Once upon a time in the summer of 1967, Keith Sykes hitchhiked to the Newport Folk Festival and saw Arlo Guthrie perform “Alice’s Restaurant.” In the fall of that year he got a copy of the album, learned the whole song and sang it at a Holiday Inn in Charleston, South Carolina. They hired him on the spot for a regular gig playing music in the hotel.
It’s pretty perfect that such a rambling tale should be at the start of Keith’s own rambling tale – in the more than 40 years that followed, he would become a troubadour and storyteller, a massively successful songwriter with more than 100 songs recorded by artists as diverse as Rosanne Cash and George Thorogood. He would tour every corner of America and play in just about every conceivable kind of venue, appear on Saturday Night Live and Austin City Limits, and host songwriter nights on Memphis’ legendary Beale Street with many of music’s most talented songwriters. He would join Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band, tour the country and record the Volcano album – the title track for which he co-wrote with Jimmy.
To date, recordings of Keith’s songs have sold more than 25 million copies worldwide. With 13 full-length albums released – and great success with his own publishing company, credited with signing John Kilzer to Geffen Records and the discovery of Todd Snider – Keith Sykes has proven to be nothing short of prolific.
And of course, he’s not done just yet. Keith continues to tour relentlessly, and will release Songs From A Little Beach Town in 2016.
MEDIA
Download one sheet for Songs From A Little Beach Town
Download press photos for Keith Sykes
SOCIAL
PRESS
“For those familiar with Mr. Sykes early work, ‘Songs From A Little Beach Town’ makes for an interesting respite from his recent concentration on country music, and undoubtedly will be welcomed by the legions of Parrot Heads as a return to the fold. For the uninitiated there is the joy of discovering one of America’s music treasures and for those intimately familiar with his long and storied career, a certain smugness. Perhaps now the rest of the country will finally find out what we have known all along.” – Jim Westphal, No Depression
“When I first listened to the EP, several of the songs sounded like they owed a lot to Crowell and Buffett. Understandable, but I revisited those early albums, and it seems Sykes influenced them. … Witty lyrics with a weathered vocal that lets you feel the heartache that belies the witticism. In other words, it’s country music at its best.” – Amos Perrine, No Depression
Keith Sykes ready to release new single, ‘Come As You Are Beach Bar’ – Bob Mehr, GoMemphis
CONTACT
Publicity: elizabeth@signalflowpr.com
Booking: Jerene Sykes
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