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{{short description|American singer-songwriter (1958-2017)}}
{{Short description|American singer-songwriter (1958–2017)}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{For|people with similar name|Tom Keene (disambiguation){{!}}Tom Keene}}
{{For|people with similar name|Tom Keene (disambiguation){{!}}Tom Keene}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name = Tommy Keene
| name = Tommy Keene
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| origin = [[Bethesda, Maryland|Bethesda]], Maryland, United States
| origin = [[Bethesda, Maryland|Bethesda]], Maryland, United States
| death_date = {{death date and age|2017|11|22|1958|06|30}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2017|11|22|1958|06|30}}
| genre = [[Power pop]], [[jangle pop]], [[rock & roll]], [[pop rock]]
| genre = [[Power pop]], [[jangle pop]], [[rock & roll]], [[pop rock]], [[indie rock]], [[alternative rock]]
| occupation = Singer, songwriter
| occupation = Singer, songwriter
| instrument = Guitar, vocals
| instrument = Guitar, vocals
| years_active = 1979–2017
| years_active = 1979–2017
| label = Avenue, Dolphin, [[Geffen Records|Geffen]], [[Matador Records|Matador]], [[Alias Records|Alias]], [[Parasol Records|Parasol]], [[spinART Records|spinART]], [[Not Lame Recordings|Not Lame]], Eleven Thirty
| label = Avenue, Dolphin, [[Geffen Records|Geffen]], [[Matador Records|Matador]], [[Alias Records|Alias]], [[Parasol Records|Parasol]], [[spinART Records|spinART]], [[Not Lame Recordings|Not Lame]], Eleven Thirty, [[Second Motion Records|Second Motion]]
| associated_acts = [[Robert Pollard]], [[Paul Westerberg]], [[Goo Goo Dolls]], Velvet Crush, [[(The) Razz]], [[Richard X. Heyman]]
| past_member_of = [[Robert Pollard]], [[Paul Westerberg]], [[Goo Goo Dolls]], Velvet Crush, [[(The) Razz]], [[Richard X. Heyman]]
| website = {{URL|www.tommykeene.com/}}
| website = {{URL|www.tommykeene.com/}}
}}
}}
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==Musical career==
==Musical career==
Keene first received critical acclaim with the pioneering Washington, D.C. rock band The Razz, who released several local independent singles. His 1984 EP ''Places That Are Gone'' became one of the year's top selling independent releases.<ref>{{cite web|author=Jack Leaver |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/places-that-are-gone-mw0000726322 |title=Places That Are Gone – Tommy Keene &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=September 6, 2015}}</ref> The EP garnered a four-star review in ''[[Rolling Stone]]'', and was voted the No. 1 EP in the following year's ''[[Village Voice]]'' [[Pazz & Jop]] Poll. Keene recorded and released numerous albums on such labels as Dolphin, [[Geffen Records|Geffen]] and [[Matador Records]]. He worked with producers [[T-Bone Burnett]], [[Don Dixon (musician)|Don Dixon]], and [[R. Walt Vincent]]. He continued to record and tour and released an album with Robert Pollard, of [[Guided by Voices]], as 'The Keene Brothers.' Keene also played guitar on the [[Goo Goo Dolls]]' hit song, "[[Broadway (Goo Goo Dolls song)|Broadway]]", on their 1998 album, ''[[Dizzy Up The Girl]]''.
Keene first received critical acclaim with the pioneering Washington, D.C. rock band The Razz, who released several local independent singles. His 1984 EP ''Places That Are Gone'' became one of the year's top selling independent releases.<ref>{{cite web|author=Jack Leaver |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/places-that-are-gone-mw0000726322 |title=Places That Are Gone – Tommy Keene &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=September 6, 2015}}</ref> That same year, ''[[Washington City Paper]]'' dubbed Keene "one of the best pop songwriters anywhere."<ref>{{Cite web|title=City Paper, October 19, 1984 {{!}} Dig DC|url=https://dcplislandora.wrlc.org/islandora/object/dcplislandora:287688|access-date=2021-07-25|website=dcplislandora.wrlc.org}}</ref> ''Places That Are Gone'' garnered a four-star review in ''[[Rolling Stone]]'', and was voted the No. 1 EP in the following year's ''[[Village Voice]]'' [[Pazz & Jop]] Poll. Keene recorded and released numerous albums on such labels as Dolphin, [[Geffen Records|Geffen]] and [[Matador Records]]. He worked with producers [[T-Bone Burnett]], [[Don Dixon (musician)|Don Dixon]], and [[R. Walt Vincent]]. He continued to record and tour and released an album with Robert Pollard, of [[Guided by Voices]], as 'The Keene Brothers.' He was also a member of Pollard's live backing band "The Ascended Masters" also featuring Jon Wurster, Jason Narducy, and Dave Phillips. As well, he toured as an additional guitar player in Pollard's Boston Spaceships. Keene also played guitar on the [[Goo Goo Dolls]]' hit song, "[[Broadway (Goo Goo Dolls song)|Broadway]]", on their 1998 album, ''[[Dizzy Up The Girl]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tommy Keene at CBGB (03-28-1990)|url=https://www.themckenzietapes.com/tapes/2020/4/9/tommy-keene-at-cbgb-03-28-1990|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926185018/https://www.themckenzietapes.com/tapes/2020/4/9/tommy-keene-at-cbgb-03-28-1990|archive-date=2021-09-26|access-date=2022-01-21|website=The Mckenzie Tapes|date=March 28, 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref>


In 2011, Keene released his ninth original studio album, ''Behind The Parade'', with [[Second Motion Records]]. This was the fourth release working with Second Motion's founder Stephen Judge. Judge had released Keene's 2010 two disc retrospective ''Tommy Keene: You Hear Me'' and his previous release, ''Crashing The Ether''. Keene's 2006 release [[Eleven Thirty Records]] was released while Judge was A&R Director and general manager at [[Redeye Distribution]].
In 2011, Keene released his ninth original studio album, ''Behind The Parade'' on [[Second Motion Records]]. This was the fourth release working with Second Motion's founder Stephen Judge. Judge had released Keene's 2010 two-disc retrospective ''Tommy Keene: You Hear Me'' and his previous release, ''Crashing The Ether''. Keene's 2006 release [[Eleven Thirty Records]] was released while Judge was A&R Director and general manager at [[Redeye Distribution]].

== Personal life ==
Keene was gay, and Michael Lundsgaard was his longtime partner.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Biography – Tommy Keene|url=https://www.tommykeene.com/index.php/biography/|access-date=2021-05-05|language=en-US}}</ref> He came out publicly later in life,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2006-02-23|title=Q&A With Tommy Keene|url=https://magnetmagazine.com/2006/02/23/qa-with-tommy-keene/|access-date=2021-05-05|website=Magnet Magazine|language=en-US}}</ref> and some critics have identified subtle gay themes in his music.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Holmes|first=Dave|date=2017-11-29|title=Tommy Keene Should Have Been Bigger. But He Didn't Need to Be.|url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/a13978078/tommy-keene-dead-tribute/|access-date=2021-05-05|website=Esquire|language=en-US}}</ref>


==Death==
==Death==
Keene died in his sleep on November 22, 2017, at the age of 59 due to cardiac arrest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tommykeene.com/index.php/2017/11/23/782/|title=Tommy Keene 6/30/58 – 11/22/17 – Tommy Keene|website=Tommykeene.com}}</ref>
Keene died in his sleep on November 22, 2017, at the age of 59 due to cardiac arrest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tommykeene.com/index.php/2017/11/23/782/|title=Tommy Keene 6/30/58 – 11/22/17 – Tommy Keene|website=Tommykeene.com|date=November 23, 2017 }}</ref>


==Discography==
==Discography==
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*''Laugh in the Dark'' (2015, Second Motion Records)
*''Laugh in the Dark'' (2015, Second Motion Records)


===Compilations and live albums===
===Compilation albums===
*''[[The Real Underground]]'' (1993, [[Alias Records|Alias]])
*''[[The Real Underground]]'' (1993, [[Alias Records|Alias]])
*''Driving into the Sun'' (1994, Alias)
*''Driving into the Sun'' (1994, Alias)
*''[[Showtunes (Tommy Keene album)|Showtunes]]'' (2001, Self Released)
*''[[Drowning—A Tommy Keene Miscellany]]'' (2004, [[Not Lame Recordings|Not Lame]])
*''[[Drowning—A Tommy Keene Miscellany]]'' (2004, [[Not Lame Recordings|Not Lame]])
*''[[Tommy Keene You Hear Me: A Retrospective - 1983-2009]]'' (2010, Second Motion Records)
*''[[Tommy Keene You Hear Me: A Retrospective - 1983-2009]]'' (2010, Second Motion Records)

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*''[[Showtunes II]]'' (2016, Self Released)
===Live albums===
*''[[[[Showtunes (The Live Tommy Keene album)https://tommykeene.bandcamp.com/album/showtunes-the-live-tommy-keene-album|Showtunes (The Live Tommy Keene album)]]|Showtunes]]'' (2001, Parasol Records)
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*''[[[https://tommykeene.bandcamp.com/album/showtunes-2 Showtunes II]]]'' (2016, Self Released)
*''[[[https://tommykeene.bandcamp.com/album/rockin-the-iota Tommy Keene Performance: Rockin' The Iota]]]'' (2024, TKG Estate Release)


===EPs===
===EPs===
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==External links==
==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www.tommykeene.com/}}
*{{Official website|http://www.tommykeene.com/}}
*{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p18638}}
*{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p18638}}
*{{Discogs artist|Tommy Keene}}
*{{Discogs artist|Tommy Keene}}
*[https://www.questia.com/magazine/1G1-145633078/it-s-peachy-for-keene-musician-s-musician-tommy-keene "It's Peachy for Keene: Musician's Musician Tommy Keene Releases a New CD of Irresistible Pop. and as a Bonus, He Comes Out" by Reighley, Kurt B. – The Advocate (The national gay & lesbian newsmagazine), May 9, 2006 | Online Research Library: Questia]
*[https://www.questia.com/magazine/1G1-145633078/it-s-peachy-for-keene-musician-s-musician-tommy-keene "It's Peachy for Keene: Musician's Musician Tommy Keene Releases a New CD of Irresistible Pop. and as a Bonus, He Comes Out" by Reighley, Kurt B. – The Advocate (The national gay & lesbian newsmagazine), May 9, 2006] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330160552/https://www.questia.com/magazine/1G1-145633078/it-s-peachy-for-keene-musician-s-musician-tommy-keene |date=March 30, 2016 }}
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{{Tommy Keene|state=expanded}}

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{{Tommy Keene}}

{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


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[[Category:American male singers]]
[[Category:American male singers]]
[[Category:Power pop musicians]]
[[Category:Power pop musicians]]
[[Category:People from Bethesda, Maryland]]
[[Category:Musicians from Bethesda, Maryland]]
<!-- [[Category:LGBT singers]] not referenced in bio-->
[[Category:University of Maryland, College Park alumni]]
[[Category:University of Maryland, College Park alumni]]
[[Category:SpinART Records artists]]
[[Category:SpinART Records artists]]
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[[Category:Geffen Records artists]]
[[Category:Geffen Records artists]]
[[Category:Parasol Records artists]]
[[Category:Parasol Records artists]]
[[Category:Second Motion Records artists]]
[[Category:Gay singers]]
[[Category:Gay songwriters]]
[[Category:American LGBTQ musicians]]

Latest revision as of 20:01, 25 November 2024

For people with similar name, see Tom Keene.

Tommy Keene
Background information
Birth nameThomas Clay Keene
Born(1958-06-30)June 30, 1958
Evanston, Illinois, United States
OriginBethesda, Maryland, United States
DiedNovember 22, 2017(2017-11-22) (aged 59)
GenresPower pop, jangle pop, rock & roll, pop rock, indie rock, alternative rock
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Guitar, vocals
Years active1979–2017
LabelsAvenue, Dolphin, Geffen, Matador, Alias, Parasol, spinART, Not Lame, Eleven Thirty, Second Motion
Formerly ofRobert Pollard, Paul Westerberg, Goo Goo Dolls, Velvet Crush, (The) Razz, Richard X. Heyman
Websitewww.tommykeene.com

Tommy Keene (born Thomas Clay Keene; June 30, 1958 – November 22, 2017)[1] was an American singer-songwriter, best known for releasing critically acclaimed rock & roll/power pop songs in the 1980s. He has a longtime cult following among fans of the musical genre of power pop.[2]

Education

[edit]

Evanston, Illinois-born Keene was raised in Bethesda, Maryland. He graduated in 1976 from Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda, which was also the alma mater of fellow musician Nils Lofgren, who went on to play and record with Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen. Keene played drums in one version of Lofgren's early bands.[3] Keene then attended the University of Maryland, College Park.[4]

Musical career

[edit]

Keene first received critical acclaim with the pioneering Washington, D.C. rock band The Razz, who released several local independent singles. His 1984 EP Places That Are Gone became one of the year's top selling independent releases.[5] That same year, Washington City Paper dubbed Keene "one of the best pop songwriters anywhere."[6] Places That Are Gone garnered a four-star review in Rolling Stone, and was voted the No. 1 EP in the following year's Village Voice Pazz & Jop Poll. Keene recorded and released numerous albums on such labels as Dolphin, Geffen and Matador Records. He worked with producers T-Bone Burnett, Don Dixon, and R. Walt Vincent. He continued to record and tour and released an album with Robert Pollard, of Guided by Voices, as 'The Keene Brothers.' He was also a member of Pollard's live backing band "The Ascended Masters" also featuring Jon Wurster, Jason Narducy, and Dave Phillips. As well, he toured as an additional guitar player in Pollard's Boston Spaceships. Keene also played guitar on the Goo Goo Dolls' hit song, "Broadway", on their 1998 album, Dizzy Up The Girl.[7]

In 2011, Keene released his ninth original studio album, Behind The Parade on Second Motion Records. This was the fourth release working with Second Motion's founder Stephen Judge. Judge had released Keene's 2010 two-disc retrospective Tommy Keene: You Hear Me and his previous release, Crashing The Ether. Keene's 2006 release Eleven Thirty Records was released while Judge was A&R Director and general manager at Redeye Distribution.

Death

[edit]

Keene died in his sleep on November 22, 2017, at the age of 59 due to cardiac arrest.[8]

Discography

[edit]

Albums

[edit]

Compilation albums

[edit]

Live albums

[edit]

EPs

[edit]
  • Places That Are Gone (1984, Dolphin)
  • Back Again (Try...) (1984, Dolphin)
  • Run Now (1986, Geffen)
  • Sleeping on a Roller Coaster (1992, Matador)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Salam, Maya (November 24, 2017). "Tommy Keene, power-pop songwriter and star of '80s D.C. music scene, dies at 59". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  2. ^ "Tommy Keene". TrouserPress.com. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  3. ^ "Cult Rocker Tommy Keene, R.I.P." That Devil Music. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  4. ^ "In Our Lives". No Such Thing As Was. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  5. ^ Jack Leaver. "Places That Are Gone – Tommy Keene | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  6. ^ "City Paper, October 19, 1984 | Dig DC". dcplislandora.wrlc.org. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  7. ^ "Tommy Keene at CBGB (03-28-1990)". The Mckenzie Tapes. March 28, 2020. Archived from the original on September 26, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  8. ^ "Tommy Keene 6/30/58 – 11/22/17 – Tommy Keene". Tommykeene.com. November 23, 2017.
  9. ^ "Top 200 Albums". Billboard. July 1, 1986. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
[edit]
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