Keb' Mo'
Keb' Mo' | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Kevin Roosevelt Moore |
Born | South Los Angeles, California, U.S.[1] | October 3, 1951
Origin | Compton, California, U.S. |
Genres | Delta blues, country blues, Americana |
Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, guitarist |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, harmonica, banjo, mandolin, bass, keyboards |
Years active | 1970s–present |
Labels | Chocolate City, Epic, Yolabelle International, Kind Of Blue Music, Concord/Rounder Records |
Kevin Roosevelt Moore (born October 3, 1951), known as Keb' Mo', is an American blues musician. He is a singer, guitarist and songwriter, living in Nashville, Tennessee. He has been described as "a living link to the seminal Delta blues that travelled up the Mississippi River and across the expanse of America."[2] His post-modern blues style is influenced by many eras and genres, including folk, rock, jazz, pop and country. The moniker "Keb Mo" was coined by his original drummer, Quentin Dennard, and picked up by his record label as a "street talk" abbreviation of his given name.
Biography
Early life
From early on, Keb' Mo's parents, who were from Louisiana and Texas, instilled in him a great appreciation for the blues and gospel music. By adolescence, he was an accomplished guitarist.[3]
Career
Keb' Mo' started his musical career playing the
Moore was also a staff writer for
Keb' Mo' has appeared on stage (1990–1993) in several versions of the musical Spunk, by George C. Wolfe, an adaptation of three short stories by Zora Neale Hurston. His character, Guitar Man, learned while he was an understudy to "Chick Streetman", played all the actual music in the play while performing.[6] The character of Guitar Man is the foundation for his stage persona.
In 1994, Keb' Mo' released his self-titled album,
Keb' Mo's self-titled album was released on Okeh Records, a vintage revival division of Sony Music.
In 1996, he released
On June 10, 1997, Moore performed on the television program Sessions at West 54th. He joined musicians Laval Belle on drums, Reggie McBride playing bass and Joellen Friedkin on keyboards to perform 14 songs, some from each of his albums. Blues pianist Dr. John also made a guest appearance. This session (known as Sessions at West 54th: Recorded Live in New York) was shown on television but was not released as a DVD until late 2000.
In 1998, Moore was involved in the multi-artist project "Begegnungen (Encounters)" by German rock musician Peter Maffay. They performed together a new version of Mo's "Am I Wrong" on the album and some more songs in the 30 concerts at the arena tour later the same year, documented on the live album Begenungen Live, released in early 1999. A further guest of Maffay at the Begegnungen album and tour was Sonny Landreth and many more artists from around the world.
Slow Down, his next album, was released in 1998 and featured twelve songs. It earned him a second Grammy Award. The album begins with the song "Muddy Water", a tribute to Muddy Waters. It also features a song entitled "Rainmaker", which had been released previously on his first album, eighteen years prior.
His fourth album,
In 2003, Martin Scorsese collaborated with many blues musicians including Keb' Mo' to put together a series of films entitled The Blues. Following its release, several albums were released in accordance, some were compilations, some new collaborations and Keb' Mo' released an album in the series featuring a handful of existing recordings from Keb' Mo' to The Door.
Also in 2003, Moore and Lyle Lovett released a cover of the Bob Seger song "'Til it Shines".
On February 10, 2004, he released
Moore released Suitcase, on June 13, 2006. His touring band following the release included Reggie McBride on bass, Les Falconer III on drums, Jeff Paris on keyboards, and Clayton Gibb on guitar.
On October 20, 2009, Keb' Mo' released the live album, Live and Mo'.
At the 2010 Crossroads Guitar Festival, Keb' Mo' performed an acoustic set with Stefan Grossman and an electric set with Vince Gill, Albert Lee, James Burton, Earl Klugh and Sheryl Crow. He joined the finale with most of the day's performers.[9]
On August 2, 2011, Keb' Mo' released The Reflection.
Keb' Mo' performed at a White House event titled "In Performance at the White House: Red, White and Blues" on February 21, 2012.[10] On February 24, 2012, many of the same performers, including Keb' Mo, Gary Clark Jr., Buddy Guy, Warren Haynes, Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, paid tribute to Hubert Sumlin at the "Howlin' For Hubert" memorial concert at the Apollo Theater in New York City.[11]
On the first night of the 2013
In early 2014, he was nominated for three Grammy Awards for Best Americana Album (BLUESAmericana), Best American Roots Performance ("The Old Me Better") and Best Engineered Album Non-Classical (BLUESAmericana).[14] In May, he appeared alongside Metallica at MusicCare' 10th Annual MAP Fund Benefit Concert at Nokia honoring Ozzy Osbourne and Jeff Greenberg.[15] In October 2014 he honored The Everly Brothers, at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 19th annual Music Masters Series, and in November he honored Mavis Staples alongside Bonnie Raitt, Gregg Allman, Taj Mahal and Grace Potter, at Chicago's Auditorium Theatre for celebration of Staples' life and career in honor of her 75th birthday.[16][17] Also in late 2014 he was featured on a Jackson Browne tribute album, Looking into You: A Tribute to Jackson Browne.
In 2015, his album
He has been supportive of charity
In late 2015, he performed at a special concert hosted by
Keb' Mo' released a live album, Keb' Mo' Live – That Hot Pink Blues Album on April 15, on Kind of Blue Music/
Keb' Mo' partnered up with Taj Mahal to release a joint album, TajMo, on May 5, 2017.[24] The album has guest appearances by Bonnie Raitt, Joe Walsh, Sheila E., and Lizz Wright, and has six original compositions and five covers, from artists and bands like John Mayer and The Who.[25] The album won the 2018 Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album.[26]
In June 2019, Keb' Mo' released a studio album, Oklahoma, with guest contributions from Rosanne Cash, Jaci Velasquez, Robert Randolph, and Taj Mahal, with a duet with Robbie Brooks Moore (his wife).
Keb' Mo' played the Glastonbury Festival in June 2019 followed by UK and European dates in July 2019.
Keb' Mo' performed at the 2019 Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum concert and induction ceremony.
Keb' Mo' won the
Film projects
In 1998, he portrayed
In 1997, Keb' Mo' portrayed the character Isaac, the Angel of Music, in the episode "Inherit the Wind" and again in 1999 in "Then Sings My Soul" of the television series Touched by an Angel. He performed "Hand It Over" from his 1996 release Just Like You in the 1997 episode and again in the 2002 episode "Remembering Me: Part 2". He also appeared as J. D. Winslow in the 2001 episode "Shallow Water", where he performed his song "God Trying to Get Your Attention" from his album Slow Down.
In January 2007, he performed at the Sundance Film Festival.[30]
He played the role of the mischievous spirit Possum in the 2007 John Sayles movie Honeydripper.
Keb' Mo' provided additional music for
He has co-written the opening music for B Positive with executive producer Chuck Lorre.[31]
In 2019, Keb' Mo' featured as a guest artist on the PBS concert series Bluegrass Underground (now re-branded as The Caverns Sessions).
Political activism
In 2004, he participated in the politically motivated
Keb' Mo' is part of the
Equipment
Keb' Mo' uses several types of guitars, including electric guitars, acoustic guitars and
He owns a variety of acoustic and resonator guitars, including a
Discography
Albums
Released | Album | Peak chart positions | Notes | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [36] |
AUS [37] |
GER [38] |
NZ [39] |
SWI [40] | |||
September 9, 1980 | Rainmaker | — | — | — | — | — | Released under the name "Kevin Moore" |
June 7, 1994 | Keb' Mo' | — | 88 | — | — | — | Debut album as "Keb' Mo'"
Won W.C. Handy Award for Best Country/Acoustic Blues Album of the Year, 1995
|
June 18, 1996 | Just Like You
|
197 | 97 | 78 | 14 | 39 | Won Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album, 1997 |
August 25, 1998 | Slow Down | 109 | 89 | 38 | 6 | 35 | Won Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album, 1999 |
October 10, 2000 | The Door | 122 | — | — | 50 | — | Nominated Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album |
December 4, 2000 | Sessions at West 54th: Recorded Live in New York | — | — | — | — | — | Recorded in 1997 |
June 5, 2001 | Big Wide Grin | 199 | — | — | — | — | Nominated Grammy Award for Best Musical Album for Children |
September 19, 2003 | Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: Keb' Mo' | — | — | — | — | — | Part of the series, The Blues |
February 10, 2004 | Keep It Simple | 149 | — | — | — | 93 | Won Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album, 2005 |
September 21, 2004 | Peace... Back by Popular Demand
|
174 | — | — | — | — | |
June 13, 2006 | Suitcase | 176 | — | — | — | — | Nominated Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album |
October 20, 2009 | Live and Mo' | — | — | — | — | — | Six live performances and 4 new studio recordings |
August 2, 2011 | The Reflection | 81 | — | — | — | — | Nominated Grammy Award for Best Blues Album, 2012 |
April 22, 2014 | BLUESAmericana | 58 | — | — | — | — | Nominated Grammy Award for Best Americana Album, 2014 |
April 15, 2016 | Keb' Mo' Live – That Hot Pink Blues Album | — | — | — | — | — | |
May 5, 2017 | TajMo | 80 | — | — | — | 17 | Collaboration album with Best Contemporary Blues Album Grammy 2017.
|
June 14, 2019 | Oklahoma | — | — | — | — | 41 | Won the Grammy Award for Best Americana Album at the 62nd Grammy Awards. |
October 18, 2019 | Moonlight, Mistletoe & You | — | — | — | — | — | Peaked #1 on the US Blues Albums (Billboard)[41] |
January 21, 2022 | Good to Be... | — | — | 64 | — | 28 |
DVDs
- Sessions at West 54th – Recorded Live in New York (1997)
- Exploring the Guitar with Keb' Mo' (2000)
- The Blues Guitar of Keb' Mo'' (2002)
- Keb' Mo' & Guests (2011)
Other contributions
In 1998, Moore appeared on the album Begegnungen (the German word for "Encounters") by Peter Maffay, one of the most successful rockstars in Germany and Mid-Europe (16 Number 1 albums in the German album charts). This record is a duet album with artists from every continent. Moore and Maffay make a new version of "Am I wrong".
In 2001, Moore performed "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" on the tribute album Timeless: Hank Williams Tribute. Moore is also credited as producer on the Best Country Album, Grammy Award winner for 2001.[42]
In 2002, Moore contributed "
In 2005, Moore appeared on Buddy Guy's version of "Ain't No Sunshine", along with Moore composed one of the theme songs featured on the show, Martha Stewart Living. That same year, he appeared on Eric Clapton's album Back Home.
In 2006, Moore co-wrote the song, "
In 2006, Moore collaborated with New Orleans blues group The Subdudes, producing their most critically noteworthy album Behind the Levee, penning one cut, "Social Aid and Pleasure Club", and providing backing tracks for several other songs on the album.
In 2006, Moore appeared on the final episode of West Wing, performing "America the Beautiful" at the presidential inauguration.
Moore also provided vocals to Marcus Miller's 2007 album, Free on the track entitled "Milky Way" and again on Miller's 2008 album entitled, Marcus.
In 2008, he also appeared on Otis Taylor's album Recapturing the Banjo, contributing vocals and banjo on several songs.
Moore appeared on the June 7, 2008, broadcast of Garrison Keillor's radio program A Prairie Home Companion. He performed two songs with Bonnie Raitt: "No Getting Over You" and "There Ain't Nothin' in Ramblin'". The show was archived on the A Prairie Home Companion website.
In 2009, Moore co-wrote a song with Peach titled "It Meant Nothing". The song is yet to be released as an official audio recording, however, Peach does perform it and video recordings of live performances exist online.
Moore covered
Moore sings the opening theme ("I See Love", which he co-wrote with Josh Kelley) to the CBS sitcom Mike & Molly.
Moore appeared and played as a backing musician on an episode of Memphis Beat in 2011.
Moore produced and co-wrote the song "Diggin' in the Deep Blue Sea" on the 2011 David Bromberg album Use Me. He also plays electric guitar on the track.
In 2013, Moore appears on
In 2017, he covered "Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good" for the Don Williams tribute album Gentle Giants: The Songs of Don Williams.
In 2017, he appeared in “Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Higher Ground” (Hallmark Mystery Movie series) as the character Gabe, and performed several songs. His music was also in the following movies in the series, scheduled to appear again in Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar on July 15, 2018.
Awards and nominations
Grammy Awards
Grammy Awards | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Nominee/work | Award | Result |
1996
|
Just like You | Best Contemporary Blues Album | Won |
1998
|
Slow Down
|
Won | |
2001
|
The Door | Nominated | |
"Big Wide Grin" | Best Musical Album for Children | Nominated | |
2004
|
Keep It Simple | Best Contemporary Blues Album | Won |
2005
|
"I Hope" | Best Country Song | Nominated |
2006
|
Suitcase | Best Contemporary Blues Album | Nominated |
2011
|
The Reflection | Best Blues Album | Nominated |
2014
|
BLUESAmericana | Best Americana Album | Nominated |
"Old Me Better" | Best American Roots Song | Nominated | |
2017
|
TajMo (with Taj Mahal) | Best Contemporary Blues Album | Won |
2020
|
Oklahoma | Best Americana Album | Won |
References
- ^ Doug Henkle. "FolkLib Index – Musician's Birthdays/Bibliography". Folklib.net. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
- ^ "An Acoustic Evening with Keb' Mo'". January 31, 2017. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
- ^ "Keb' Mo' – New album BLUESAmericana". Kebmo.net. June 20, 2014. Archived from the original on August 17, 2016. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
- ^ William, Ruhlmann. "Jefferson Starship Red Octopus". AllMusic. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
- ^ "Jefferson Starship Red Octopus: Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
- ^ Roger Catlin (January 12, 1995). "Blues Of Keb' Mo' Provides The 'Spunk' At Hartford Stage". Hartford Courant. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
- ^ "Illustrated discography of various artists' early records". Wirz.de. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
- Just Like YouCD sleeve
- ^ "CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL 2010". whereseric.com. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ "In Performance at the White House: Red, White and Blues Pictures". Rolling Stone. February 22, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ "February 24, 2012 – Howlin' For Hubert". whereseric.com. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ "April 12, 2013 – Crossroads Guitar Festival". whereseric.com. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ "April 13, 2013 – Crossroads Guitar Festival". whereseric.com. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ^ Jewly Hight (December 24, 2014). "Keb' Mo' Completely Shocked by Grammy Nominations". Cmtedge.com. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
- ^ "Metallica, Slash, Keb Mo added as performers to MusiCares MAP Fund concert". The Music Universe. March 18, 2014. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
- ^ Niesel, Jeff (September 30, 2014). "Updated: Rock Hall to Honor the Everly Brothers | Scene and Heard: Scene's News Blog". Clevescene.com. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
- ^ "Mavis 75: Bonnie Raitt, Otis Clay, Keb' Mo' and More Talk Mavis Staples'". Pastemagazine.com. November 18, 2014. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
- ^ "2015 Blues Music Awards Winners". Americanbluesscene.com. Archived from the original on May 19, 2015. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
- ^ "Keb´Mo´". Playing for Change. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
- ^ "In Performance at the White House". PBS. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
- ^ "Keb' Mo' Drops 'Keb' Mo' Live – That Hot Pink Blues Album'". Lee Bailey's EurWeb.com. March 6, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
- ^ "Keb' Mo' Set To Release "Keb' Mo' LIVE – That Hot Pink Blues Album" on April 15th, 2016 : Announces Nationwide Tour". TheUrbanMusicScene.com. March 23, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
- ^ Vallon, Vanessa (March 1, 2016). "Keb' Mo' readies special live project for release". AXS. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "TajMo – Taj Mahal / Keb' Mo'". AllMusic. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
- ^ Cunningham, Scott (March 15, 2017). "TajMo: Taj Mahal and Keb' Mo' team up for new album". Oregon Music News. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
- ^ "Keb'Mo'". Grammy.com. November 28, 2017. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
- ^ Grammy Winners List 2020 by Zoe Haylock, Vulture.com, January 27, 2020.
- ^ "Keb' Mo' on Four Decades of the Blues, Remembering African American History, Activism in Music and More -". February 5, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
- ^ "AOL.com – Netscape". Music.netscape.com. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
- ^ Fienberg, Daniel (November 4, 2020). "'B Positive': TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
- ^ ""For What It's Worth," No Nukes Reunite After Thirty Years". Nukefree.org. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
- ^ "Nuclear Information and Resource Service". Nirs.org. Archived from the original on June 9, 2015. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
- ^ "The Guitars". KebMo.com. Archived from the original on June 15, 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
- ^ "The Guitars p.2". KebMo.com. Archived from the original on August 19, 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
- ^ "Keb' Mo' Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 191.
- ^ "Discographie von Keb' Mo'". offiziellecharts.de (in German). Retrieved August 29, 2022.
- ^ "Discography Keb' Mo'". charts.nz. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
- ^ "Keb' Mo' – Just Like You". hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved August 29, 2022.
- ^ "Blues Music: Top Blues Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
- ^ Johnson, Zac (2001). "Timeless: Hank Williams Tribute". AllMusic. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2013). "The Living Room Sessions". AllMusic. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
- ^ "BJ Thomas with Keb' Mo'- Most of All Official Music Video". TheBJThomas YouTube Channel. May 15, 2013. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
External links
- Keb' Mo' official website
- Keb' Mo' at IMDb
- Keb' Mo' discography at MusicBrainz
- Keb' Mo' Interview at NAMM Oral History Collection (2016)