Keb Mo

Biography

Kevin Roosevelt Moore, known professionally as Keb' Mo', was born on October 3, 1951, in Compton, South Los Angeles, to parents originally from the deep South. He began his musical journey at age eleven, playing steel drums with the Young Calitino Steel Drum band, a popular local calypso group in South Los Angeles that performed at hotel gigs and private parties until he was nineteen. His professional breakthrough came at age twenty-one when he was hired by Jefferson Airplane violinist Papa John Creach, with whom he would work for several years and co-write the instrumental "Git Fiddler" for Jefferson Starship's 1975 album "Red Octopus," which reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart. For approximately twenty years, Keb' Mo' worked primarily behind the scenes as a respected guitarist, songwriter, and arranger, playing with blues legends such as Albert Collins and Big Joe Turner, while also recording a one-off album in 1980 under his birth name, Kevin Moore.

Keb' Mo' emerged into the spotlight in 1994 with his self-titled debut album under his now-iconic stage name, which was given to him by drummer Quentin Dennard. This album won the W.C. Handy Award for Best Country and Acoustic Blues Album in 1995, followed by his 1996 album "Just Like You" featuring special guests Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne, which earned him his first Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album. Throughout the late 1990s and 2000s, he maintained a prolific recording career, releasing albums including "Slow Down" (1998), "Suitcase" (2006), "Live and Mo'" (2009), and "The Reflection" (2011). A career highlight occurred in 2017 when he collaborated with his guitar idol Taj Mahal on the album "TajMo," which won his fourth Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album.

Keb' Mo' has cultivated a reputation as a modern master of American roots music, known for his genre-bending approach that connects traditional Delta blues with contemporary influences including folk, rock, jazz, pop, and country. With five Grammy Awards, fourteen Blues Foundation Awards, and a groundbreaking career spanning nearly fifty years, he has become a bridge between past and present in American blues music. Currently residing in Nashville, Tennessee, he continues to be recognized for his evocative playing and singing, and has demonstrated his commitment to charitable causes by donating 5% of his royalties from the "BLUESAmericana" album to charity.

Fun Facts

• At age 21, Keb' Mo' co-wrote 'Git Fiddler' for Jefferson Starship's 'Red Octopus' album, which became his first platinum record and reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart in 1975.
• His stage name 'Keb' Mo'' was given to him by drummer Quentin Dennard in the early 1980s, and he adopted it professionally in 1994 when he introduced himself to the world with his self-titled debut album.
• Keb' Mo' performed at the White House in 2012 for an event called 'Red, White and Blues,' and has performed at prestigious venues including the 2010 Crossroads Guitar Festival alongside many other renowned guitarists.
• He began his musical career at age eleven playing steel drums in a local calypso band and worked in that group until age nineteen before transitioning to blues and other genres.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Papa John Creach - Jefferson Airplane violinist who hired Keb' Mo' at age 21 and became his first significant professional mentor (Four albums with Papa John Creach; co-wrote 'Git Fiddler' for Jefferson Starship's 'Red Octopus') [Early 1970s]
• Albert Collins - Legendary blues musician who influenced Keb' Mo's blues development through collaboration (Various blues performances and recordings) [1970s-1980s]
• Big Joe Turner - Blues legend with whom Keb' Mo' played, contributing to his blues education (Various blues performances) [1970s-1980s]

Key Collaborators

• Taj Mahal - Guitar idol and collaborative partner on joint album project (TajMo album) [2017]
• Bonnie Raitt - Special guest on album featuring duet/collaboration (Just Like You album) [1996]
• Jackson Browne - Special guest on album featuring collaboration (Just Like You album) [1996]
• Dr. John - Blues pianist who joined Keb' Mo' for television performance (Sessions at West 54th performance) [1997]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Better Than Ever [Feat. Wendy Moten] (Room On The Porch)
2. Will The Circle Be Unbroken - Live
3. The Weight - Live
4. Am I Wrong (Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues: Keb' Mo')
5. Life Is Beautiful (Suitcase)
6. Room On The Porch [Feat. Ruby Amanfu]
7. Room On The Porch [Feat. Ruby Amanfu] (Room On The Porch)
8. My Darling My Dear (Room On The Porch)
9. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out (Room On The Porch)
10. I Remember You (Oklahoma)

External Links

• Spotify
• [Wikipedia](Not found in search results)