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Music
is not calculative.
It is true
that there are formulas for reproducing sound and mechanics for playing
an instrument, but music is not created by merely executing a string
of learned steps. It is inspiration that makes songs. It is passion
that makes them great. All that Keith has achieved and is achieving
in music is a result of these.
The relentless
desire to make music burned in Keith from a young age. However,
his musical roots stretch farther back than the date of his
birth. His father had been making music for years prior and in many
ways gave Keith the tools necessary to launch him into the modern
world of music. In addition to his father, Keith studied the work
of David Foster and Quincy Jones to learn so many of the aspects
of writing and producing.
Born and
raised in the Atlanta suburb of Conyers, GA., Keith was singing
lead for his father's gospel group by the age of nine. His ability
as a keyboard player led him, while still in High School, to recording
sessions in Atlanta studios. Here he came to the attention of country
superstar Ronnie Milsap.
Milsap moved
Keith and his wife, Denise, to Nashville for Keith to become a staff
writer at Milsap's publishing company, Ronjoy Music. Shortly thereafter,
Keith signed on with Word Records and began a seven-year tenure
as their staff writer and producer. During this time, Keith produced
over 16 albums for various artists earning over 20 #1 singles.
Encouraged by
this success, Keith left word and founded his own publishing and
production company, Yellow Elephant Music, and began writing and
producing music for BeBe & CeCe Winans. During their four album
collaboration, the three sold over 3 million albums and had nine
top 30 singles, six of which went top 10 and two of which went #1.
As a result of this relationship, BeBe & CeCe earned four Grammy
awards, an additional Grammy nomination, and five Dove awards.
In 1991,
Keith crossed over into the world of mainstream pop when he partnered
with longtime friend Amy Grant to garner their first #1, Top 40
hit, "Baby Baby." At the same time, Keith focused his
talents on former Miss America, soon to become international pop
and movie star, Vanessa Williams. He wrote and produced five tracks
on her Comfort Zone album including the #1 hit, "Save the Best
for Last." These two #1 songs with Grant and Williams earned
Keith Grammy nominations for Producer of the Year, Song of the Year,
and Record of the Year.
Responding to
the momentum created by this success, Keith aquired The
Bennett House recording complex in Franklin, TN. Twenty minutes
from downtown Nashville, The Bennett House not only accommodates
Keith's personal project studio and administrative offices but also
offers outside clients a 19th century recording environment that
is unique in the Nashville music scene.
Christening
the move into The
Bennett House, Keith turned his attention again to Amy Grant
by writing and producing for her House of Love album. This album
boasted several hits for Keith including the songs, "Lucky
One," and the title track, "House of Love." Keith
produced the song "The Sweetest Days" for Vanessa Williams
as well as records for James Ingram, Peabo Bryson, Deborah Cox,
Regina Belle and Wendy Moten. In 1995, Keith wrote and produced
the hit song, "I Could Fall In Love," for Selena and also
produced Venessa Williams' Academy Award winning single, "Colors
of the Wind," for the multi-platinum selling motion picture
soundtrack, Pocahontas.
In 1997,
Keith completed tracks for Amy Grant's next album, Behind The Eyes
and Vanessa Williams' follow up album, Next. He also produced records
for Michael Bolton, Luther Vandross, Brian McKnight, Tamia and Puff
Johnson
In early
1998, Keith produced several songs for Vanessa Williams and
Jon Secada for the movie, Dance with Me. He also produced
the track, "I Do (Cherish You)," for 98°'s multi-platinum
album on Universal Records, 98° and Rising. The song was also
featured in the Julia Roberts/Hugh Grant romantic comedy, Notting
Hill. In Addition, Keith was nominated for a Grammy for Producer
of the Year for the 1998 Grammy awards.
In late 1998,
Keith served as the principle Producer and co-Executive Producer
for the multi-artist Touched By An Angel album featuring
songs inspired by the popular television series. On this project,
Keith worked with Deana Carter, Amy Grant, Faith Hill, Uncle Sam
and Wynonna.
Early in
1999, Keith produced the track "Precious Wings" on
MJJ artist Tatyana Ali for the Sesame Street movie, Elmo in Grouchland.
During that year he also produced tracks for Yolanda Adams, Wild
Orchid and Vanessa Williams. Keith also produced the song, "You're
Where I Belong," for Trisha Yearwood for the movie, Stuart
Little.
In early
2000, Keith wrote and produced the hit song, "I Wanna Be
With You," for Mandy Moore. The song was featured in the Columbia
Pictures film, Center Stage.
Recently,
Keith completed two tracks for Interscope's Valeria and another
track featuring Debelah Morgan for the Osmosis Jones film
soundtrack. Also recently, music moguls, Tommy Mottola and Irving
Asoff asked Keith to take a diversion from making pop records to
produce classical protégé Charlotte Church's latest
album, Enchantment. Currently, he is handling the Executive Producer
chores and writing/producing seven tracks for Amy Grant's next album.
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