Keith Dunn

source: http://www.keithdunn.com/ Keith Dunn is a harmonica player, singer, producer and the founder of deeTone records. Born in Boston, he currently resides in Rotterdam, Holland. He has over thirty years of blues experience. He possesses a deep-blues voice and is an exciting harmonica soloist. Keith's stage presence and charisma as a bandleader brings him to major festivals and venues all over the world. He is also an in-demand back-up musician. Keith has performed at the Sunflower River Blues Festival with Big Jack Johnson in Clarksdale, Mississippi, Big Jack's hometown.

Keith Dunn is a harmonica player, singer, producer and the founder of deeTone records. Born in Boston, he currently resides in Rotterdam, Holland. He has over thirty years of blues experience. He possesses a deep-blues voice and is an exciting harmonica soloist.

Keith's stage presence and charisma as a bandleader brings him to major festivals and venues all over the world. He is also an in-demand back-up musician. Keith has performed at the Sunflower River Blues Festival with Big Jack Johnson in Clarksdale, Mississippi, Big Jack's hometown. In Europe, he is a featured member of Big Jack Johnson's touring band. Keith's current group is the International Blues Band.

Keith's songwriting, described as having "the political activism of J.B. Lenoir and the attitude of Junior Wells," is highlighted on "Alone With The Blues," released on his own deeTone records label (dcd 5501). On these recordings, Keith plays and sings his songs alone, without overdubs or guest musicians making this a first in the history of recorded blues. "Alone With The Blues" has received enthusiastic reviews from many of the leading music publications including Living Blues in the U.S.A. and Blues and Rhythm in England and Soul Bag in France. Two of his songs from the album, ?Strange Things Are Happening? and ?Need To Make A Dollar? have received songwriting awards.

Since the release of "Alone With The Blues," Keith Dunn has performed his solo show at the SPAH Festival in St. Louis, the Cognac Fest in France where he also performed with Lurrie Bell, the Amal Blues Fest in Sweden, the Blues Live Fest in Finland, the Koldo Mitxelena Cultural Center in San Sebastian, Spain, Copenhagen Blues Festival in Denmark, and the prestigious Hohner Harmonica Festival in Trossingen, Germany. He has played numerous radio and television shows, as well as festivals and harmonica workshops in Norway, France, Italy, Poland, Belgium, Greece, England and Holland.

He is active with record production and produced the critically acclaimed album, "She's Magic," also on Deetone Records, (DCD 5502) for finger picking style guitarist, Willem van Dullemen.

Keith's musical christening came at gospel practice sessions that he heard in the family home. When Keith was nine years old, T-Bone Walker came to town and gave a free outdoor concert at the field where Keith played baseball. This was his first blues concert. He bought his first harmonica shortly after his twelfth birthday and was soon playing at parties and with street players around town.

As a youngster in Boston, he listened to the radio station, W-I-L-D. Curtis Mayfield and Smokey Robinson were early favorites. He became very active in the politics of the day and thru these activities, started listening to Archie Shepp and John Coltrane.
Keith had records by Sonny Boys I and II. Though his style was developing, he still played purely acoustic harmonica. This was all about to change.

Seeing the Junior Wells - Buddy Guy Band, provided Keith with the model for the formation that he wanted. His first band, Blue Lightning, played material by Wells, Jimmy Rogers, Rice Miller and two artists that he often went to see at that time, James Cotton and Muddy Waters. His second band, the Honeydrippers, was a guitar/saxophone driven unit that played everything from Monk to Muddy. This experience had a big influence on Keith.

Keith Dunn's style is lyrical, melodic and percussive. It differs from that of most other harmonica players. It reflects his love of big bands and jazz singers; and is not surprising considering the time that he spent in the company of artists such as James Cotton, Hubert Sumlin, Roy Eldridge, Big Walter Horton and Jimmy Rogers, who was Keith's fishing partner for a summer in Rhode Island. His style and dedication saw him through successful stays in Boston, Providence, Austin and Dallas, Texas and San Francisco before bringing him to Europe.

With his harmonica master classes, recording productions for deeTone records, solo, performances, tours with the International Blues Band and guest appearances with artists such as Big Jack Johnson, Keith's fans enjoy the benefits of his three decades plus, around music. A dedicated artist, Keith Dunn provides the authentic blues experience. This passion is brought to life on his solo album, the critically acclaimed "Alone With The Blues."

Contact:

keith@deetone.com

Keith Dunn
deeTone records
P.O. Box 23006
3001 KA Rotterdam, Holland
www.deetone.com