Brian Keenan (musician)
Encyclopedia
Brian Edmund Peter Keenan (January 28, 1943 – October 5, 1985) was an American
musician, best known as the drummer for The Chambers Brothers
. Born in New York, he also lived in Conisbrough
near Doncaster
, Yorkshire, England, and Ireland
as a child.
Keenan was part of The Chambers Brothers
from 1965 to 1971, and also played with the pre-"Doo Wah Diddy Diddy" Manfred Mann
group in England
. His group, the Losers, was the house band at Ondine, the first discotheque in New York City
.
Bill Graham
, the impresario behind the Filmore West and the Filmore East, felt that Brian was an exciting live rock drummer. The few times the Chambers Brothers were not top-billed with Brian on drums, the top-billed group was reluctant to follow them. The Brothers affectionately referred to Brian as Curley and introduced him onstage as Brian "Chambers" Keenan. The Chambers Brothers predated Sly and the Family Stone as harbingers of psychedelic
soul
. Keenan also wrote one of its early songs, "Love Me Like the Rain," which appeared on the Shout album. Keenan left the group in 1971 after major financial abuses by the group's management were unresolved. He started up his own recording studio in Connecticut, but he suffered a fatal heart attack in the mid 1980s. Keenan is buried at Queen of Peace cemetery in Stamford, Connecticut
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician, best known as the drummer for The Chambers Brothers
The Chambers Brothers
The Chambers Brothers is a soul-music group, best known for its 1968 hit record, the 11-minute long song "Time Has Come Today". The group was part of the wave of new music that integrated American blues and gospel traditions with modern psychedelic and rock elements, spawning a heady mix...
. Born in New York, he also lived in Conisbrough
Conisbrough
Conisbrough is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster, in South Yorkshire, England. It is located roughly midway between Doncaster and Rotherham, and is built alongside the River Don at...
near Doncaster
Doncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
, Yorkshire, England, and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
as a child.
Keenan was part of The Chambers Brothers
The Chambers Brothers
The Chambers Brothers is a soul-music group, best known for its 1968 hit record, the 11-minute long song "Time Has Come Today". The group was part of the wave of new music that integrated American blues and gospel traditions with modern psychedelic and rock elements, spawning a heady mix...
from 1965 to 1971, and also played with the pre-"Doo Wah Diddy Diddy" Manfred Mann
Manfred Mann
Manfred Mann was a British beat, rhythm and blues and pop band of the 1960s, named after their South African keyboardist, Manfred Mann, who later led the successful 1970s group Manfred Mann's Earth Band...
group in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. His group, the Losers, was the house band at Ondine, the first discotheque in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Bill Graham
Bill Graham (promoter)
Bill Graham was an American impresario and rock concert promoter from the 1960s until his death.-Early life:...
, the impresario behind the Filmore West and the Filmore East, felt that Brian was an exciting live rock drummer. The few times the Chambers Brothers were not top-billed with Brian on drums, the top-billed group was reluctant to follow them. The Brothers affectionately referred to Brian as Curley and introduced him onstage as Brian "Chambers" Keenan. The Chambers Brothers predated Sly and the Family Stone as harbingers of psychedelic
Psychedelic
The term psychedelic is derived from the Greek words ψυχή and δηλοῦν , translating to "soul-manifesting". A psychedelic experience is characterized by the striking perception of aspects of one's mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ostensibly...
soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
. Keenan also wrote one of its early songs, "Love Me Like the Rain," which appeared on the Shout album. Keenan left the group in 1971 after major financial abuses by the group's management were unresolved. He started up his own recording studio in Connecticut, but he suffered a fatal heart attack in the mid 1980s. Keenan is buried at Queen of Peace cemetery in Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England...
.
Link
- http://www.richieunterberger.com/chambers3.html