http://abacus.bates.edu/pubs/mag/96-Fall/keyes.photo.jpgHarry Keyes's name really is Harry Keyes. Well, if you ask him, he'll say it's Harry Keyes.
Keyes is not a wiseguy. He's just immersed in his calling -- his true love -- of playing the piano. So Harry Keyes it is.
For seven years, Keyes has been playing piano for the dinner crowds at local restaurants along the southwest Maine seacoast. He was loved so much by one woman, that when she died, the picture that ran with her obituary was of her and Keyes singing.
His fans have included the late Ed Muskie '36 and George and Barbara Bush. "It's a great leveler," says Keyes of the music.
Keyes plays these days at the Aquarius restaurant in Arundel, just outside Kennebunkport. He plays Friday and Saturday evenings, beginning at around 6:30 p.m. It's a bit slow on a recent night, as it's Good Friday, but the evening's still young, so Keyes is low-keyed. So low-keyed that he can play Autumn Mist and be interviewed at the same time.
Keyes is dapper in a black vest, a little grizzled-looking with short gray-white hair and a BEARD. He has a wry sense of humor, is a bit self-effacing and quite friendly. He is a real Piano Man with an extensive repertoire of songs "that people hum in the shower. Anything people remember, I can play," he says. He remembers patrons, particularly tourists, by their faces and the songs they request.
But Keyes draws some lines. He doesn't play hard rock, which probably wouldn't appeal to his audience anyway, and he has a list of what he won't do. Sinatra and Streisand may be chagrined to hear the list.
"What I don't play is My Way, The Way We Were, People (Who Love People), Evergreen, Feelings, New York, New York," he says. Nor will he play anything from the musical South Pacific or Puff the Magic Dragon.
A man has to have some limits after all. But that leaves thousands of other possibilities.
Keyes sings, too, as he does occasionally on this quiet night. He downplays his vocal ability but is actually a distinctive singer, with a growly and rumbly voice in the Louis Armstrong/Dr. John mode. It's a refreshing sound, and dispels any preconceived notion that the Piano Man will sound like a cheesy crooner, sliding around notes, talking through the lyrics -- an image indelibly etched in many minds ever since Bill Murray's take on restaurant crooners on Saturday Night Live.
Keyes is the real article. He says he has been playing piano all of his life. He began studying classical music at age ten, played in a trio in high school, and also played the piano and told stories for parties and clubs. The Malden, Massachusetts, native moved to Lewiston to attend college and then began his working career. He says, until 1980, his career involved "communications and financial things. Horrible things of that nature."
That was to change. "I left it all in 1980 to go to tropical climes and play piano," he says. Keyes went to Key West (perhaps another key to the truth behind his name) where he played the ivories for four years. In 1984, he moved to Berwick, where he lives with his wife, writer Kathleen Hargraves.
"You cannot make your living doing this," says Keyes of his piano-playing life. Even playing six or seven nights a week would not generate enough income to call it a "living," he says. But that's not the point. Keyes is at home behind the piano, playing music to match the crowd's mood, or perhaps, to create a mood. He plays smartly, spritely, grandly, elegantly, altering the tempo of a song to suit his whims and the audience. Keyes moves to the background when his fans come up to sing their favorites -- people like Wanda, who is not here tonight, but is known for her beautiful voice. Says Keyes, "I love doing this."
― dan bunnybrain (dan bunnybrain), Thursday, 28 April 2005 22:17 (twenty years ago)
Bit of a shameless plug here, but I feel I must. The top ten pop beards according to my very own Beard magazine issue 2 (out of print, so feel the rareness!)
1. Robert Wyatt
This is a beard that says, “I don’t give a shit about material things”, this is a beard that represents wisdom, wit and compassion. This is a beard belonging to one of the most singular talents this country has produced. If you’ve never listened to a Robert Wyatt song go and buy Rock Bottom. You won’t regret it. For his beautiful, vulnerable voice, amazing records and all-round brilliance, we salute you sir!
2. Moondog
Hailed as the founder of minimalism by Phillip Glass, Moondog aka Louis Hardin was a blind, homeless composer of incredible scope. He would perform on the street and in concert halls and is estimated to have written over 300 madrigals, scores for brass and string orchestras, organ and piano pieces and over 80 symphonies. What a guy and what a beard!
3. Will Oldham
Although he has changed his facial hair almost as much as his performing name, Oldham reached beard nirvana in 2003 with this fulsome backwoods preacher effort. In a recent interview Oldham explained that the ladies love his freaky facial hair. Eeeww, too much information Billy-boy.
4. Garth Hudson
The Band recorded some of the beardiest music of all time. The sublime ‘Rocking Chair’ tells of old sea-dog Willy, who almost certainly had a beard. And they all sported some fine, fine facial hair, not least eccentric keyboard genius Garth Hudson. It’s the combination of volume and the cheeky waxed ‘tache that does it.
5. ZZ Top
Legs, legs, legs? Beards, beards, beards more like! As if we would leave these guys out. You know the story: Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill sport the most famous southern fried beards in rock history, while the drummer Frank Beard is clean shaven. However, Frank has finally given in to the urge and grown a subtle blonde beard. Which makes us love ‘em all the more.
6. Kyp Malone
Our highest new entry, TV On The Radio’s imposing lead singer has blown us away with his idiosyncratic ‘fro and beard combo. Beard spies (well, those of that saw them live the other week) report that he’s shaved it down to stubble, but he deserves respect nonetheless.
7. Wayne Coyne
The Flaming Lips frontman has a handsome beard. The Flaming Lips are one of the best bands in the cosmos. These two facts are not unrelated.
8. Sam Beam
Mr Iron & Wine’s beard is a remarkable thing. It’s hella bushy yet looks as soft as pelt. In some ways it’s an extention of his sublime whisper of a voice. His touring partner also sports a great beard, complete with extravagantly waxed ‘tache. The greatest beard of the indie-folk explosion.
9. Devendra Banhart
Some question Devendra’s committment to beardiness, worrying that he’s too pretty to truly understand the ways of the beard. Tish and pish. Beards can be beautiful too. Anyone who says our freakfolk hero doesn’t know what he’s doing should listen to his glorious song, ‘A Beard For Soibhan’.
10. Marvin Gaye
Growing a beard can be a symbolic act and for Marvin Gaye it represented his transition from Motown teen idol to socially conscious innovator. And it made him look all the more handsome. Result!
Issue four out end of May, with the top ten art beards!
― Stew (stew s), Saturday, 30 April 2005 23:18 (twenty years ago)
five months pass...
eleven months pass...