Jim Keller

Jim Keller is an American musician, producer,[1] manager, publisher, and composer whose work in the music business spans more than 40 years. He was the co-founder, lead guitarist, and primary songwriter for the American rock band Tommy Tutone based in San Francisco, California, and was co-writer of that band's most famous single, 867-5309/Jenny. [2] Since 1992, Keller has worked with Philip Glass, first running Glass's publishing company and eventually managing his career as director of Dunvagen Music.[3] In 1999, Keller founded St. Rose Music as a publishing and management company for friends and associates. Their roster has grown to include Nico Muhly, Rachel Portman, Angélica Negrón, the music theater works of Tom Waits, Jeff Beal, Paul Leonard-Morgan, Ravi Shankar, and Anoushka Shankar.[4]

This article is about the musician. For the processor engineer, see Jim Keller (engineer).
Jim Keller
Credit: Jimmy Fontaine
Background information
Genresblues, pop, alternative rock
Occupation(s)songwriter, musician, music publisher, music manager
InstrumentsVocals, guitar
Years active1979–present
LabelsElisha James Music, Orange Mountain Music
Associated actsTommy Tutone, Jim Keller Band
Websitejimkellermusic.com

In 1978, Jim Keller and Tommy Heath began playing around the greater San Francisco area with a variety of backup musicians under the billing Tommy Tutone. By 1979, Tommy and Jim were invited to play a label showcase that brought the attention of the Warner Bros. record label. They entered the studio with bassist Terry Nails and drummer Micky Shine to record the band's first album, Tommy Tutone.[5] Three singles were released including Angel Say No which peaked at No. 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts.[6] In early 1981, the band had begun recording their second LP, when Keller approached Heath with a song he had co-written with former Clover frontman Alex Call.[7] Neither expected that the song would become a hit.[8] In 1982, the song was number 4 on the Billboard charts for 27 weeks.[9] After the band's third album, National Emotion, failed to produce a hit single, they went their separate ways. For several years, Keller played in bands, wrote jingles, and helped friends and colleagues with music publishing.[10]

Keller stopped performing and recording in 1994.[11] A project around that time had led him to calling Philip Glass's office. When he called a second time the person he'd been speaking with had left the company. He asked if they were looking to replace him which landed Keller an interview. Glass recalled in The New Yorker, "he had none of the conventional qualifications that I thought someone should have. I asked, ‘What do you know about the music business?,’ and he said, ‘Only what I learned on the street,’ but that’s how I learned, so it didn’t sound bad to me. He said, ‘What did you pay the last guy?,’ and I told him, and he said, ‘I’ll come and work for you for that, and, if I double your income in the first year, you’ll double my salary.’ I thought about that for about thirty seconds, and I realized, That could be great for me, and he did it.”[12]

After a ten-year hiatus, Keller began writing songs and performing again in 2005.[2] He has recorded three solo albums since he left Tommy Tutone, including Sunshine in my Pocket (2009), Soul Candy (2011),[2][11] and Heaven Can Wait (2014).[13] He has a new record, produced by Mitchell Froom, slated for release in February 2021. The record, titled "By No Means," features Los Lobos' David Hidalgo on guitar, Bob Glaub on bass, and Michael Urbano on drums.[14] Of the record, Jim Beviglia of American Songwriter writes that "it’s Keller’s songwriting, wry and understated, yet always gently stirring, that holds center court."[15] Jon Freeman and Joseph Hudak of Rolling Stone, discussing the album's second single "Mistakes," write "Mixing Dr. John’s New Orleans shuffle with the eerie openness of Kiko-era Lobos, it’s a shadowy environment perfect for surveying one’s psychic damage and trying to purge a few demons." [16]

Jim continues to play regularly with the Jim Keller Band.[9]

References
  1. "Jim Keller | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2020-02-22.
  2. Wilkinson, Alec (14 December 2009). "Comeback". New Yorker. Retrieved 2012-04-07.
  3. "Contact – Philip Glass". Philipglass.com. Retrieved 2020-02-22.
  4. "St. Rose – Music management and publishing". Strosemusic.com. Retrieved 2020-02-22.
  5. Piven, Joshua (2003). As Luck Would Have it. Villard Books. pp. 62-68. ISBN 1-4000-6055-9.
  6. Rutherford, Kevin (3 April 2018). "Rewinding the Charts: In 1982, Tommy Tutone Dialed Up a No. 1 Hit With '867-5309/Jenny'".
  7. Piven, Joshua (2003). As Luck Would Have it. Villard Books. pp. 71-73. ISBN 1-4000-6055-9.
  8. Applebone, Peter (31 January 2009). "Jenny, Don't Change Your Number; You Might Want to Sell It on eBay". New York Times. Retrieved 2012-04-07.
  9. LaMarca, Stephen (24 July 2011). "867-5309 won't lead to Jenny. After 30 years, famous phone number still generates calls, profit". Hudson Reporter. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2015-06-06.
  10. Piven, Joshua (2003). As Luck Would Have It. Villard Books. ISBN 1-4000-6055-9.
  11. Condran, Ed (3 April 2012). "Jim Keller plays The Saint Saturday. Jim Keller moves past Tommy Tutone heyday". Asbury Park Press, NJ Press Media. Retrieved 2012-04-08.
  12. Wilkinson, Alec (December 14, 2009). "The Come Back". The New Yorker] .
  13. "Jim Keller's New Album 'Heaven Can Wait' Out Now". Guitarworld.com. 13 June 2014. Retrieved 2020-02-22.
  14. "Jim Keller Of Tommy Tutone Fame Debuts New Single With David Hidalgo". Americansongwriter.com. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  15. "Jim Keller Of Tommy Tutone Fame Debuts New Single With David Hidalgo". Americansongwriter.com. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  16. "RS Country Music Picks for the Week of January 11th". Rollingstone.com. 11 January 2021. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
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