Keith Allison
Keith Allison | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Sydney Keith Allison |
| Born | August 26, 1942 Coleman, Texas,U.S. |
| Died | November 17, 2021(aged 79) Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles,California,U.S. |
| Genres | Rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, Actor |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, bass, vocals |
| Years active | 1960s-2021 |
| Formerly of | Paul Revere & the Raiders |
Sydney Keith Allison(August 26, 1942 - November 17, 2021) was an American musician and composer, best known as a member ofPaul Revere & the Raidersfrom 1968 to 1975.
Music
[edit]Allison began working as a professional solo artist and session musician in the early 1960s. Allison played guitar and harmonica onSonny & Cher'ssong “The Beat Goes On”.A year later, Columbia Records signed Keith and released his debut album Keith Allison in Action.
Where The Action Is
[edit]He would gain notoriety in 1965, when he became a regular act on the Los Angeles-based show,Where the Action Is.Reportedly, Allison became a regular on the show due to his resemblance toPaul McCartneyafter being spotted on cameras as a member of the audience on the first episode of the show:[1]
They said they needed people in seats, so one of the dancers grabbed me. She pulled me in a seat and grabbed my little leather cap and put it on her head, and I clapped along with the music. They took a couple of camera shots and got a landslide of mail wanting to know who the kid was!
Paul Revere & the Raiders
[edit]In 1968, Allison joinedPaul Revere & the Raidersas their bassist. Keith played on their albumsSomething Happening(1968),Hard ‘N’ Heavy(1969),Alias Pink Puzz(1969),Collage(1970),Indian Reservation(which included the song "Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)",which would become the group's first number one charting song) (1971), andCountry Wine(1972). Around the time Allison joined the Raiders, the group's sole original members,Mark LindsayandPaul Revere,had recently started hosting the showHappening '68.Allison and the additional members of the Raiders would become the house band for the show until its cancellation in 1969.
Allison left the Raiders in 1975.
Composing
[edit]Allison scored the 1972 filmWhere Does It Hurt?,and wrote and sang the title song.[2]Allison recorded the song “Sail Away” withHarry Nilsson.[2]He worked with Starr on his 1978 albumBad Boy,also serving as the musical director for his TV special, Ringo, the same year.[3]Also in 1978, he composed music for the filmSgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band,starringThe Bee Gees,and had a small cameo in the film.[4]
Keith performed on songs recorded by various artists, includingThe Monkees,Sonny & Cher,Harry Nilsson,andRingo Starr.Keith also recorded and performed withRoy Orbison,The Beach Boys,The Righteous Brothers,Chuck Berry,Alice Cooper,Ricky Nelson,The CricketsandJohnny Rivers.
Acting
[edit]Keith played minor roles in numerous shows and films, starting with the role of “Hinkley” inWhere Does It Hurt?(1972). In most of the roles he played, he also did work in the composing of the music in the film. Allison played Captain James J. White in the 2003 filmGods and Generals.[2]
Keith played acroupierin a 1978 episode ofThe Love Boat.He played the character “Ray” in two episodes of7th Heavenand “Pete Weston” inBlossomand played a pirate called Buck in the 1999 filmTreasure At Pirate’s Point.[4]Allison played the groom in the final scene of the 2022 filmCuddly Toys,which was released after his death.
Personal life
[edit]Allison was born inColeman, Texasand raised inSan Antonio.[2]His cousin wasJerry Allison,drummer forThe Crickets.[2][4]Keith was married to a woman named Tina for more than 40 years. When he was in a relationship with Judith D. Allison, they had a son, Ryeland (born 1967), who is also a music producer. Keith had seven grandchildren.[2]
Allison was a member ofThe Hollywood Vampires,[5][6]an elite celebrityDrinking clubfounded byAlice Cooperin the 1970s, where you were made a member by outdrinking the members of the club.[7]Members included:John Belushi,Marc Bolan,Jack Cruz,Micky Dolenz,Keith Emerson,Mal Evans,John Lennon,Keith Moon,Harry Nilsson,Ringo Starr,Bernie Taupin,andKlaus Voormann.[7][8][9]
Death
[edit]Allison died on November 17, 2021, inSherman Oaks, Los Angelesat the age of 79. Celebrities such asRingo StarrandMickey Dolenzshared their condolences on social media.[3]The official social media account for Paul Revere & the Raiders would post:
We all here in the Raider family are terribly heartbroken. Keith will always be a Raider. Our love goes out to Keith’s wife Tina, son Ryeland, daughters Allison and Brenda, and all the grandchildren. Keith was a friend to all, and everyone loved Keith. His presence will be strongly missed.
Discography
[edit]Solo
[edit]| Title | Year |
|---|---|
| Keith Allison In Action | 1967 |
With Paul Revere & the Raiders
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 1968 | Something Happening |
| 1969 | Hard 'N' Heavy (with Marshmallow) |
| Alias Pink Puzz | |
| 1970 | Collage |
| 1971 | Indian Reservation |
| 1972 | Country Wine |
Singles
[edit]| Year | Song Titles |
|---|---|
| 1968 | "Too Much Talk"
b/w"Happening '68" |
| "Don't Take It So Hard"
b/w "Observation From Flight 285 (In 3/4 Time)" | |
| "Cinderella Sunshine"
b/w "Theme From It's Happening" (Non-Lp track) | |
| 1969 | "Mr. Sun, Mr. Moon"
b/w "Without You" |
| "Let Me"
b/w "I Don't Know" | |
| "We Gotta All Get Together"
b/w "Frankfort Side Street" (fromAlias Pink Puzz) | |
| 1970 | "Just Seventeen"
b/w "Sorceress With Blue Eyes" |
| "Gone Movin' On"(re-recorded version of Lp track fromRevolution!)
b/w "Interlude (To Be Forgotten)" | |
| 1971 | "Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)"
b/w "Terry's Tune" (Non-Lp track) |
| "Birds of a Feather"
b/w "The Turkey" | |
| 1972 | "Country Wine"
b/w "It's So Hard Getting Up Today" (Non-Lp track) |
| "Powder Blue Mercedes Queen"
b/w "Golden Girls Sometimes" | |
| "Song Seller"
b/w "A Simple Song" | |
| 1973 | "Love Music"
b/w "Goodbye No. 9" |
| 1974 | "All Over You"
b/w "Seaboard Line Boogie" |
| 1975 | "Your Love (Is The Only Love)"
b/w "Gonna Have A Good Time" |
| 1976 | "Ain't Nothin' Wrong" /
b/w "You're Really Saying Something" |
Filmography
[edit]- It’s Happening(1968) (composer)
- Head(1968) (music department)
- Where Does It Hurt?(1972) (composer and role of Hinkley)
- Phantom of the Paradise(1974) (role of Country and Western singer)
- Sextette(1977) (role of waiter)
- Ringo(1978) (music department)
- Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band(1978) (role of Guest)
- The Love Boat(1978) (role of croupier; one episode)
- The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia(1981) (music consultant and role of Musician)
- Blossom(1993) (role of Pete Weston; two episodes)
- Left Luggage(1998) (composer)
- A Rock and a Hard Place(1998) (composer)
- Treasure of Pirate’s Point(1999) (role of Buck)
- Fly Boy(1999) (role of Store Manager)
- 7th Heaven(1998-2001) (role of Ray; two episodes)
- Don’t Let Go(2002) (composer)
- 30 Days Until I’m Famous(2004) (music technical advisor)
- Cuddly Toys(2022) (role of Groom;posthumous release)
Note:[4]
References
[edit]- ^"In Memoriam: Keith Allison (1942-2021) - The Second Disc".theseconddisc.com/.2021-11-19.Retrieved2023-02-17.
- ^abcdefBarnes, Mike (2021-11-19)."Keith Allison, Member of Paul Revere & the Raiders, Dies at 79".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved2023-02-17.
- ^abPeters, Daniel (2021-11-20)."Paul Revere & The Raiders' Keith Allison has died aged 79".NME.Retrieved2023-02-17.
- ^abcd"Keith Allison".IMDb.Retrieved2023-02-17.
- ^Kopp, Bill (2022-08-26)."5 rock and roll gems featuring Keith Allison".Goldmine Magazine: Record Collector & Music Memorabilia.Retrieved2024-02-20.
- ^Barilla, Lucille (2023-02-06)."'The Monkees' Micky Dolenz Admits He and John Lennon Raised 'Holy Hell' With The Hollywood Vampires ".Showbiz Cheat Sheet.Retrieved2024-02-20.
- ^abSellers, Robert (2010-05-20).An A-Z of Hellraisers: A Comprehensive Compendium of Outrageous Insobriety.Random House.ISBN978-1-4090-5100-8.
- ^Rodriguez, Robert (2010).Fab Four FAQ 2.0: The Beatles' Solo Years, 1970-1980.Hal Leonard Corporation.ISBN978-0-87930-968-8.
- ^"The Quietus | Features | Dr Rock | Dr Rock: Love And Poison, An Alice Cooper Interview".The Quietus.Retrieved2024-02-20.