Keb' Mo'

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This article is about the blues musician originally known as (and given in songwriting credits as) Kevin Moore. For Kevin Moore the progressive metal musician and founder of Dream Theater and Chroma Key, see Kevin Moore.

Keb' Mo', born October 3, 1951 in South Central Los Angeles, California as Kevin Moore, is a noted American blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter. In his own words, the more he got to be called Keb’ Mo’, the more he got interested in the blues[citation needed]. Keb' Mo' was greatly influenced by blues legend Robert Johnson[citation needed].

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[edit] Early life

Keb'Mo' came from a divorced family, which gave him an early appreciation for blues and gospel. "The Blues is my history, my culture," said Keb' Mo' in an interview[citation needed]. At age 12 he acquired his first guitar, a Silvertone, which he bought at Sears for $25. By adolescence he was already an accomplished guitarist[citation needed]. He also played the trumpet and the French horn.

[edit] Career

Kevin Moore on 1980 Rainmaker album cover (Chocolate City CCLP 2015)
Kevin Moore on 1980 Rainmaker album cover (Chocolate City CCLP 2015)

Keb'Mo' started his musical career playing the steel drums and upright bass in a calypso band. He moved on to play in a variety of blues and backup bands throughout the 1970s and 80s. He first started recording in the early 70s with Jefferson Starship violinist Papa John Creach. Around that time he was also a staff writer for A&M Records, and arranged demos for Almo - Irving music. Keb'Mo's debut, Rainmaker, came out on Chocolate City Records, a subsidiary of Casablanca Records, in 1980.

Keb' Mo' was further immersed in the blues with his stint in the Whodunit Band, headed by Bobby "Blue" Bland producer Monk Higgins. He jammed with Albert Collins and Big Joe Turner and emerged as an inheritor of a guarded tradition and as a genuine original.

In 1994, Keb' Mo' released his self-titled debut album, Keb Mo, which featured two Robert Johnson covers, “Come on in My Kitchen” and “Kindhearted Woman Blues”, which proved his devotion for the legendary and enigmatic Johnson. This album received critical and popular acclaim.

In 1996 he released Just Like You, his second album, which featured twelve songs full of Delta rhythms. He won his first Grammy award for this album.

On the evening of June 10, 1997, he taped a compilation of his best songs on a TV show called Sessions at West 54th. He joined musicians Laval Belle on drums, Reggie McBride playing bass, and Joellen Friedcken on keyboards to perform 14 songs. Legendary pianist Dr. John also made a guest appearance.

Slow Down, his next album, was released in 1998 and featured twelve songs. It earned him a second Grammy award.

His fourth album, Big Wide Grin, was released in 2000. On February 10, 2004, he released Keep It Simple which earned him a third Grammy award. Later that year he released his fifth album, Peace... Back by Popular Demand. Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: Keb Mo was released in 2003. His most recent release is Suitcase, dated June 13, 2006.

In 1998 he portrayed the blues legend Robert Johnson in a documentary film, Can't You Hear the Wind Howl?

He also composed one of the theme songs featured on the show Martha Stewart Living.

In 1999 Keb' Mo' portrayed Isaac, the Angel of Music, in the episode "Then Sings My Soul" of the highly-acclaimed television series Touched By An Angel. He performed "Hand It Over" from his 1996 release "Just Like You."

In 2004 he participated in the politically-motivated Vote for Change Tour.

In 2006 he appeared in the last episode of the West Wing to perform "America the Beautiful".

In January 2007, he performed at the Sundance Film Festival.

[edit] Discography

[edit] References

    [edit] External links

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