Robert Earl Keen, Junior (born January 11 1956 in Houston, Texas) [1] is a Texan singer-songwriter. He is popular with traditional country music fans, folk music fans, the college radio crowd and alt-country fans. Keen currently resides in Kerrville, Texas and maintains a ranch in Medina, Texas.

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Early life

Growing up, Keen was interested in music, sports, movies and writing. Keen graduated from Sharpstown High School in 1974. ^[2]

College

Keen attended Texas A&M University, where he majored in English. Disappointed in the College Station music scene, he began playing guitar and learned to read and write music, basing his style on folk, country, blues and rock roots. In 1974 he rented a house from landlord Jack Boyett, where his neighbor was a then-unknown Lyle Lovett. The two became fast friends and performed together on the front porch many evenings. This eventually grew into inspiration for a song entitled "The Front Porch Song", which both would add to their repertoire.

Career

In 1980, Keen graduated from Texas A&M and moved to Austin, Texas, where he began writing for a newspaper. Soon he was performing in Austin's nightclubs and live music venues, building a solid following. In 1984 he financed the recording of his own EP and distributed it regionally. In 1986, He moved to Nashville, Tennessee. Discouraged by the polish of the new country sound and unable to land a recording contract, Keen moved back to Austin. In 1989 he released his national debut album, West Textures . His 1993 release, A Bigger Piece Of Sky , gained wider acclaim, both amongst fans and critics. Over the next ten years, Keen would continue to write, record, perform and tour. In 1994 he performed in the musical Chippy . Keen's 1997 album Picnic features a picture of Keen's own car in flames at Willie Nelson's 1974 Fourth of July picnic/concert. He tells the story on the No. 2 Live Dinner album in the introduction to the song "The Road Goes on Forever."

Band

• Rich Brotherton - guitar
• Bill Whitbeck - bass
• Tom Van Schaik - drums
• Marty Muse - steel guitar

Discography

Year	Album	Chart Positions
		US Country	US	US Heat
1984	No Kinda Dancer
1988	The Live Album
1989	West Textures
1993	A Bigger Piece of Sky
1994	Gringo Honeymoon
1996	No. 2 Live Dinner
1997	Picnic		160	4
1998	Walking Distance		149	3
2001	Gravitational Forces	10	111	1
2003	Farm Fresh Onions	24	172	9
	The Party Never Ends	68
2004	Live from Austin TX
2005	What I Really Mean	21	122	1
2006	Live at the Ryman
	Best
2008	Marfa After Dark

References

1. Henkle, Doug, "FolkLib Index"
2. HISD Connect - Alumni