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Larry Keel
VIP Campfire w/ Jenny Keel 11.3.12
Keel with Jenny Keel on bass, Greenville, Virginia, 2012
Background information
Born (1968-11-25) November 25, 1968 (age 55)
Manassas, Virginia
OriginRockbridge County, Virginia
Genresbluegrass
Occupation(s)musician, guitarist, singer, band leader
Instrumentguitar
Years active1975–present
Websitelarrykeel.com

Larry Dwayne Keel[1] (born November 25, 1968) is an American bluegrass musician from Southwest Virginia[2] who has been performing since 1976.[3] He was a founding member of Magraw Gap in 1990. He also performs with his wife, bassist Jenny Keel, in The Larry Keel Experience. He has released over a dozen albums.[4]

Early life

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Larry Keel was born in Manassas, Virginia in 1968. He was taught guitar by his father James Keel, who played banjo.[5] His brother Gary,[6] who played guitar[5] — and was twelve years older – bought him one when he was seven.[7] He began playing seriously in 1975. Between 1976 and 1985 he performed bluegrass music in a number of "semi-professional situations", e.g., bluegrass and fiddler conventions, community events, barbecues, etc.[3]

In 1986 was hired by Disney as a contract musician to perform at Tokyo Disneyland[2] when he was 18. Returning to the United States, he met bluegrass musicians John Flower and Mark Vann in Fauquier County, Virginia in 1989 and together they began exploring "progressive string music" in a band they formed named Farmer's Trust. In 1990, Mark Vann (1963–2002)[8] moved to Telluride, Colorado to help found the "Cajun-influenced jam band" Leftover Salmon.[3]

Career

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In 1990, Keel and his long-time friend Will Lee – son of guitarist Ricky Lee from Ralph Stanley's band in the 1970s – founded a "progressive string band" named Magraw Gap. Through 1993 the group traveled throughout the Shenandoah Valley competing in bluegrass competitions. In 1993, Keel entered the guitar competition at Telluride Bluegrass Festival and won first place. In 1994, Magraw Gap began touring regularly. Keel won the guitar competition again in 1996.[3]

Keel met Jennifer Newmark when she came to see Gary Ruley play in March 1994.[9] When Keel got up on stage with Gary to pick a tune," she was "blown away" by his musicianship, particularly by their take on the David Grisman tune "Eat My Dust".[9] Although Jenny played piano by ear and sang, had never played a stringed instrument before she met Keel. She got together with Keel, and quickly began learning the bass.[9]

In September 1996, Keel split with Magraw Gap and formed the Larry Keel Experience,[3] made up of himself on guitar, Jenny on bass, and other musicians he'd worked with over the years. Over the next several years the group recorded a number of albums.[10][dead link‍]

In January 2005, Keel created a new band, Larry Keel & Natural Bridge[3] — consisting of himself on guitar, Jenny on bass, Mark Schimick on mandolin, and Will Lee on banjo. They have toured and recorded extensively.[11]

Recordings

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Starting in 1996, when Keller Williams recorded Buzz with Magraw Gap as supporting musicians – and the group released their self-titled CD – Keel has been active recordings. The Larry Keel Experience's 1997 CD Miles & Miles featured 20 special guests.[citation needed] In 1998, Keel worked with Curtis Burch, recent Grammy Award-winner for The Great Dobro Sessions.[citation needed]

Larry Keel Experience released Larry Keel, Curtis Burch & the Experience with Billy Constable in 2002. Keel's 2004 Journey CD, recorded at his home in Natural Bridge, included guest artists David VanDeventer, Danny Knicely, Will Lee, Gary Ruley, John Flower, Robert Mabe, Slinky Cobblestone, and Morgan Morrison.[citation needed] In 2009, Larry Keel and Natural Bridge released an almost entirely original Backwoods, co-produced by Keller Williams and mastered by Bill Wolf. The Wounded Messenger noted, "Perhaps no song better encapsulates the group's sound than the constantly shifting "Crocodile Man", which meanders through steep, jazzy terrain often explored by progressive acoustic acts but perfected here."[12]

Larry and Jenny Keel's second album with Keller Williams, performing as Keller and the Keels, Thief went No. 1 on Billboard Charts and stayed there for several weeks in a row.[13][dead link‍]

Touring

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With Acoustic Syndicate at Smilefest, 2010
With Acoustic Syndicate at Smilefest, 2010

Larry Keel tours actively with one of his many musical act combos, and with other musical acts – making appearances at major festivals across the US. In 2002, Larry Keel Experience played numerous shows with Vassar Clements and Tony Rice, including at Suwannee Springfest and MerleFest. In 2008, Larry Keel and Natural Bridge toured and collaborated with Rice, Yonder Mountain String Band, Fred Tackett, Paul Barerre, Keller Williams, Hot Tuna, and Davisson Brothers Band. In the winter of 2009, Keel joined Adam Aijala of Yonder Mountain String Band on a tour of Washington, Oregon, and Northern California.[14]

Keller and the Keels performed on Jam Cruise 10 in the Caribbean in 2012.[15] Larry Keel and Natural Bridge performed on Steep Canyon Rangers' "Mountain Song at Sea" cruise in the Bahamas in 2013.[16] Larry and Jenny Keel collaborated with Jeff Austin of Yonder Mountain String Band and Danny Barnes on tours throughout the US, including two appearances on the Mumford & Sons "Gentlemen of the Road" tour in Ohio and Oklahoma in 2013.[17]

In 2013, Larry and Jenny Keel appeared as the opening act at The String Cheese Incident's "Hulaween" festival in Live Oak, Florida.[18] In 2014, The Keels appeared at the Lockn' Festival with New Grass Revival founder, Sam Bush.[19] That same year, the Larry Keel Experience played a sold-out show at the "Bluegrass Underground" concert series in a cave in 33 feet below McMinnville, Tennessee.[20][failed verification]

With Keller Williams at All Good Music Festival
With Keller Williams at All Good Music Festival July 13, 2007.

Larry Keel Experience hosted a 2014 New Year's Eve show at the Oskar Blues Brewery in Brevard, North Carolina. Major acts involved in the show included the Jon Stickley Trio, Jeremy Garrett and Travis Book of the Infamous Stringdusters, Steve McMurry of Acoustic Syndicate, and Mike Guggino of Steep Canyon Rangers.[21]

In July 2015, Keller and the Keels toured through the Deep South with Dangermuffin.[22] Keel also performed in collaboration with Darol Anger, Sam Grisman, and Scott Law that year,[23][dead link‍] adding three sets at FloydFest in Virginia.[24][dead link‍]

Discography

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  • Magraw Gap (1996) — Magraw Gap
  • Miles and Miles (1997) — Larry Keel Experience
  • The Sound (1998) — Larry Keel Experience
  • Larry Keel Experience (2000) — Larry Keel Experience
  • Larry Keel, Curtis Burch, and The Experience (2002)
  • Journey (2004) — Larry Keel
  • The Keel Brothers, Vol. 1 (2005) — The Keel Brothers
  • Larry Keel & Natural Bridge (2005) — Larry Keel & Natural Bridge
  • Grass (2006) — Keller and The Keels
  • Keel Brothers, Vol. 2 (2006) — The Keel Brothers
  • Backwoods (2009) — Larry Keel & Natural Bridge
  • Thief (2010) — Keller & The Keels
  • Classic (2012) — Larry Keel & Natural Bridge
  • Experienced (2016) — Larry Keel Experience
  • One (2019) — Larry Keel Experience
  • Speed (2019) — Keller and The Keels

Musical style

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In 2013, NPR noted, "Keel leads a band dedicated to taking fiery, authentic bluegrass around the world."[11] Brian Paul Swank from Bluegrass Today said in 2016, "Larry is a unique artist in that he never settled as just being a guitar wizard, as so many young virtuosos do, but instead, he created his musical identity through his own personal vision".[25]

Honors, awards, distinctions

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  • Keel won the flatpicking guitar competition at Telluride Bluegrass Festival in 1993 and 1996.[26]
  • Flatpicking Guitar Magazine released their "Best of 2001" CD including Larry Keel's original instrumental, "Jerry's Farewell".[27]
  • Flatpicking Guitar Magazine released their "Doc Fest" CD in April 2002, a tribute to guitar legend Doc Watson, including a Larry Keel duet with cellist Rushad Eggleston, "Matty Groves".[28]
  • Keel appeared on the cover of Flatpicking Guitar Magazine May/June 2004 issue (with a 5-page feature article).[29]
  • In 2009, Keel debuted in his first acting role in independent film, John Lee: The Man They Could Not Hang, playing a jail warden in late 19th century England. His music was also featured on the soundtrack.[30]
  • In 2011, Will Lee's tune "Sound Check", performed by Larry Keel Experience, was featured on Confluence Films movie Connect.[31]
  • In 2013, Keel's tune "Fishin' Reel" was featured as soundtrack to the Alaskan pike-fishing segment in Confluence Films movie Waypoints.[32]

Personal

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Keel is married to his bassist, Jennifer "Jenny" (née Newmark) Keel. He has a passion for fishing and has developed a number of related enterprises,[11] including a website dedicated to sport fishing and bluegrass called Fishinandpickin.com and retreat workshops that combine these two interests.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Larry Keel.

References

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  1. ^ "AMERICAN DREAM". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Band Scene: Flatpicking icon Larry Keel never fishing for friends". Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "History " Larry Keel". larrykeel.com. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  4. ^ "Experienced – Larry Keel – Bluegrass Today". Bluegrass Today. February 23, 2016. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  5. ^ a b "An Interview: Larry Keel". musicmarauders.com. May 24, 2010. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
  6. ^ "Larry Keel On Mountain Stage". NPR. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  7. ^ "Grateful Web Interview with Larry Keel". Grateful Web. March 5, 2016. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  8. ^ "Leftover Salmon's Mark Vann Dies". Billboard. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  9. ^ a b c "Q&A with Larry and Jenny Keel of Larry Keel Acoustic Power Trio | Rams Head Group". www.ramsheadgroup.com. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
  10. ^ "Larry Keel – Biography | Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  11. ^ a b c "Larry Keel & Natural Bridge On Mountain Stage". NPR. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  12. ^ "Album Review: Larry Keel and Natural Bridge – Backwoods". The Wounded Messenger. March 3, 2009. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  13. ^ KindWeb. "Keller Williams' 'Thief' Debuts on Billboard Charts: KindWeb News Articles". kindweb.com. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  14. ^ "Adam Aijala and Larry Keel to Tour the West Coast". jambands.com. October 7, 2009. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  15. ^ "Jam Cruise 16 | Jam Cruise 10 | January 17–22, 2018". Jam Cruise 16. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  16. ^ "Bon Voyage! Mountain Song at Sea sets sail – Bluegrass Today". Bluegrass Today. February 1, 2013. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  17. ^ "Jeff Austin & The Here and Now Touring Late Summer". JamBase. July 16, 2013. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  18. ^ "Inaugural String Cheese Incident's Suwannee Hulaween, 10/31-11/2013 – Spirit of Suwanee Music Park, Live Oak, FL". jamsplus.com. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  19. ^ "Lockn' Music Festival 2014 – Bluegrass Today". Bluegrass Today. September 18, 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  20. ^ "The Larry Keel Experience @ Bluegrass Underground". Bandsintown. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  21. ^ "The Larry Keel Experience w/ Jeff Sipe at Oskar Blues' 3rd Annual NYE Hootenanny in Brevard, NC – JambandNews.net". jambandnews.net. November 12, 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  22. ^ "July | 2015 | TDawg Presents". tdawgpresents.com. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  23. ^ "2-Day Passes (Sat/Sun ONLY) Are On Sale Now! | StringSummit". stringsummit.com. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  24. ^ "FloydFest 14: Fire on the Mountain | Starr Hill Brewery". Starr Hill Brewery. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  25. ^ "Experienced – Larry Keel – Bluegrass Today". Bluegrass Today. February 23, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
  26. ^ "Larry Keel Experience | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  27. ^ "Flatpicking 2001 CD". flatpick.com. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  28. ^ "DocFest – A Tribute to Doc Watson CD Download". flatpick.com. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  29. ^ "Flatpicking Guitar Magazine, Volume 8, Number 4, May / June 2004". flatpick.com. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  30. ^ "'The Man They Couldn't Hang' screening in Rappahannock". Dreamspider's Blog. January 19, 2010. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  31. ^ "Connect". Confluence Films. January 4, 2016. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  32. ^ "Waypoints". Confluence Films. January 4, 2016. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
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