Island groove master
Keith Ricks – Island groove master
Keith Ricks, far right, with his trio Channel Three including drummer Ray Spence and guitarist Fenton.
Keith Ricks was born in Bermuda, living there off and on for most of his childhood. His father was in the military, and the family moved around a bit. His grandparents lived in Bermuda so Keith would spend a lot of time with them.
Groove master Keith Ricks.
He graduated from high school in the Boston area and studied vocals at the Berklee College of Music in the early 70s. Berklee taught Keith “how to work”. He learned how to go into any musical situation and go to work. Keith worked in musical theater, commercials, studio work, and learned how to accomplish things by starting small.
A fellow Berklee student asked Keith to sing on a demo for his promotional work. A year later, the same engineer called Keith to come in and sing a jingle for a department store, later another one shoes sales, and soon several other jingles. Keith was paid for the jingles but didn’t realize the real value of them until he started to receive royalty checks for the jingles, even after moving to Key West. They would continue to help pay his rent.
Keith performing at the Celebration of Life for his good friend and fellow Bermuda musician Chris Case.
During the 70s in the Boston area, there were bands that played original music and developed a fan base that would follow their music and were willing to pay the cover charge to see them. The cover charge would fund the band. Bands that played covers struggled to survive. Consequently, the bands that came out of Boston had their own music and when record companies hired them, they had a repertoire of originals to work with. Keith performed in the Boston area for over five years and loved original music.
Keith was looking to relocate. He had a girlfriend that was visiting family in Homestead, Florida. She told him, “you definitely don’t want to come here, but I’m going to Key West this weekend.” She called from Key West and said you would love it here. He arrived in the summer 1983, in the middle of the very slow off-season. Keith would follow his style playing originals when he moved to Key West. He played mostly reggae and island music his originals soon became popular.
He was advised to contact Skipper Kripitz when he came to back to town in the fall. Upon returning, he made contact and rented a room from Skipper and became a part of a trio called Kopavi with Richard Tazwell. They played a mix of Reggae and Brazilian music which Keith loved.
Keith also hooked up with Steve Mello and sang in a reggae band with saxophonist Steve Murphy called Infinite Tolerance (reggae with a rock edge). Steve was the percussionist but could play anything. Tim McAlpine played guitar. They rehearsed often and started getting very popular. Steve Mello’s couldn’t control his demons (mostly alcohol) and everyone seemed to move on.
Afterwards, Keith met Smilin”’ Bob Boyd. They formed a duo called One World, playing calypso and soca music at a regular sunset gig at the Pier House. The gig paid very well and the hours were great. They performed from 1988 through 1998. By popular request they recorded their first album of original music “Island Favorites” and later a second album with a combination of originals and reggae covers, like “Red Red Wine” and “Hot, Hot, Hot”. One World would produce five more albums and became very successful.
One World music is still available at: https://oneworldkeywest.com
Keith didn’t really believe in the Hollywood “love at first sight” thing until he saw this stunning vision (Laura – his future wife) staring at him while doing a promo for a gambling boat in Key West with a bunch of radio people. A couple of weeks later, they met again and Keith started a conversation telling her how he remembered her. They began dating and soon fell in love and have been together ever since. It was love at first sight.
In the 80s, when Keith first arrived in Key West, there were five and six piece bands playing all over town. Front Street had jazz, calypso, rhythm and blues, from place to place. The music scene started to change in the mid 90s with more solo players and duos – bands soon became the exception.
Keith speaking at the Celebration of Life for his good friend and fellow Bermuda musician Chris Case.
Keith remembers the first time he heard Jimmy Buffett’s first Billboard single, “Come Monday”. He knew of Buffett’s music but really loved the song and became a Buffett fan. Keith and Bob Boyd recorded their second album Island Favorites II at Jimmy’s Shrimp Boat Sound Studio. While working at WIIS Radio on Southard Street, Jimmy Buffett sponsored a promotion for a 25-piece Steel Drum Band, and Keith got a backstage pass. While backstage, he heard someone call his name – it was Jimmy Buffet who wanted to tell Keith that he listened to Keith’s Island Music radio show all the time. Keith would often see Jimmy walking around town. He was amazed how Jimmy dressed casually in flip flops, t-shirt, and shorts and would often go unrecognized.
Keith and his current band, Channel Three play at the Perry Hotel 4-7pm on Mondays and Fridays and at the Marker Hotel 1-4pm on Sundays.
Keith loves his new trio Channel Three, performing near the Harbor at the Perry Hotel.
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