Every
Soul’s a Star on New Dave Keller CD, Due from Catfood Records on
October 19
Label Debut CD
Produced by Grammy-Winner
Jim Gaines
EL PASO, TX – Catfood Records announces the October 19
release of Every Soul’s a Star, the label debut from acclaimed
soul/blues singer and guitarist Dave Keller. Produced by Grammy-winner Jim
Gaines (Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Luther Allison) and
recorded at Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas, Every Soul’s a Star showcases
10 original songs, plus a scintillating cover of the Aretha Franklin classic, “Baby,
I Love You.”
Keller’s soulful vocals are beautifully supported by The
Rays, which includes not only legendary Motown guitarist Johnny McGee, but also
Bob Trenchard – bass; Dan Ferguson - Hammond B3, Wurlitzer, keyboards; Richy
Puga – drums; Mike Middleton – trumpet; Nick Flood - tenor and baritone sax,
plus the heavenly voices of Janelle Thompson and Shakara Weston - background
vocals; and Christopher Serrano – percussion.
Catfood label head Bob Trenchard
calls Dave Keller, “The most-talented songwriter I've ever worked with,” and it
was he who suggested Jim Gaines to produce the new project.
“This record, for me, is about
honoring the star in each person,” Dave Keller says. “The songs are about both
love and heartbreak, of course, but also speak about the beauty in each of us,
as unique individuals and as people standing up together. This record feels
like my strongest yet. I felt more at ease singing than I've ever felt in the
studio. That comfort helped me sing more dynamically than I've ever sung before
on record.”
Every Soul’s a Star is also the first time Keller had the chance to work with the
Catfood Records “house band,” The Rays, comprised of all superb musicians with
a boatload of experience backing up many of the label’s artists on record,
including Blues Music Award-winner Johnny Rawls.
“What really impressed me about The
Rays was how much heart they put into this record,” Keller declares. “They've
played on tons of records, and they could easily have just done it as a
paint-by-numbers affair. I love how everyone put so much of themselves into the
record. I could tell that they really dug the songs, and really cared about
doing them justice. I love how you can hear all their individual ideas on the
record, and feel their personalities, their souls, and yet everything is in
service to the songs.
“It was a special treat working
with Johnny McGhee, who has played guitar on countless great soul albums. He
started out as a kid – only 12 years old – touring with The Five Stairsteps,
and ended up in the band LTD. To each of my songs, Johnny brought the coolest,
most beautiful little soul licks. He has an amazing ability to find just the
right licks and riffs that pull the song together into something perfect.”
Keller is equally effusive in his
praise of producer Jim Gaines. “Jim Gaines is a magician. He really listened
to my songs, really got into the meaning of the lyrics, and was able to help me
and the band bring them alive with the most heart possible. He's an expert at
making songs really shine. I felt blessed to get to work with him.”
Keller also has a special place in
his heart for Johnny Rawls, who introduced him to Catfood Records owner and
bassist Bob Trenchard about five years ago at the Blues Music Awards. “Bob and
I had a conversation then about making a record together, but it took ‘til now
for the time to be just right,” he recalls. “As my friend the late deep soul
singer Mighty Sam McClain used to say, ‘It may
not come when you want it, but it always comes right on time.’”
Recording in Texas was a new
cultural experience for Keller, a native New Englander. “Working at Sonic Ranch
was really fun. I'd never been to west Texas, so it was a real adventure for
me. From the kindness of the ladies who made us breakfast and lunch every day,
to the heat – 105 degrees the day I arrived -- to the giant Tarantula Hawks (a
kind of wasp) that hovered in the bushes outside the studio. All the little
details inspired me and energized me.”
About Dave Keller
Dave Keller is an award-winning,
triple-threat: an outstanding singer, an intense guitarist and a talented
songwriter. Fueled by his love of deep Southern soul and blues, his
performances ring out with passion, integrity, and an ability to break down the
barriers between performer and audience.
Ever since renowned guitarist
Ronnie Earl chose Dave Keller to sing on his album Living In The
Light, Keller's star has been on the rise. In just a few short years,
Keller has been nominated for a Blues Music Award for Best Soul/Blues Album,
won the International Blues Challenge Best Self-Released CD Award, and been
chosen for Downbeat's Best Recordings of the Year.
A bit of a late bloomer, Keller
grew up in Massachusetts, loving music, but not picking up guitar until age 16,
and not singing in his first band until age 20. But blessed with mentors including
deep soul singer Mighty Sam McClain, mystical soul guitarist Robert Ward,
acoustic blues master Paul Rishell and soul/blues man Johnny Rawls, Keller made
up for lost time.
Relocating to icy Vermont in 1993,
Keller found fertile ground to grow his audience, and has become a household
name there. Famous for his live-wire shows, Keller can often be found fifty
feet out in the crowd, teasing fiery licks from his trusty Stratocaster and
singing off-mike as the audience sings along.
Not one to rest on his laurels,
Keller has been expanding his base beyond New England these past few years,
performing at some of the biggest festivals in the East, including the North
Atlantic Blues Festival, the PA Blues Fest, and the Discover Jazz Festival. He
has also performed at the Blues Music Awards ceremony twice, accompanying
Ronnie Earl, and Johnny Rawls (with whom Keller frequently tours).
