Written by Megan Wyatt
It is often said that a person never truly leaves Louisiana, and the same holds true for Kelly Keeling, international musician extraordinaire. After spending more than two decades on tour, Keeling found himself too homesick to continue and returned to his hometown — even his home neighborhood — of Lafayette.
"I missed home from the first year I left," Keeling says. "And I was going to come back the next year; another year happened, another opportunity happened — money — opportunities with money happened, and I was offered money to stay out. And one day I had enough money, and I'm like I'm going home."
If you didn't know Keeling's passion when you walked into his Lafayette home, it would become immediately apparent upon entering his living room. Framed and signed albums show where he has been in life. Six-string, 12-string and bass guitars can be found on every piece of furniture. A dull, worn trumpet stands up on its bell beside an electric keyboard, and a cello is balanced in one corner of the room. These are the instruments that have carried and will continue to carry Keeling into his future in music.
Keeling has numerous credits to his name — vocalist for Trans-Siberian Orchestra, writer for Alice Cooper's "Hey Stoopid" album, 49 albums, even a vocalist on the popular video game Guitar Hero — but he's ready to break away from the fast-paced life of fame to the slower, more familiar life of southern Louisiana. Now that he's back in Lafayette, somewhere he hasn't been since he was a teenager, he's focusing on solo work and teaching young musicians.
"After being on the road so long, I really wanted to know where I was," Keeling said. "I know where I am, and I feel safe here. Nothing's changed. Everyone's still here. It's still mellow here. It's good to be back home."
To blast himself back into the local music scene, Keeling will be performing a Beatles tribute at the inaugural Ridge Road Festival. The Beatles have always inspired him, Keeling says, and he played Paul McCartney at a Beatles Tribute Show at Bohemian Grove, an elite gentlemen's club in Monte Rio, Calif.
"That's what fueled me wanting to do this because it was just so much fun," Keeling said. "I do it well. I do McCartney and Lennon well. (People) are able to kind of forget their troubles for the day and the older generation to relive their childhood."
Keeling has collaborated with the Acadiana School of the Arts and other local musicians to put together a tribute that will do the band justice. He has even acquired some of the Beatles' original sound tracks that he will be incorporating into Saturday's show. To be more involved in his hometown community, Keeling aims to make his Beatles tribute a monthly event held at different venues around Acadiana. He wants to get different young musicians involved, too, as the Acadiana School for the Arts will be involved in Saturday's production.
"Each event will invite the school choir, gets the community involved," he says. "It's a great way for me to break into teaching because I know the Beatles very well. It's how I learned how to play, and if I'm going to teach, I want to teach the same way I learned. You can't teach somebody chords or notes and expect them to pick it up and learn songs. You teach them some Beatles songs and that sparks. Its just a lot easier to do."
In addition to The Beatles tribute from 6 to 7:30 p.m., musical guests Kim Roy, Caleb Elliot, Wayne Curtis, Chad Meaux, Greg Fain, Brent Williams, Josh Lee, Gabe McCasey, Jacques LePretre, Buddy Duchame and Sean Keating will perform between noon and midnight Saturday.
"I missed home from the first year I left," Keeling says. "And I was going to come back the next year; another year happened, another opportunity happened — money — opportunities with money happened, and I was offered money to stay out. And one day I had enough money, and I'm like I'm going home."
If you didn't know Keeling's passion when you walked into his Lafayette home, it would become immediately apparent upon entering his living room. Framed and signed albums show where he has been in life. Six-string, 12-string and bass guitars can be found on every piece of furniture. A dull, worn trumpet stands up on its bell beside an electric keyboard, and a cello is balanced in one corner of the room. These are the instruments that have carried and will continue to carry Keeling into his future in music.
Keeling has numerous credits to his name — vocalist for Trans-Siberian Orchestra, writer for Alice Cooper's "Hey Stoopid" album, 49 albums, even a vocalist on the popular video game Guitar Hero — but he's ready to break away from the fast-paced life of fame to the slower, more familiar life of southern Louisiana. Now that he's back in Lafayette, somewhere he hasn't been since he was a teenager, he's focusing on solo work and teaching young musicians.
"After being on the road so long, I really wanted to know where I was," Keeling said. "I know where I am, and I feel safe here. Nothing's changed. Everyone's still here. It's still mellow here. It's good to be back home."
To blast himself back into the local music scene, Keeling will be performing a Beatles tribute at the inaugural Ridge Road Festival. The Beatles have always inspired him, Keeling says, and he played Paul McCartney at a Beatles Tribute Show at Bohemian Grove, an elite gentlemen's club in Monte Rio, Calif.
"That's what fueled me wanting to do this because it was just so much fun," Keeling said. "I do it well. I do McCartney and Lennon well. (People) are able to kind of forget their troubles for the day and the older generation to relive their childhood."
Keeling has collaborated with the Acadiana School of the Arts and other local musicians to put together a tribute that will do the band justice. He has even acquired some of the Beatles' original sound tracks that he will be incorporating into Saturday's show. To be more involved in his hometown community, Keeling aims to make his Beatles tribute a monthly event held at different venues around Acadiana. He wants to get different young musicians involved, too, as the Acadiana School for the Arts will be involved in Saturday's production.
"Each event will invite the school choir, gets the community involved," he says. "It's a great way for me to break into teaching because I know the Beatles very well. It's how I learned how to play, and if I'm going to teach, I want to teach the same way I learned. You can't teach somebody chords or notes and expect them to pick it up and learn songs. You teach them some Beatles songs and that sparks. Its just a lot easier to do."
In addition to The Beatles tribute from 6 to 7:30 p.m., musical guests Kim Roy, Caleb Elliot, Wayne Curtis, Chad Meaux, Greg Fain, Brent Williams, Josh Lee, Gabe McCasey, Jacques LePretre, Buddy Duchame and Sean Keating will perform between noon and midnight Saturday.
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