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Nearly
30 years ago, a young Keith Sykes walked into a pawn shop
on Memphis’ famed Beale Street and paid $20 for his
first guitar. Since then, Sykes has made a name for
himself as a guitarist/songwriter/producer extraordinaire,
contributing to projects
from artists as diverse as Jimmy Buffett, John Prine, Guy
Clark, Jerry Jeff Walker, Todd Snider, Rosanne Cash and
Patty Loveless.
Now on his tenth record Don’t Count Us Out (newly
released on Syren Records), Sykes showcases not only his
finely honed talents, but those of some of his dearest and
most talented friends as well. This latest work provides
the listening audience with a clean break in style from
his last great work on Advanced Medication For The Blues.
While ‘Advanced Medication’ rocked the house from its
opening track, Don’t Count Us Out shows an entirely
different side of Sykes with some true finger-picking
‘Americana’ flavor. For more on the new release, click
here.
A native of Murray, Kentucky, Sykes moved to Memphis when
he was just 8 years old. It was then, as a senior in high
school, that he bought that first guitar for $20 at a pawn
shop on Beale Street. After graduation, his mother gave
him a lift to the edge of town, where he began hitchhiking
for the next two years, taking odd jobs and ultimately
ending up in New York City to showcase at The Bitter End.
From there he toured nationally on the College Coffee
House Circuit. In 1968, two of his songs were recorded by
other artists: The Gentrys cut “Silky” on the Bell
label and the Lonesome Rhodes did “I’m Missing You”
for RCA. In 1970, Vanguard released Sykes’ self-titled
debut album. Two years later, he went to Japan to play the
lead role in the movie “Summer Soldiers.” Vanguard
released his second album, 1-2-3, while Sykes was out of
the country making the movie.
In 1973, Keith swapped New York for Austin, Texas, then
moved on to Key West, Florida, where he met up with Jimmy
Buffett. Keith served a brief stint in Buffett’s road
band, after Buffett recorded two of Keith’s songs on the
platinum Son of a Son of a Sailor LP. Keith later co-wrote
what was to become the Parrot-head anthem, “Volcano.”
In 1974,
Keith made his way back to Memphis, where he has lived
ever since. In 1977, RCA’s Midland International
released Sykes’ third album, The Way That I Feel. Sykes
was on a roll as a highly acclaimed songwriter and
recording artist. His 1980 Backstreet Records release 
I’m Not Strange I'm Just Like You subsequently led to an
appearance on Saturday Night Live and later a guest spot
on Austin City Limits.
Over the years Sykes has been featured in Time and
Newsweek magazines and garnered record reviews in Rolling
Stone. More records followed: It Don’t Hurt To Flirt in
1982; two albums for Memphis Records in 1984 and 1985, and
in 1992 Oh Boy Records released It’s About Time, a
singer/songwriter album.
Sykes had one or more songs, (either on LPs or singles, as
a writer, co-writer or publisher), on one of Billboard’s
music or movie charts continuously from 1978 through 1984,
then again from 1986 to this year. The artists who have
covered his songs sounds like a seating chart at The
Grammy Awards, including not only Buffett but also Jerry
Jeff Walker, Patty Loveless, Guy Clark, John Prine, The
Judds, Rosanne Cash, Lacy Jay Dalton and Rodney Crowell,
among others.
In 1986 Sykes began to work with new artists and signed
John Kilzer to his production and publishing company. The
demos he produced for Kilzer’s songs became Kilzer’s
debut Geffen Records album and Sykes’ first home run as
a producer.
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| jerry jeff walker |
the
judds |
guy
clark |
rosanne cash |
rodney
crowell |
“Producing came out of left field for me,” Sykes says.
“I didn’t set out to do it, but I seem to have a knack
for it.” That album opened up the playing field for
Sykes as a producer. Keith soon began mentoring Todd
Snider, signing him to his publishing company in 1990 and
securing Snider a record deal with MCA/Margaritaville in
1993. He has completed projects for Tommy Tutone, GaryBoy,
premier songwriter John Prine and veteran hit-maker B.J.
Thomas.
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| jimmy buffett |
john kilzer |
john prine |
todd snider |
tommy tutone |
Sykes still works as preceptor to many up and coming
artists, but in 1995 he began focusing once again on his
own recording career. He began hosting a songwriter’s
showcase on celebrated Beale Street in Memphis, and each
month features some of the country’s premier
songwriters. From that showcase has come one great Syren
produced Songwriter's On Beale Street CD with another in
the making. All the while he has continued to gather and
refine precious jewels: his collection of songs.
Sykes, along with partner Kelcy Warren, also built Syren
Records' own recording studio called The Woodshed. Built
in a fantastic setting, complete with a beautiful
spring-fed lake in back, the Woodshed takes credit as the
recording studio for the last four records put out on
Syren's label.
Today, Sykes is refreshed and ready for the road! He will
be out touring to promote his new record Don't Count Us
Out. Be watching his calendar
for a show near you and don't forget to keep the private
"House Parties" in mind. They are a great way to
see Sykes, in your own private setting where the crowd is
controlled and everyone has a first row seat to enjoy the
music! For more information on how you can host a
"House Party," email Clint
Wiley.
View Keith Sykes's EPK
BOOKING INFORMATION
Axis Artist Agency
Clint Wiley
Phone: 512-754-6726
Email:
clint@axisartistagency.com
Jerene Sykes
Phone: 901-867-7175
Email: Jerenegirl@aol.com
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