Barry Keane

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Barry Keane

Born: March 21, 1949

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Occupation: Drummer/percussionist

Barry is currently living in Unionville, Ontario, Canada.

Early Life

Barry was born in Philadelphia, but spent his early years in New York, Chicago, and New Jersey. At the age of 5, he moved with his family from the US to Agincourt, Ontario, Canada, a suburb of Toronto.

Prior to that, and after returning from his service overseas in the U.S. Army during World War ll, Barry's father, George L. Keane worked in the record business in Chicago and New York. He had worked in various capacities for RCA, including as operator of the wax machine at RCA's New York Studios. He moved on to sales for MGM Records and in November, 1954, accepted the position of Vice-President, General Manager of a Canadian record company based in Toronto, called Quality, which would go on to distribute a host of labels including MGM, Atlantic, Atco, A&M, Bell, Buddha, Kama Sutra, Stax, Volt, Verve, Mercury, Essex, Chess, Sun and Dot. In addition to building Quality Records into the largest record distributor in Canada, George Keane also created 3 new labels: Reo, Celebration and Barry, which he named after his young son.

Record Business

In 1964, Barry began working summers in Quality's warehouse in shipping and receiving. Later that year, he started playing the drums and gigging on weekends with various local rock bands, most of which included future Triumph bass player Mike Levine.

In 1965, Barry was part of a meeting with his father, and Quality executive George Struth, where Struth presented the idea of releasing the Chad Allen and the Expressions single, "Shakin' All Over" to the radio stations, with a plain white label, marked only with the handwritten words, 'Guess Who?'. George Keane agreed, and the name stuck.

By 1969, Barry was working full-time in sales and then promotion, where he did promo work with artists such as Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, Andy Kim, The 5th Dimension, The Everly Brothers, The Young Rascals, Vanilla Fudge, Mandala, and Jeannie C. Riley. Barry wrote Quality"s weekly radio promo sheet "Q Tip". He also began teaching drums and working part-time at Scarborough's Hutt House of Music. In '69 and '70, Barry attended summer courses at the University Of Rochester's Eastman School of Music in production and engineering. The course instructors were Phil Ramone and David Greene from A&R Studios in N.Y. Others taking the courses included Bob Ezrin and Jack Richardson. After returning to Toronto, Barry did some assistant engineering for Greg Hambleton at Sound Canada, and George Semkiw at RCA. Shortly after this, Barry became Manager of Pop A&R for Quality. In late '70, he put together a recording group called "Wishbone". Barry not only produced, but was also the band's drummer on their Canadian hit "Your Gonna Miss Me Girl". In early '71, Barry left Quality to become Manager of Pop A&R for RCA Canada. There, he would have dealings with artists such as Rick James, Dan Hill, Gino Vanelli and Ian Thomas, before adding Studio Operations Manager to his resume. Barry represented RCA internationally including at events such as MIDEM in Cannes, France. In '74, he produced the album "Music From the Violin," the soundtrack from the Oscar nominated film "The Violin". In 1975, he became President of RCA's Music Publishing Division, a position that he would hold until 1977.

Music Career

During his time at RCA, Barry began focusing more on his career as a record executive, and less on drumming. At one point, he actually quit playing altogether, and it was only due to a twist of fate, that he started up again. An accidently erased drum track led to Barry replacing it, which led to his playing being heard by producers and engineers. One of those engineers, was Mark Smith, who would later go on to record major motion picture soundtracks in Hollywood, and an OSCAR for Best Sound for his work on "Last of the Mohicans". in 1972, Mark was hired by Warner Brothers Records to engineer a new Gordon Lightfoot album. Mark was also asked to hire a few sidemen to augment Gordon's touring group. One of the musicians needed was a drummer, and Mark hired Barry. The album, "Old Dan's Records", would be the beginning of a long-term relationship for Barry with Lightfoot.

Gordon Lightfoot

In 1975, Barry played drums and percussion on Lightfoot"s "Summertime Dream" album, which included the hit "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald". This led to Barry becoming Lightfoot's first and only touring drummer. The initial gig was in March '76, at the Sahara Tahoe. Over the following 47 years, Barry would join Gordon for TV appearances, movies, 13 original albums and some 2,500 concerts, highlighted by shows at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in N.Y., Universal Amphitheater and Greek Theater in L.A., Royal Albert Hall in London, The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, The Montreux Jazz Festival, The Newport Folk Festival and Massey Hall in Toronto.

Session work

Starting in 1972, Barry began session work on radio and TV jingles, TV and movie soundtracks, and records. He has recorded in Canada, the U.S. and the UK with producers Phil Ramone, Jim Ed Norman, Lenny Waronker, Russ Titelman, Tom Baird, Ian Guenther, Willi Morrison, Randy Bachman, Tommy West, Harry Hinde, Kyle Lehning, Mike Francis, Dominic Troiano, Steve Bogard and Rick Giles.

Barry has played on close to 400 albums featuring artists such as:

Gordon Lightfoot, Anne Murray, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Shania Twain, Dan Hill, THP Orchestra, Carole King, Roger Whittaker, Ian Tyson, Dave Loggins, The Nylons, April Wine, George Hamilton IV, Wilf Carter, Ian Thomas, Rita McNeil, Tommy Hunter, Craig Ruhnke, Dianne Brooks, Michelle Wright, Dwayne Ford, Murray McLauchlan, The Northern Pikes, Paul Gross and David Keeley, Charity Brown, Patricia Anne McKinnon, Stan Rogers,The Stampeders, Lisa Dal Bello, Ronnie Hawkins, Trooper, John Redmond, The Spoons, Robert Armes, Wayne St John, Stephanie Taylor, Jim Cuddy, Carroll Baker, Jann Arden, The Western Front, The Immortals, Peter Foldy, John Capek, The Good Brothers, Terry Carisse, Dick Damron, Susan Jacks, Silver and Degazio, Albert Hall, Sticky Fingers, Ronnie Prophet, Marc Jordan, The Family Brown, Reg Watkins, The Cormiers, Terry Black and Laurel Ward, Robotman, Wishbone, Larry Evoy, Grand Tour, John Arpin, Hagood Hardy, The Bat Boys. Don Neilson, Joyce Cobb, Ron Nigrini, JJ Barrie, Krystine Sparkle, Bill Amesbury, Emigre, Terry Christenson, Fred Lavery, Ken Tobias, The Skatt Brothers, Cathy Young, Terry Sumsion, Jeff White, Terry Kelly, Debbie Fleming, Kelly Walker, The Mersey Brothers, Terry McManus, Charity Brown, Ken Harnden, Joan Kennedy, Roy Payne, The Carlton Showband, Valdy, Paul Weber, Sharon, Lois and Bram, John Allan Cameron, Charlee, Suzanne Stevens, David Bradstreet, The Mighty Pope, Loretta Cormier, Joanne Brooks, The Duncan Sisters, David Campbell, Brian Russell, Anita Perras, Tim Taylor, Thor, Celtic Woman, Keith Hampshire, Lorence Hud, Dallas Harms, Aura Rully, Ken Munshaw, JK Gulley, David Essig, Mark Haines, Peter Pringle, John Gracie, The Raes, Noah, Gene McLellan, Southern Comfort, Ray Materick, Frank Mills, Ron Prince, Billy Andrusco, Cassandra Vasik, Johnny May, Kenny McLean, Milan Kymlicka, James Leroy, Isabelle Boulay, The Barra McNeils, Copperpenny, Michael Hasek, Brent Titcomb, Susan Aglukark, Terence Munsey, Tim Hazell, Nelly Furtado, Kris Kreinke, Danny Marks, Gary Heaslip. James Van Norman, Lee Roy Anderson, Donna and Lee Roy, Choya, Bobby G. Griffith, The Stoker Brothers, Robert David, Rick Worrall, Bondfield-Dickson, Bryan Way, Ron Hynes, Kevin Jordan, Reg Watkins, John Stoneham, Pat Perez, The Memphis Brothers, Cathy Young, Ron Perreault, Laura Mattson, Tom Phillips, Richard Janik, Denis Lepage and Station Road, , Peter Donato, David Hutchins, The Guse Family, Kevin Denbok, CB Victoria, David Thompson, Cliff Edwards, Roger Dennis, April and Susan, Chris Bullock, Paula Manderson, Matt Minglewood, Ronnie Abramson, Ken Hollis, Gypsy Moth, Foolish Game, Clive VanderBurg, Even Steven, Phil McGovern, Lyle Muskat, Pierre Califoux, Pure Prairie League, Barbie and the Rockers, Bill Garrett, Denis Encontre, Jennifer Marino, Mark Mason, Stew Fargo, Jolas, Cindy Amiel, Jody Drake, Maxine McLeod, Frank Leahy, Mary Bailey, Elaine Golden, Audie Henry, Frank Trainor, Graham Townsend, Tim Daniels, John Birthelmer, Judy Cave, Howie McDonald, Terry Cousineau, Wild Country, Phil Christie, ZSP band, Larry Folk, Guidonna Lee, Diamond in the Rough, Rony Summers, Dickson Reid, Bill Candy, Barbie Allen, Ray Bennett, Moshe Yes, Wayne Rostad, Eric Robertson, Lou Natale, Mike O'Reilly, Watson and McCullough, Jan Hendin, Lee Marlow, Midnight Rodeo Band, Stephanie Taylor, Robert Armes, Wayne St. John, and many more...

From these recordings came several hit singles in Canada and the U.S. including Gordon Lightfoot's "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" (#1 Cashbox), and Anne Murray's "You Needed Me" (#1 Billboard). Barry as a member of the Bat Boys, played drums on the signature song of The Toronto Blue Jays "OK Blue Jays". In 1977, THP Orchestra won the Juno Award for Most Promising Group. Barry played drums on all of their records.

Television

Whether playing the drums and/or being interviewed, Barry has appeared on Saturday Night Live, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The Midnight Special, The Merv Griffin Show, Entertainment Tonight, Juno Awards, George Martin's Soundbreaking, New Music, W5, The Jim Henson Hour, WTTW Chicago Soundstage, Grand Old Country, The Ronnie Prophet Show, The Tommy Hunter Show, Prime Time Sports with Bob McCown, Much Music's Intimate and Interactive, Uptight Dance Party, Like Young, The Peter Gzowski Show, Friday 13th, Pressed in Canada, The Bob McLean Show "Live in Reno", DiscoZaza, CP24 Breakfast Show and Take a Look.

For several years in the 70s, Barry played the drums in the on-camera house bands for the nationally televised Grand Old Country, The Ronnie Prophet Show and Tommy Hunter Show. In addition to the hosts, he backed country music stars such as, Dolly Parton, Ronnie Milsap, George Jones, Hank Williams Jr., Charley Pride, Mel Tillis, Don Everly, Ferlin Husky, Dottie West, Eddie Rabbit, Mickey Gilley, TG Sheppard, Sammi Smith, Don Williams, Bill Anderson, Diana Trask, Stella Parton, The Gatlin Brothers, The Good Brothers, The Kendalls, Faron Young, Myrna Lorrie, Colleen Peterson, Roy Head, Jean Shepard, and legends, Ray Price, Merle Travis, Brenda Lee, Floyd Cramer and Boots Randolph. In 1983, Barry backed Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, Rosanne Cash and Albert Lee on "In Session". In 1986, he was the on-camera house band drummer for the CTV special "Ian and Sylvia Reunion Concert", backing Ian and Sylvia and guests Judy Collins, Emmylou Harris, Gordon Lightfoot and Murray McLauchlan. In 1989, Barry backed KD Lang on The Jim Henson Show.

Radio

With Gordon Lightfoot, Barry has played on E-Town in Boulder, Colorado and Mountain Stage in Charleston, West Virginia. He has been a member of the roundtable on Prime Time Sports with Bob McCown, and on Late Night Sportsnet with Stormin' Norman Rumack and Roger Lajoie. Barry has been a guest on Zoomer Radio with Sam and Jane, on the Jeff Marek show and has co-hosted many shows with Roger Lajoie on Sportsnet 590 The Fan.

In 2022, Barry was the colour analyst for the AA baseball game between the Erie Seawolves and the Akron Rubber Ducks in Akron, OH.

TV Commercials

Besides playing on thousands of radio and television commercials, Barry also appeared as part of a bar band in a Budweiser commercial, and as the "Arrow Shirt Man" in a commercial for The Patented Mark Collar for Arrow Shirts.

TV Soundtracks

Barry has played on many television soundtracks for shows such as The Jim Henson Show, Sesame Street, Street Legal, Due South, Live in Reno, '88 and '92 Olympics (Canada) The Kids of Degrassi Street and Danger Bay.

Movies

Barry has played on several movie soundtracks such as "Circle of Two" starring Richard Burton and Tatum O'Neal, and biopics "Ricky Nelson: Original Teen Idol" and "Madonna: Innocence Lost". Barry has also appeared in "If You Could Read My Mind" and "Lightheaded".

Benefit Concerts

Barry has played with Gordon Lightfoot at dozens of benefit concerts, highlighted by: 1976-Canadian Olympic Athletes Benefit at Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, along with Sylvia Tyson, Murray McLauchlan and Liona Boyd.

1976-Olympic Benefit at The Olympic Village, Montreal, P.Q.

1976-at Hynes Civic Auditorium in Boston along with Alice Cooper, Donny and Marie Osmond, Dr Hook and the Medicine Show, and England Dan and John Ford Coley.

1979-At Nassau Coliseum Uniondale, N.Y. with Harry Chapman and Dave Mason.

1980-Canadian Olympic Athletes Benefit at C.N.E. Stadium, Toronto with the Good Brothers, Harry Chapin and Liona Boyd.

1981-Alan Thicke Juvenile Diabetes Benefit in Los Angeles with George Burns.

1993-United Way at Skydome in Toronto with Simon and Garfunkle and Blue Rodeo.

Barry has been guest percussionist at several Andy Kim Christmas Show concerts in Toronto.

Podcasts

In 2022, Barry completed two episodes of "The Walrus Was Paul" podcast with host, broadcaster/podcaster Paul Romanuk. Also online are several audio interviews done over the years with jounalist Scott K Fish for Modern Drummer and "Life Beyond The Cymbals".

Barry appears on the Canadian Museum of Recorded Music and Culture: The History of Quality Records.

Magazines and Books

Barry has written articles for, and been interviewed by Modern Drummer and Canadian Musician Magazine. He was the subject of a 1981 feature article in Modern Drummer, and later in the '80's, wrote the monthly Percussion Column, for Canadian Musician Magazine, which often had Barry include tips from other Canadian drummers like "Whitey" Glan (Bette Midler, Alice Cooper) Matt Frenette (Loverboy, Streetheart), and Neil Peart (Rush). In addition to MD and CM, Barry was interviewed for and /or referred to in articles in Billboard, Cashbox, Record World, RPM Weekly, Creem and Maclean's magazines, and in books about Gordon Lightfoot, Shania Twain, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Rick James, Liona Boyd, Dan Hill, Murray McLauchlan, and Massey Hall.

Endorsements

Barry has endorsed Premier Drums, Remo, and Duraline Drumheads, and Pro Mark Drumsticks, all of which he still uses, including the ProMark Signature Series Drumsticks which he designed. Barry is the inventor of the Midi Interface: The Keane Machine.

Sports

From an early age, Barry has been involved in many different sports. He has played several at a competitive level including, baseball, softball, slo-pitch, squash and touch football. At various times over a 25 year period, he also coached baseball, softball, hockey and ringette. He was a coach/trainer in hockey in UMHA, NYHL, OMHA and GTHL.

As a player, Barry has played in several touch football leagues, including the Metro Toronto Touch football league "A" and has competed in 2 Canadian National Touch Football Championships. He was voted playoff MVP in SARBL baseball in 1987.

He has been a member of 7 Ontario Provincial Slo-Pitch Championship teams. He has won several medals with different teams at National Slo-Pitch Tournaments across Canada including 4 silvers. In the National Championships in Oshawa, Ontario in 1991, he was selected to the Canada East All-Star team and named MVP. He was a member of 3 medal winning teams at The World Championships in Slo-Pitch. A silver medal in 2003 in Manassas, Virginia, where he was selected to the All-World team, and a bronze and gold medal in '06 and '07 respectively, in St. George, Utah. Barry remains active in touch football, slo-pitch and badminton.

References

This article "Barry Keane" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Barry Keane. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

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