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Bobby Keys

Bobby Keys
Personal information
BornDecember 18, 1943(age 67)
Slaton, Texas, U.S.
GenresRock
OccupationSession musician
InstrumentsSaxophone
Years active1950s � present
Associated actsRolling Stones, Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Delaney & Bonnie, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Warren Zevon, Joe Ely, Sheryl Crow, John Lennon, Leon Russell, Plastic Ono Band, Harry Nilsson

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Bobby Keys (born December 18, 1943, Slaton, Texas) is an American saxophone player and has performed with other musicians as a member of one of the most in-demand horn sections of the 1970s. He appears on albums by The Who, Harry Nilsson, Delaney Bramlett, The Rolling Stones, George Harrison's All Things Must Pass, Eric Clapton and Joe Cocker's Mad Dogs and Englishmen. Keys has been on the road as a touring musician since 1956.

Keys started touring at age fourteen with Bobby Vee and fellow Texan Buddy Holly. Keys is best known as being the main saxophone player for The Rolling Stones, playing on every album from 1969 until 1974, and from 1980 to present, and performing on all Stones tours since 1970 except for the 1981 US Tour when Ernie Watts (no relation to Charlie Watts) replaced him. Keys has played on hundreds of recordings, including many uncredited performances such as on Dion's "The Wanderer."

He is known for playing the saxophone solo on the 1971 hit "Brown Sugar" and for the film shot of him and Keith Richards (born the same day as Keys) throwing a television set from the 10th floor of a hotel somewhere during the 1972 American Tour, as seen in the Stones' unreleased 1972 concert movie Cocksucker Blues. He is also featured in the 1971 concert movie Mad Dogs and Englishmen narrating the story of his early life while driving around downtown Dallas. Another famous recording by Keys is the baritone saxophone on Elvis Presley's "Return to Sender" and John Lennon's only American solo #1 single hit "Whatever Gets You thru the Night".

Keys met the Rolling Stones at the San Antonio Teen Fair in 1966. Keys came into the Rolling Stones around 1969 with the track Live with Me. Keys, with the addition of Mick Taylor, changed the sound of the Rolling Stones. Both horns and Mick Taylor made their debut on Let it Bleed. Keys became Richards' new partner in crime, as well as brilliantly complementing Richard's guitar playing on numerous Stones classics. Jagger was always dubious of Keys' entrance into the Stones because it enhanced Richards' leadership. Jagger and Keys, however, would become close in the early 1970s, with Keys serving as an attendant at Jagger's wedding. Born on the same day as Richards, Richards once told Keys "We're half man, half horse, and we got a license to shit in the streets."

From 1973-1975, Keys participated in John Lennon's famous Lost Weekend in Los Angeles along with Ringo Starr, Harry Nilsson and Keith Moon. Keys had played with Lennon in the Plastic Ono Band and while in Los Angeles he played on Lennon's albums Walls and Bridges and Rock 'n Roll. Additionally, Keys took part in the last known recording session between Paul McCartney and Lennon; this session is known as A Toot and a Snore in '74.

In the late 1980s, Keys became the musical director for Ronnie Wood's Miami club Woody's On the Beach. The first week the club opened, Keys booked Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino and The Crickets.

Although more commonly well known as a session musician, Keys released two albums of his own in the 1970s; a self-titled instrumental album on Warner Bros. Records that featured Ringo Starr, George Harrison and Eric Clapton in 1972; and Gimme the Key on Ringo Starr's record label Ring O'Records in 1975.

Bobby Keys Video

Keith Richards junkie sedated
1.48 min. | 4.78 user rating
Probably their pest performance of the song. Its recorded in Brussels in 1973. Fantastic solos from Mick Taylor and Bobby Keys.
10.93 min. | 4.97 user rating
Take Time, Ronnie ! Voodoo Tour in Tokio 12th March 1995: Japan, Korakuen Dome with Darryl Jones , Lisa Fischer , Bernard Fowler , Bobby Keys and Chuck Leavell.
5.88 min. | 4.84 user rating
A prim and proper Kevin solves the mystery behind Bobby J's lost keys. www.wickedawesomefilms.com
0.52 min. | 4.47 user rating
Download All of my mashups here!!! docs.google.com Tupac vs. Jason Mraz vs. Alicia Keys vs. Bobby McFerrin vs. Dido vs. Lil Jon vs. JT Roach vs. D-Rock vs. 50 Cent vs. Akon vs. Lou Bega An orignal mashup by DJ Ross Comer. Style closely related to Girl Talk, E-603, DJ Milkman, Super Mash Bros. Songs In Order of Appearance: Jason Mraz- I'm Yours 0:01 Tupac- Thugz Mansion 0:12 Lou Bega- Mambo No. 5 0:33 Lil Jon- Anthem 2009 0:36 Akon- Right Now 0:47 50 Cent- In Da Club 1:05 Dido- Thank You 1:10 Bobby McFerrin- Don't Worry Be Happy 1:33 Alicia Keys- No One 1:52 JT Roach ft. D-Rock- Baby 4:01 (Verse by D-Rock) Comment, Rate, and Subscribe Support JT Roach by going to www.JTroach.com Support D-Rock at http
5.95 min. | 4.87 user rating
Bobby Keys - the sax player, with the Rolling Stones since 1970s. Jamming with the stage crew at Crazy Elephant during their 40 Licks Tour in Singapore.
2.83 min. | 5.0 user rating
Cover of Christmas / Sarajevo 12/24 (Instrumental) by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra Scholarship Concert Bert Cano-Guitar (Red Guitar) (Me) Jonathan-Keyboards (on the Right) Bobby-Bass/Keys (Behind the laptop) Linton-Keyboards (on the Left) Jonathan-Guitar (on the Left) Kiron-Drums Carol of the Bells :D
3.57 min. | 4.91 user rating
Keith Richards Charlie Watts Bobby Keys Chuck Leavell Bernard Fowler
9.05 min. | 4.88 user rating
Joe Ely at Gruene Hall with David Grissom and Bobby Keys. This is what Texas music is all about!
4.03 min. | 4.97 user rating
Recorded at The Record Plant, New York from 17th June thru July 1974, except "Nobody Loves You" which was recorded in Los Angeles. Alternative versions of several of these tracks will later appear on "Menlove Avenue" in 1986. Also recorded during these sessions is : "Goodnight Vienna" a demo, written especially for, and given to Ringo. "Only You" - a demo, also given to Ringo. "Move Over Mrs. L." - a track originally written for Keith Moon. The splendidly original cover designed by Roy Kohara, is divided into three equal parts with two fold-out sections to create different covers ! ... You can see all the combinations above. The photographs are taken by Bob Gruen. The Inner sleeve has a similar style sepia-toned picture cover, also shown above. Plus, there is a terrific 8-page booklet (LP sized !) which not only includes the song lyrics and musician information, it also has some great pictures OF John, and five paintings BY John drawn in 1952 when he was only a boy. Also on the back of the booklet, is an examination of the origins of the Lennon name, which is taken from "IRISH FAMILIES, THEIR NAMES, ARMS AND ORIGINS" by Edward Maclysaght. The whole production is very light-hearted and John is clearly in a jovial and happy mood throughout. The record label is the standard green Apple. "Possession is nine-tenths of the problem" - Dr. Winston O'Boogie. On the 23rd August 1974 at 9 o'clock I saw a UFO - JL CREDITS: Hon. John St. John Johnson (John Lennon) - Vocals and guitar <b>...</b>
3.52 min. | 5.0 user rating

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Caldwell steps down at Vanderbilt - ESPN (blog) Tweet this news
ESPN (blog)---...- was handed the -keys- to the Vanderbilt football program a mere weeks before preseason practice began this year when -Bobby- Johnson abruptly retired. ... - Date : Sat, 27 Nov 2010 19:20:47 GMT+00:00
Batwings Rejuvenated - San Diego Reader Tweet this news
San Diego Reader--17, 2010 “That whole Chilean-miner story was weird for me,” Batwings singer/-keys-/bassist Robert Lopez relates in the band's Mission Valley practice space. ... - Date : Thu, 18 Nov 2010 03:14:47 GMT+00:00
Run Bobby Run - Tom's Games Tweet this news
Tom's Games--Help -Bobby- to avoid the bombs which falling from the sky. Use the arrow -keys- to move. Hold the left click of the mouse to shoot with your helicopter. ... - Date : Wed, 25 Aug 2010 13:28:46 GMT+00:00
'Regular customer' charged with robbing sweepstakes parlor - Shelby Star Tweet this news
Shelby Star--Less than an hour after the robbery of Phone Sweeps Inc. on Stony Point Road, deputies arrested -Bobby- Gene Truelove Sr., 47. Detectives charged Truelove ... - Date : Wed, 25 Aug 2010 21:55:49 GMT+00:00
Keys score seven in ninth to rally past Hillcats, 10-7 - Frederick News Post (subscription) Tweet this news
Frederick News Post (subscription)--The -Keys- trailed Lynchburg, 5-3, after eight innings before rallying. Lynchburg closer Donnie Joseph issued consecutive walks to -Bobby- Stevens, Xavier Avery ... - Date : Thu, 22 Jul 2010 06:02:26 GMT+00:00
Scene Calendar: 07-22 - Toledo Blade Tweet this news
Toledo Blade--Bitter End: Meinke Marina, 1086 Anchor Point Rd., Curtice, O.; 836-8610; -Bobby- May and Dry Bones Revival: Fri. Casa Barron Mexican Restaurant: 209 Louisiana ... - Date : Thu, 22 Jul 2010 11:57:24 GMT+00:00
Anthill keys Mid-Amateur lead for Marriott - TheChronicleHerald.ca Tweet this news
TheChronicleHerald.ca--It was for Granite Springs' -Bobby- Marriott during Saturday's steamy second round of the NSGA Mid-Amateur championship at ... - Date : Sun, 20 Jun 2010 09:00:23 GMT+00:00
The dirty miracle of 'Exile on Main Street' - Beliefnet.com (blog) Tweet this news
Beliefnet.com (blog)---...- the only other people who were awake, saxophonist -Bobby Keys- and producer Jimmy Miller, who was drafted in to play drums in place of the absent Watts. ... - Date : Mon, 26 Apr 2010 15:00:57 GMT+00:00

The Rolling Stones

UK studio albums
1964 �1967
The Rolling Stones (1964) * The Rolling Stones No. 2 (1965) * Out of Our Heads (1965) * Aftermath (1966) * Between the Buttons (1967)
US studio albums
1964 �1967
England's Newest Hit Makers (1964) * 12 X 5 (1964) * The Rolling Stones, Now! (1965) * Out of Our Heads (1965) * December's Children (And Everybody's) (1965) * Aftermath (1966) * Between the Buttons (1967)
Studio albums
1967 �present
Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967) * Beggars Banquet (1968) * Let It Bleed (1969) * Sticky Fingers (1971) * Exile on Main St. (1972) * Goats Head Soup (1973) * It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (1974) * Black and Blue (1976) * Some Girls (1978) * Emotional Rescue (1980) * Tattoo You (1981) * Undercover (1983) * Dirty Work (1986) * Steel Wheels (1989) * Voodoo Lounge (1994) * Bridges to Babylon (1997) * A Bigger Bang (2005)
UK EPsThe Rolling Stones (1964) * Five by Five (1964) * Got Live If You Want It! (1965)
Live albumsGot Live If You Want It! (US only) (1966) * Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out! The Rolling Stones in Concert (1970) * Love You Live (1977) * "Still Life" (American Concert 1981) (1982) * Flashpoint (1991) * Stripped (1995) * No Security (1998) * Live Licks (2004) * Shine a Light (2008)
CompilationsBig Hits (High Tide and Green Grass) (1966) * Flowers (US) (1967) * Through the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2) (1969) * Made in the Shade (1975) * Time Waits for No One: Anthology 1971 �1977 (1979) * Sucking in the Seventies (1981) * Rewind (1971 �1984) (1984) * Jump Back: The Best of The Rolling Stones (1993) * Forty Licks (2002) * Rarities 1971 �2003 (2005) * Exile on Main St. (Rarities Edition) (2010)
Post-contract
ABKCO albums
Hot Rocks 1964 �1971 (1971) * More Hot Rocks (Big Hits & Fazed Cookies) (1972) * Metamorphosis (1975) * Singles Collection: The London Years (1989) * The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus (1996) * Singles 1963 �1965 (2004) * Singles 1965 �1967 (2004) * Singles 1968 �1971 (2005) * Rolled Gold: The Very Best of the Rolling Stones (2007)
Post-contract
Decca albums
Stone Age (1971) * Gimme Shelter (1971) * Milestones (1972) * Rock 'n' Rolling Stones (1972) * No Stone Unturned (1973) * Rolled Gold: The Very Best of the Rolling Stones (1975) * Solid Rock (1980) * Slow Rollers (1981)
Miscellaneous albumsJamming with Edward! (1972)
Box setsThe Rolling Stones Box Set (2009)
DVD releasesStones at the Max (1992) * The Rolling Stones: Voodoo Lounge Live (1995) * Bridges to Babylon Tour '97 �98 (1998) * Four Flicks (2003) * The Biggest Bang (2007)
DocumentariesGimme Shelter (1970) * Cocksucker Blues (1972) * Ladies and Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones (1974) * 25x5 � The Continuing Adventures of the Rolling Stones (1989) * Shine a Light (2008) * Stones in Exile (2010)
ToursEuropean Tour 1967 * American Tour 1969 * European Tour 1970 * UK Tour 1971 * American Tour 1972 * Pacific Tour 1973 * European Tour 1973 * Tour of the Americas '75 * Tour of Europe '76 * US Tour 1978 * American Tour 1981 * European Tour 1982 * Steel Wheels/Urban Jungle Tour * Voodoo Lounge Tour * Bridges to Babylon Tour * No Security Tour * Licks Tour * A Bigger Bang Tour
CollaboratorsBlondie Chaplin * Lisa Fischer * Bernard Fowler * Nicky Hopkins * Darryl Jones * Bobby Keys * Chuck Leavell * Ian McLagan * Billy Preston * Jim Price
Producers and managementAndrew Loog Oldham * Allen Klein * Jimmy Miller * The Glimmer Twins * Steve Lillywhite * Chris Kimsey * Don Was
Related articlesDiscography * Jagger/Richards * Nanker Phelge * Rolling Stones Records * Altamont Free Concert * Rolling Stones Mobile Studio * The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus * The Mick Jagger Centre * Peter Meaden

The Rolling Stones singles discography

Decca/London singles1963: "Come On" / "I Want to Be Loved" * "I Wanna Be Your Man" / "Stoned"
1964: "Not Fade Away" / "Little by Little" (UK) * "Not Fade Away" / "I Wanna Be Your Man" (US) * "It's All Over Now" / "Good Times, Bad Times" * "Tell Me" / "I Just Want to Make Love to You" * "Time Is on My Side" / "Congratulations" * "Little Red Rooster" / "Off the Hook" * "Heart of Stone" / "What a Shame"
1965: "What a Shame" / "Heart of Stone" * "The Last Time" / "Play with Fire" * "Play with Fire" / "The Last Time" * "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" / "The Under-Assistant West Coast Promotion Man" (US) * "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" / "The Spider and the Fly" (UK) * "Get Off of My Cloud" / "I'm Free" (US) * "Get Off of My Cloud" / "The Singer Not the Song" (UK) * "As Tears Go By" / "Gotta Get Away"
1966: "19th Nervous Breakdown" / "As Tears Go By" (UK) * "19th Nervous Breakdown" / "Sad Day" (US) * "Paint It, Black" / "Stupid Girl" (US) * "Paint It, Black" / "Long Long While" (UK) * "Mother's Little Helper" / "Lady Jane" * "Lady Jane" / "Mother's Little Helper" * "Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow?" / "Who's Driving Your Plane"
1967: "Let's Spend the Night Together" / "Ruby Tuesday" * "Ruby Tuesday" / "Let's Spend the Night Together" * "We Love You" / "Dandelion" * "Dandelion" / "We Love You" * "In Another Land" / "The Lantern" * "She's a Rainbow" / "2000 Light Years from Home"
1968: "Jumpin' Jack Flash" / "Child of the Moon" * "Street Fighting Man" / "No Expectations" *
1969: "Honky Tonk Women" / "You Can't Always Get What You Want"
Rolling Stones/Atlantic
singles
1971: "Brown Sugar" / "Bitch" / "Let It Rock" (live) (UK) * "Brown Sugar" / "Bitch" (US) * "Wild Horses" / "Sway" * "Street Fighting Man" / "Surprise, Surprise"
1972: "Tumbling Dice" / "Sweet Black Angel" * "Happy" / "All Down the Line"
1973: "You Can't Always Get What You Want" / "Sad Day" * "Angie" / "Silver Train" * "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)" / "Dancing with Mr. D"
1974: "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)" / "Through the Lonely Nights" * "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" / "Dance Little Sister"
1975: "I Don't Know Why" / "Try a Little Harder" * "Out of Time" / "Jiving Sister Fanny"
1976: "Fool to Cry" / "Crazy Mama" * "Hot Stuff" / "Fool to Cry"
Rolling Stones/Virgin
singles
1978: "Miss You" / "Far Away Eyes" * "Beast of Burden" / "When the Whip Comes Down" * "Respectable" / "When the Whip Comes Down" * "Shattered" / "Everything Is Turning to Gold"
1980: "Emotional Rescue" / "Down in the Hole" * "She's So Cold" / "Send It to Me"
1981: "If I Was a Dancer (Dance Pt. 2)" / "If I Was a Dancer (Dance Pt. 2)" * "Start Me Up" / "No Use In Crying" * "Waiting on a Friend" / "Little T&A" * "Little T&A" / "Waiting on a Friend"
1982: "Hang Fire" / "Neighbours" * "Going to a Go-Go" (live) / "Beast of Burden" (live) * "Time Is on My Side" (live) / "Twenty Flight Rock" (live)
1983: "Undercover of the Night" / "All the Way Down"
1984: "She Was Hot" / "Think I'm Going Mad" * "Think I'm Going Mad" / "She Was Hot" * "Too Tough" / "Miss You" * "Brown Sugar" / "Bitch" * "Too Much Blood" / "Too Much Blood"
1986: "Harlem Shuffle" / "Had It With You" * "Winning Ugly" / "Winning Ugly" * "One Hit (To the Body)" / "Fight"
1989: "Mixed Emotions" / "Fancy Man Blues" * "Sad Sad Sad" / "Sad Sad Sad" * "Rock and a Hard Place" / "Cook Cook Blues"
1990: "Almost Hear You Sigh" / "Break the Spell" (US) * "Almost Hear You Sigh" / "Wish I'd Never Met You" (UK) * "Paint It, Black" / "Long Long While" * "Terrifying" / "Wish I'd Never Met You"
1991: "Highwire" / "2000 Light Years from Home" (live) * "Ruby Tuesday" (live) / "Play with Fire" (live) * "Sex Drive" / "Sex Drive"
Virgin singles1994: "Love Is Strong" / "The Storm" * "Love Is Strong" / "So Young" * "You Got Me Rocking" / "Jump On Top of Me" * "Out of Tears" / "I'm Gonna Drive" / "So Young" * "Out of Tears" / "I'm Gonna Drive" / "Sparks Will Fly"
1995: "Sparks Will Fly" / "Sparks Will Fly" * "I Go Wild" / (remixes) * "Like a Rolling Stone" (live) / "Black Limousine" / "All Down the Line"
1996: "Wild Horses" (live) / "Live with Me" (live) / "Tumbling Dice" (live)
1997: "Anybody Seen My Baby?" / (remixes) * "Flip the Switch" / "Flip the Switch"
1998: "Saint of Me" / "Gimme Shelter" / "Anyway You Look At It" * "Out of Control" / (remixes) * "Gimme Shelter" (live) / "Gimme Shelter" (live)
2002: "Don't Stop" / "Miss You" (remix)
2003: "Sympathy for the Devil" (remix) / (remixes)
2005: "Streets of Love" / "Rough Justice" * "Oh No, Not You Again" / "Oh No, Not You Again" * "Rain Fall Down" / (remixes)
2006: "Biggest Mistake" / "Dance Pt. 1" (live) / "Before They Make Me Run"
2007: "Paint It, Black"
2008: "Gimme Shelter" * "Sympathy for the Devil" * "She's a Rainbow"
2009: "Wild Horses"
2010: "Plundered My Soul" / "All Down the Line"



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