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John Paul Keith will perform at Barley’s Tap Room and Pizzeria on East Jackson Avenue in Knoxville Aug. 19.
By J.J. KINDRED
J.Kindred@theknoxvillejournal.com
As the son of a truck driver, John Paul Keith learned to sing in church and started playing the guitar when he was 10, according to his website.
Growing up on country and gospel music, Keith’s father gave him an acoustic guitar and a copy of Chuck Berry’s “Golden Hits” and “The Best of B.B. King.”
As he started to get more interested in different kinds of music, Keith started to be a big draw when he was 17, attracting big crowds in Knoxville as part of the Viceroys. He quit after they signed an independent deal because he didn’t like the band’s direction.
Keith, who was born in Knoxville, moved to Nashville and formed his own band, and was signed to a major label shortly after.
After a period of being burnt out in the music business and considering himself washed up at the age of 29, Keith started writing songs and playing the guitar again, and moved to Memphis. It was there that he met drummer John Argroves and bassist Mark E. Stuart. The trio decided to play cover songs in local bars, and added organist and piano player Al Gamble. Taking their name from the foundation of blues and rock and roll, they named themselves One Four Fives.
The group gave Keith the one thing he claimed he was missing for all those years — a group of sympathetic musicians who could match his talent and integrity. The band built a loyal following in Memphis and built a reputation as one of the city’s most intense and flamboyant bar bands.
His 2009 debut album, “Spills and Thrills,” features songs that give a 50s and 60s oldies sound. In addition to releasing “Spills And Thrills,” Keith went on to tour the country opening for Lucero, a Memphis band, and then to Europe with garage-punk legend Jack Oblivian.
The last two years have kept Keith and the One Four Fives busy, releasing “Live At The Hi-Tone” and two seven inch-singles.
Keith recently released his second album, “The Man That Time Forgot,” for Big Legal Mess Records.
He took time to do a telephone interview with The Knoxville Journal to talk about his career and his concert in his hometown.
Knoxville Journal: Who were some of your musical influences growing up?
John Paul Keith: Well, you know like most people, you go through different phases. Growing up around the house, all we heard was country music, but I decided that I was interested in guitar and I mentioned something to my dad about it. He said if you’re going to play guitar then you need to hear B.B. King and Chuck Berry, so he got me a couple of those records. I was into that for a while and got older, and in high school I wanted to fit in and started to listen to hard rock, metal, alternative and everything that all the other kids were listening to. I was about 17 or 18, and had a revelation that some of that old country and rockabilly and early rock n’ roll was where my heart was, so I pursued that for a long time.
KJ: What kind of message do you try to send through your music?
JPK: I’m not really the kind of guy that has a message. I just take it one song at a time and try to write the best song I can. I don’t really have an overall message.
KJ: Do you try to have your own style, or is there someone’s style that you try to emulate?
JPK: I don’t particularly think that my voice sounds close enough to one person to be able to emulate someone. I’m stuck with the voice that I have. That kind of makes me have to do my own thing.
KJ: Did you always want to be a musician? Did you have a backup plan?
JPK: No, I’ve never had a backup plan. I started playing guitar when I was about 10 or 11 years old. My family tried to get me to go to college, but I just wouldn’t do it. By the time I was 18 or 19 years old I was playing with the Viceroys. Once you start playing to a crowd full of people who are really into what you’re doing, it’s really hard to be interested in anything else.
KJ: Is there one style that you favor over another?
JPK: No, I like it all. I’d say my default mode, when I sit down and play the guitar or hum a melody trying to come up with a little tune or something, is country. That’s what I started in, but not the only thing I do. I’m kind of conscious of not doing that all the time. Sometimes I get interested in a different style and try to attempt different things. That’s what this new record is all about — trying different things.
KJ: Is there any dream artist or group that you would like to perform with?
JPK: Oh gosh, most of them are dead! (laughs) At this point in my life, I will play with anyone that will draw a crowd. I’m kind of past the age where I have a whole lot of hero worship. I don’t see life in those terms anymore. I have friends that will hang on every word Bob Dylan says, and I just don’t care about things like that anymore.
KJ: What should people expect from your show?
JPK: There will be a lot of guitar playing, and we will try to do the best we can. We’re not the kind of show where we expect people to hang on every word. We want people to come and run up a big tab, and do a little dancing and just have a good night out. We’ll give you a good reason to get a babysitter.
John Paul Keith will perform at Barley’s Tap Room and Pizzeria on East Jackson Avenue in Knoxville Aug. 19. Doors open at 8 p.m. with showtime at 9 p.m. Tickets are $5. For further information, call (865) 521-0092.
