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{{BLP sources|date=July 2024}}
⚫
'''Mr. Whitekeys''', also known as '''W. Keys''', is a musician, recording artist, entrepreneur, writer, media personality and [[ornithologist]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Alaska]]. He was the owner and operator of a nightclub called the Fly By Night Club, located in the [[Spenard]] neighborhood of [[Anchorage]], from 1980 to 2006. In part due to his flamboyant public persona and penchant for humor (and to a more limited extent, penchant for self-promotion), he figures prominently in the modern history and folklore of Spenard. He has released sporadic recordings over many years, starting in 1972, mostly under the band name '''The Fabulous Spamtones'''.

⚫
'''Mr. Whitekeys''', also known as '''W. Keys''', is a musician, recording artist, entrepreneur, writer, media personality and [[ornithologist]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Alaska]]. He was the owner and operator of a nightclub called the Fly By Night Club, located in the [[Spenard, Anchorage|Spenard]] neighborhood of [[Anchorage]], from 1980 to 2006. In part due to his flamboyant public persona and penchant for humor (and to a more limited extent, penchant for self-promotion), he figures prominently in the modern history and folklore of Spenard.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Freedman |first=Donna |date=2019-06-12 |title=Farewell to the 'Follies': Mr. Whitekeys says his shows are ending — for good, this time |url=https://www.adn.com/arts/2019/06/12/farewell-to-the-follies-mr-whitekeys-says-his-shows-are-ending-for-good-this-time/ |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=Anchorage Daily News |language=en}}</ref> He has released sporadic recordings starting in 1972, mostly under the band name '''The Fabulous Spamtones'''.


==Biography==
==Biography==
Mr. Whitekeys spent his early years living in South Dakota, Iowa, and Arizona. He came to Alaska in 1970 with a friend, who left Alaska shortly afterward. Not long after his arrival, he began working as a bar band musician, particularly for Mike Gordon at his new Spenard establishment [[Chilkoot Charlie's]]. He coined what became Chilkoot Charlie's slogan, "We cheat the other guy and pass the savings on to you."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.koots.com/history.htm|title=The History of Chilkoot Charlie's|year=2010|publisher=Chilkoot Charlie's|location=Anchorage|accessdate=October 9, 2011}}</ref> Gordon's success with this bar led to a short-lived attempt on his part to expand into a statewide empire, as he established Chilkoot Charlie's locations in [[Girdwood]] and [[Fairbanks]] during the mid-1970s. Whitekeys originally came to Fairbanks as part of this expansion and remained for several years, where he played in numerous "Two Street" bars during the [[construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System]] and the [[boom and bust|economic boom]] which accompanied it.
Mr. Whitekeys spent his early years living in [[South Dakota]], [[Iowa]], and [[Arizona]]. He graduated Duke University and came to Alaska in 1970 with a friend.<ref name=":0" /> He began working as a bar band musician, particularly for Mike Gordon at his new Spenard establishment Chilkoot Charlie's. He coined what became Chilkoot Charlie's slogan, "We cheat the other guy and pass the savings on to you."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.koots.com/history.htm|title=The History of Chilkoot Charlie's|year=2010|publisher=Chilkoot Charlie's|location=Anchorage|accessdate=October 9, 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905055625/http://www.koots.com/history.htm|archive-date=September 5, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Gordon's success with this bar led to a short-lived attempt on his part to expand into [[Girdwood, Anchorage|Girdwood]] and [[Fairbanks]] during the mid-1970s. Whitekeys originally came to Fairbanks as part of this expansion where he played in "Two Street" bars during the [[construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System]] and the [[boom and bust|economic boom]] which accompanied it.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}


=== Nightclub ownership and ''Whale Fat Follies'' ===
After many years spent playing throughout Alaska, and later a short-lived stint in the [[Ballard, Seattle|Ballard]] neighborhood of [[Seattle]], he started his own nightclub, the Fly By Night Club, which opened for business on July 31, 1980.<ref name="FlyByNightHist">{{cite web|url=http://www.flybynightclub.com/hist_club.html|title=The History Of A Sleazy Bar In Spenard, Alaska|publisher=Fly By Night Club|location=Anchorage|accessdate=December 14, 2010}}</ref> The Fly By Night Club, along with the Flying Machine, were the last occupants in a historic building on the eastern shore of Lake Spenard, originally the home of the Idle Hour Supper Club and not far from the site of [[Joe Spenard]]'s original resort. The building was demolished in 1984 to make way for a large hotel, currently the [[Millennium Alaskan Hotel]].<ref name="FlyByNightHist"/>
After playing throughout Alaska, and later a short-lived stint in the [[Ballard, Seattle|Ballard]] neighborhood of [[Seattle]], he started his own nightclub, the Fly By Night Club, which opened for business on July 31, 1980.<ref name="FlyByNightHist">{{cite web|url=http://www.flybynightclub.com/hist_club.html|title=The History Of A Sleazy Bar In Spenard, Alaska|publisher=Fly By Night Club|location=Anchorage|accessdate=December 14, 2010}}{{Dead link|date=July 2024}}</ref> The Fly By Night Club, along with the Flying Machine, were the last occupants in a historic building on the eastern shore of Lake Spenard, originally the home of the Idle Hour Supper Club and not far from the site of [[Joe Spenard]]'s original resort. The building was demolished in 1984 to make way for a large hotel, currently the Lakefront Hotel.<ref name="FlyByNightHist" />


Whitekeys moved the club further up Spenard Road, one block north of Spenard's post office. Both locations of the club were described in advertisements featuring an extensive list of past building occupants, with the motto "Going out of business regularly in the same location for over 30 years."<ref name="FlyByNightHist"/> The primary attractions of the club, described by Whitekeys in terms of the need to be different, were a food menu heavily based on [[Spam (food)|Spam]] dishes and a schedule throughout the year of shows such as ''Springtime In Spenard'', ''The Whale Fat Follies'', ''The Freeze-Up Follies'' and ''Christmas In Spenard''.
Whitekeys moved the club further up Spenard Road, one block north of Spenard's post office. Both locations of the club were described in advertisements featuring an extensive list of past building occupants, with the motto "Going out of business regularly in the same location for over 30 years."<ref name="FlyByNightHist" /> Described by Whitekeys as an effort to be different, the primary attractions of the club were a food menu heavily based on [[Spam (food)|Spam]] dishes and shows such as ''Springtime In Spenard'', ''The Whale Fat Follies'', ''The Freeze-Up Follies'' and ''Christmas In Spenard''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Billington |first=Linda |date=2016-06-01 |title=He's baaaaack: Mr. Whitekeys and 'The Whale Fat Follies' return to Spenard |url=https://www.adn.com/culture/article/hes-baaaaack-mr-whitekeys-and-whale-fat-follies-return-spenard/2014/06/13/ |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=Anchorage Daily News |language=en}}</ref>


''The Whale Fat Follies'' was performed from June to September and was largely geared towards tourists, being advertised as "the Alaskan show The Department Of Tourism does NOT want you to see." The off-season shows tended to be more topical, catering to locals. The club operated until September 9, 2006. Whitekeys sold the establishment to Allen Choy, the owner of a popular South Anchorage nightclub, and his partner Jeff Matosky. They reopened the club as Players House of Rock.
''The Whale Fat Follies'' was performed from June to September and was largely geared towards tourists, being advertised as "the Alaskan show The Department Of Tourism does NOT want you to see." The off-season shows tended to be more topical, catering to locals. The club operated until September 9, 2006.<ref name=":0" /> Whitekeys sold the establishment to Allen Choy, the owner of a popular South Anchorage nightclub, and his partner Jeff Matosky. They reopened the club as Players House of Rock.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}
<!--This needs updating, as the building is now the Tap Root Cafe, and Whitekeys has returned to the building as a performer in a similar vein to what he was doing at the Fly By Night. However, since either Whitekeys himself or his "social media consultant" have vandalized this article repeatedly to the point of making it a hagiography, I no longer have any real interest in maintaining it beyond what's necessary.-->


Following the sale of the Fly By Night Club, Whitekeys performed at private events and professional conferences. Between 2011 and 2019 he resumed the Whale of Fat Follies first at a bar called Taproot and later at the Hard Rock Cafe.<ref name=":0" />
Whitekeys maintains a steady public presence, at least in Anchorage. He regularly contributes humor-tinged commentaries to ''The Alaska Almanac: Facts About Alaska'', [[Alaska (magazine)|''Alaska'' magazine]] and the newscasts of Anchorage television station [[KTUU]]. He is also the president of the Anchorage [[Audubon Society]], listed on their website as "W. Keys." He performs with various musical acts in the Anchorage area as a keyboard player.

=== Later career ===
Whitekeys has contributed commentaries to ''The Alaska Almanac: Facts About Alaska'', [[Alaska (magazine)|''Alaska'']] magazine and the newscasts of Anchorage television station [[KTUU]].{{citation needed|date=July 2024}} He is also the president of the Anchorage [[Audubon Society]].<ref name=":0" /> In 2024, Whitekeys published ''The Voyage of The Alaska Union'', about a 19th century Alaskan gold rush expedition.<ref>{{Cite web |last=James |first=David |date=2024-02-10 |title=Book review: Whitekeys uncovers a mostly unknown gold rush trek in 'The Voyage of The Alaska Union' |url=https://www.adn.com/arts/books/2024/02/10/book-review-whitekeys-uncovers-a-mostly-unknown-gold-rush-trek-in-the-voyage-of-the-alaska-union/ |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=Anchorage Daily News |language=en}}</ref>


==Discography==
==Discography==
[[File:Plaque in Fairbanks Alaska.jpg|thumb|Plaque in Golden Heart Plaza in downtown [[Fairbanks]], containing names of Fairbanks residents. In his book ''Mr. Whitekeys' Alaska Bizarre: Direct from the Whale Fat Follies Revue'', Whitekeys points out that a man named "Dick Flopalotofit" is listed next to a man named "Stubby" on the plaque.]]
[[File:Plaque in Fairbanks Alaska.jpg|thumb|Plaque in Golden Heart Plaza in downtown [[Fairbanks]], containing names of Fairbanks residents. In his book ''Mr. Whitekeys' Alaska Bizarre: Direct from the Whale Fat Follies Revue'', Whitekeys points out that a man named "Dick Flopalotofit" is listed next to a man named "Stubby" on the plaque.]]
{{Inc-musong}}
{{Inc-musong|date=October 2021}}
*(as Mr. Whitekeys & The Fabulous Spamtones)
*(as Mr. Whitekeys & The Fabulous Spamtones)
**''Mr. Whitekeys & The Fabulous Spamtones''
**''Mr. Whitekeys & The Fabulous Spamtones''
**''The Whale Fat Follies!''
**''The Whale Fat Follies!''
**''It's Not Easy Bein' Sleazy''
**''It's Not Easy Bein' Sleazy''

Song Tracks<br />
1. Viva Spenard<br />
2. I'm My Own Grandpa<br />
3. My Favorite Things<br />
4. Schedule D<br />
5. The History of Cereal<br />
6. Blame It On El Nino<br />
7. The Wrestling Song<br />
8. Martha Goes Camping<br />
9. Ride On Loren Leman<br />
10. There's No Nuggets Like Moose Nuggets<br />
11. Jewel<br />
12. Here Comes Menopause<br />
13. The Lewinsky Sisters'<br />
14. The Moose Nugget Blues<br />
15. Don't Let Me Go To Costco<br />
16. Fishita<br />
17. Orange Blossom Special

*(as Mr. Whitekeys featuring Kenny Blackwell)
*(as Mr. Whitekeys featuring Kenny Blackwell)
**''The Bluesaholics''
**''The Bluesaholics''
Line 30: Line 55:
==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==
* ''Mr. Whitekeys' Alaska Bizarre: Direct from the Whale Fat Follies Revue''
* ''Mr. Whitekeys' Alaska Bizarre: Direct from the Whale Fat Follies Revue''
* [[DVD]]: ''Alaska: The First 10,000 Years'' (2008)<ref>{{cite news|title=Whitekeys returns with Alaska 'history' video|first=Mike|last=Dunham|url=http://www.adn.com/2008/11/09/583374/whitekeys-returns-with-alaska.html|newspaper=Anchorage Daily News|publisher=The McClatchy Company|location=Anchorage|date=November 9, 2008|page=D1|accessdate=December 14, 2010}}</ref>
* [[DVD]]: ''Alaska: The First 10,000 Years'' (2008)<ref>{{cite news|title=Whitekeys returns with Alaska 'history' video|first=Mike|last=Dunham|url=http://www.adn.com/2008/11/09/583374/whitekeys-returns-with-alaska.html|newspaper=Anchorage Daily News|publisher=The McClatchy Company|location=Anchorage|date=November 9, 2008|page=D1|accessdate=December 14, 2010}}{{Dead link|date=July 2024}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
Line 36: Line 61:


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.mrwhitekeys.com/HOME.html Official website]
* [http://www.mrwhitekeys.com/ Official website]
* [http://www.flybynightclub.com/index.html Archive of Fly By Night Club website]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BbyEbozR7g YouTube] - Whitekeys and "[[Sarah Palin]]" star in "[[Girls Just Want to Have Fun|Girls Just Wanna Have Guns]]"

{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Whitekeys, Mr.
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American businessman and musician
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1947
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Whitekeys, Mr.}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Whitekeys, Mr.}}
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:20th-century writers]]
[[Category:20th-century American writers]]
[[Category:21st-century writers]]
[[Category:21st-century American writers]]
[[Category:American filmmakers]]
[[Category:American keyboardists]]
[[Category:American keyboardists]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Alaska]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Alaska]]

Latest revision as of 23:06, 16 September 2024

Mr. Whitekeys, also known as W. Keys, is a musician, recording artist, entrepreneur, writer, media personality and ornithologist in the U.S. state of Alaska. He was the owner and operator of a nightclub called the Fly By Night Club, located in the Spenard neighborhood of Anchorage, from 1980 to 2006. In part due to his flamboyant public persona and penchant for humor (and to a more limited extent, penchant for self-promotion), he figures prominently in the modern history and folklore of Spenard.[1] He has released sporadic recordings starting in 1972, mostly under the band name The Fabulous Spamtones.

Biography

[edit]

Mr. Whitekeys spent his early years living in South Dakota, Iowa, and Arizona. He graduated Duke University and came to Alaska in 1970 with a friend.[1] He began working as a bar band musician, particularly for Mike Gordon at his new Spenard establishment Chilkoot Charlie's. He coined what became Chilkoot Charlie's slogan, "We cheat the other guy and pass the savings on to you."[2] Gordon's success with this bar led to a short-lived attempt on his part to expand into Girdwood and Fairbanks during the mid-1970s. Whitekeys originally came to Fairbanks as part of this expansion where he played in "Two Street" bars during the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System and the economic boom which accompanied it.[citation needed]

Nightclub ownership and Whale Fat Follies

[edit]

After playing throughout Alaska, and later a short-lived stint in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, he started his own nightclub, the Fly By Night Club, which opened for business on July 31, 1980.[3] The Fly By Night Club, along with the Flying Machine, were the last occupants in a historic building on the eastern shore of Lake Spenard, originally the home of the Idle Hour Supper Club and not far from the site of Joe Spenard's original resort. The building was demolished in 1984 to make way for a large hotel, currently the Lakefront Hotel.[3]

Whitekeys moved the club further up Spenard Road, one block north of Spenard's post office. Both locations of the club were described in advertisements featuring an extensive list of past building occupants, with the motto "Going out of business regularly in the same location for over 30 years."[3] Described by Whitekeys as an effort to be different, the primary attractions of the club were a food menu heavily based on Spam dishes and shows such as Springtime In Spenard, The Whale Fat Follies, The Freeze-Up Follies and Christmas In Spenard.[4]

The Whale Fat Follies was performed from June to September and was largely geared towards tourists, being advertised as "the Alaskan show The Department Of Tourism does NOT want you to see." The off-season shows tended to be more topical, catering to locals. The club operated until September 9, 2006.[1] Whitekeys sold the establishment to Allen Choy, the owner of a popular South Anchorage nightclub, and his partner Jeff Matosky. They reopened the club as Players House of Rock.[citation needed]

Following the sale of the Fly By Night Club, Whitekeys performed at private events and professional conferences. Between 2011 and 2019 he resumed the Whale of Fat Follies first at a bar called Taproot and later at the Hard Rock Cafe.[1]

Later career

[edit]

Whitekeys has contributed commentaries to The Alaska Almanac: Facts About Alaska, Alaska magazine and the newscasts of Anchorage television station KTUU.[citation needed] He is also the president of the Anchorage Audubon Society.[1] In 2024, Whitekeys published The Voyage of The Alaska Union, about a 19th century Alaskan gold rush expedition.[5]

Discography

[edit]
Plaque in Golden Heart Plaza in downtown Fairbanks, containing names of Fairbanks residents. In his book Mr. Whitekeys' Alaska Bizarre: Direct from the Whale Fat Follies Revue, Whitekeys points out that a man named "Dick Flopalotofit" is listed next to a man named "Stubby" on the plaque.
  • (as Mr. Whitekeys & The Fabulous Spamtones)
    • Mr. Whitekeys & The Fabulous Spamtones
    • The Whale Fat Follies!
    • It's Not Easy Bein' Sleazy

Song Tracks
1. Viva Spenard
2. I'm My Own Grandpa
3. My Favorite Things
4. Schedule D
5. The History of Cereal
6. Blame It On El Nino
7. The Wrestling Song
8. Martha Goes Camping
9. Ride On Loren Leman
10. There's No Nuggets Like Moose Nuggets
11. Jewel
12. Here Comes Menopause
13. The Lewinsky Sisters'
14. The Moose Nugget Blues
15. Don't Let Me Go To Costco
16. Fishita
17. Orange Blossom Special

  • (as Mr. Whitekeys featuring Kenny Blackwell)
    • The Bluesaholics
  • (as Dick & Dubya)
    • "The Liar Sleeps Tonight" single (2004). This song became popular that year on Dr. Demento's show.[6]
  • (on various artists compilations)
    • Livin' In Rhythm: Alaska Celebrates "Sourdough" Mike McDonald
    • Dr. Demento's Basement Tapes 9 (2001) contains "Martha Goes Camping"[7]

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Mr. Whitekeys' Alaska Bizarre: Direct from the Whale Fat Follies Revue
  • DVD: Alaska: The First 10,000 Years (2008)[8]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e Freedman, Donna (2019-06-12). "Farewell to the 'Follies': Mr. Whitekeys says his shows are ending — for good, this time". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  2. ^ "The History of Chilkoot Charlie's". Anchorage: Chilkoot Charlie's. 2010. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved October 9, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c "The History Of A Sleazy Bar In Spenard, Alaska". Anchorage: Fly By Night Club. Retrieved December 14, 2010.[dead link‍]
  4. ^ Billington, Linda (2016-06-01). "He's baaaaack: Mr. Whitekeys and 'The Whale Fat Follies' return to Spenard". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  5. ^ James, David (2024-02-10). "Book review: Whitekeys uncovers a mostly unknown gold rush trek in 'The Voyage of The Alaska Union'". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  6. ^ Niva, Josh (October 29, 2004). "'Cheesy little song' from Spenard makes national airwaves". Anchorage Daily News. Anchorage: The McClatchy Company. p. F1.
  7. ^ "Dr. Demento discography". dmdb.org. Retrieved December 14, 2010.
  8. ^ Dunham, Mike (November 9, 2008). "Whitekeys returns with Alaska 'history' video". Anchorage Daily News. Anchorage: The McClatchy Company. p. D1. Retrieved December 14, 2010.[dead link‍]
[edit]
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