Key's Biography

Key has shared the stage with

Buddy Guy and Junior Wells

Albert Collins, Charlie Sexton, Karla Bonoff

John Hammond, Robert Cray, Joe Ely

Gary P. Nunn, Townes Van Zandt,
Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown

Asleep At The Wheel, The Fabulous Thunderbirds

Chris Duarte, Ian Moore and many, many others.

Key is an acclaimed highlight at various festivals, including

The London City Limits Festival

New Orleans Jazz Festival

Austin River Festival

Thirsty Ear Festival

Portland Waterfront Blues Benefit

NYC Film Festival etc.

He has worked as a Motown session player in Los Angeles, headlined at the Astoria in London,in NYC at the Bitter End. He played all over in New Orleans where he sat in on sessions with producer Daniel Lanois (Bob Dylan: Time Out of Mind, U2: Joshua Tree) and in Austin, including record attendance Friday night gigs at the famous Black Cat Lounge.

It was in Austin that Key's music caught the attention of the producer Bob Johnston (Bob Dylan: Bring It All Back Home through Nashville Skyline) who teamed him up with Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon of the famed SRV's band "Double Trouble" for an album of Key's original music.

CREDITS.....

Shared the stage with Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, Charlie Sexton, Karla Bonoff, John Hammond, Robert Cray, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Albert Collins, Joe Ely, Townes Van Zandt, Chris Duarte, Ian Moore and many others.

Been a session player for Motown

Headlined at the Astoria in London and London City Limits Blues Festival

Recorded with Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon (of 'Double Trouble" fame)

Been produced by Bob Johnston (Bob Dylan/Johnny Cash)

Released CD's -

ROUGH & RAW ..... Total Fiction Recording
Friday Night Road Trip ..... Red Room Records
Tiny Sparkles..... Total Fiction Recording
The Pyramid Session ~ Live..... Total Fiction Recording

Every gig is a launch completely of the normal human track. There is a sense of magnetism to his music and to his persona, standing 6'6", Key's stage presence is as powerful as the music he plays.

KEY FRANCES

Key Frances began his professional music career in London, England. Within a few short months of arriving, with a UK band, Key was headlining his own music at the London City Limits Blues Festival and at the Astoria where he played on Saturday nights. His profile became so well known that immigration removed Key from the UK for visa violations.

>Key moved to New Orleans, Louisiana for a couple of years. He lived and played his music with Louisiana musicians. The band played just about every venue in New Orleans including The New Orleans Jazz Festival.

His music then bought him to Austin, Texas. Once again Key lived and played with local Texas musicians. For a period of two years they played every Austin venue and many outlining venues in Houston, Dallas, and Forth Worth. In Austin Key had record attendance for his regular Friday night gigs at the Black Cat Lounge. Key also played the Austin River Festival.

p>Key relocated to Santa Fe, New Mexico where he played the mountain communities throughout Colorado and New Mexico. Key played the Taste of Colorado Festival in Denver and the Thirsty Ear Festival in Santa Fe.

Next he moved up to San Francisco where he played with musicians from the Bay Area. They played several Marin and San Francisco venues as well as the Bolina's Music Festival. Key travelled up to Portland to play the Portland Waterfront Festival and over to New York City for the New York Film Festival.

email Key for further information

Translations
of Selected Songs
click on Flag

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