Biography
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. & 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. Memphis Circa 3AM, produced by Roland Janes, arrived from Fat Possum in the fall of 2013.
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Also in 2013, Keith paired with double-bassist/vocalist Amy LaVere for their country- and rockabilly-influenced project Motel Mirrors. Over the next few years, he stayed busy touring, and playing live. He also contributed to albums by the Bo-Keys, Rich Minus, and Don Bryant. In 2018, Keith returned with both his fourth solo album, Heart Shaped Shadow, and the full-length debut album from Motel Mirrors, In the Meantime.
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.