003
| Farm Fresh Onions
| 24
| 172
| 9
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The Party Never Ends
| 68
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2004
| Live from Austin TX
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2005
| What I Really Mean
| 21
| 122
| 1
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2006
| Live at the Ryman
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Best
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2008
| Marfa After Dark
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References
- Henkle, Doug, "FolkLib Index"
- HISD Connect - Alumni