John Paul Keith

A rootsy and clever singer/songwriter, John Paul Keith is a journeyman artist with a bent toward vintage, Fender Telecaster-driven pop/rock twang. A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, Keith grew up singing in church, learned to play guitar around age ten, and inherited a love of classic rock and blues artists like Chuck Berry and B.B. King from his truck-driving father. By his teens, Keith was a member of the alt-country ensemble the Viceroys, but left the band to pursue a solo career in Nashville. In 2009 he released his debut album, Spills and Thrills, which garnered significant critical praise -- if not commercial success -- for its mix of driving pop, country, and blues that drew comparisons ranging from Buddy Holly to Creedence Clearwater Revival to Booker T. and the MG's. A move to Memphis in his late twenties brought a renewed creative energy to Keith, who soon formed the expert bar band the One Four Fives with drummer John Argroves and bassist Mark E. Stuart. The group developed a loyal following in Memphis, and tours opening for acts like Lucero and Jack Oblivian drew yet more attention to Keith's vintage rock sound. In 2011, John Paul Keith & the One Four Fives released the Bruce Watson-produced The Man That Time Forgot on Fat Possum. ~ Matt Collar, Rovi