Keith Relf
Encyclopedia
Keith William Relf was a musician best known as the lead singer and harmonica player of The Yardbirds
. After the Yardbirds broke up Relf formed the acoustic
duo
Together, with fellow Yardbird Jim McCarty
, followed by Renaissance
, which also featured his sister, singer Jane Relf
, then hard rock group Armageddon. Relf also produced tracks for artists such as folk-rock band Hunter Muskett
, the acoustic world music
group Amber
, psychedelic band Saturnalia
and blues-rock band Medicine Head
, with whom he played bass guitar.
His debut solo single, "Mr. Zero", peaked at No. 50 in the UK Singles Chart
in May 1966.
Relf was 33 when he died from electrocution
, at his home, while playing his improperly grounded
electric guitar. At the time, Relf was rehearsing new material for the regrouping of the original Renaissance line-up, called Illusion
.
Relf's posthumous 1992 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
induction with the Yardbirds was represented by his widow April, and son Danny.
were released under the name of the group he was in at the time. However, an early attempt was made to establish him as a solo artist
and two singles
came out under his own name in 1966.
A further single appeared in 1989
The Yardbirds
- Current :* Chris Dreja - rhythm guitar, backing vocals * Jim McCarty - drums, backing vocals * Ben King - lead guitar * David Smale - bass, backing vocals...
. After the Yardbirds broke up Relf formed the acoustic
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
duo
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
Together, with fellow Yardbird Jim McCarty
Jim McCarty
Jim McCarty is an English musician, best known as the drummer for The Yardbirds and Renaissance.-Early life:...
, followed by Renaissance
Renaissance (band)
Renaissance are an English progressive rock band, most notable for their 1978 UK top 10 hit "Northern Lights" and progressive rock classics like "Carpet of the Sun", "Mother Russia" and "Ashes Are Burning".-Original incarnation :...
, which also featured his sister, singer Jane Relf
Jane Relf
Jane Relf is the younger sister of Keith Relf of the Yardbirds. After the Yardbirds disbanded, Keith formed Renaissance and Jane joined on vocals. After Keith's death the surviving members of Renaissance reformed as Illusion, under which name they recorded two albums with Jane's vocals to the fore...
, then hard rock group Armageddon. Relf also produced tracks for artists such as folk-rock band Hunter Muskett
Hunter Muskett
-Beginnings:The group was formed at Avery Hill College in South London when Terry Hiscock and Chris George were joined by fellow student Doug Morter. The band’s name was taken from an anecdote about an eccentric Cornishman....
, the acoustic world music
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
group Amber
Amber (band)
Amber was a British acoustic world music band.It was often compared to The Incredible String Band. The band consisted of two of Donovan's old friends Julian MacAllister and Mac MacLeod, and they were joined by Ray Cooper on hand drums. Donovan had been given a sitar by George Harrison and had lent...
, psychedelic band Saturnalia
Saturnalia (band)
Saturnalia were a British psychedelic band, whose only album was claimed to be the world's first 3D picture disc. It also gained a certain amount of notoriety by featuring the band members topless on one side of the picture disc....
and blues-rock band Medicine Head
Medicine Head
Medicine Head were a British blues rock band, active in the 1970s. Their biggest single success was in 1973, with "One and One is One", a Number 3 hit in the UK Singles Chart.-Main personnel:The group worked as a duo for most of its career, consisting of...
, with whom he played bass guitar.
His debut solo single, "Mr. Zero", peaked at No. 50 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in May 1966.
Relf was 33 when he died from electrocution
Electrocution
Electrocution is a type of electric shock that, as determined by a stopped heart, can end life. Electrocution is frequently used to refer to any electric shock received but is technically incorrect; the choice of definition varies from dictionary to dictionary...
, at his home, while playing his improperly grounded
Ground (electricity)
In electrical engineering, ground or earth may be the reference point in an electrical circuit from which other voltages are measured, or a common return path for electric current, or a direct physical connection to the Earth....
electric guitar. At the time, Relf was rehearsing new material for the regrouping of the original Renaissance line-up, called Illusion
Illusion (UK band)
Illusion were a British band formed in 1977. They released two albums, Out of the Mist and Illusion on Island Records. Their music was classically-inspired, sophisticated, and polished...
.
Relf's posthumous 1992 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
induction with the Yardbirds was represented by his widow April, and son Danny.
Solo singles discography
Most of Relf's recordingsSound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
were released under the name of the group he was in at the time. However, an early attempt was made to establish him as a solo artist
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and two singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
came out under his own name in 1966.
- "Mr. Zero" / "Knowing" – UK ColumbiaColumbia Graphophone CompanyThe Columbia Graphophone Company was one of the earliest gramophone companies in the United Kingdom. Under EMI, as Columbia Records, it became a very successful label in the 1950s and 1960s...
DB7920 / U.S. EpicEpic RecordsEpic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
10044 – May 1966
-
- A-sideA-side and B-sideA-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
writtenSongwriterA songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
by Bob LindBob LindBob Lind is an American folk music singer-songwriter who reached the height of his success during the 1960s...
- "Shapes In My Mind" / "Blue Sands" – UK Columbia DB8084 / US Epic 10110 – November 1966
- B-sideA-side and B-sideA-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
is an instrumentalInstrumentalAn instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
credited to Relf, but actually performed by The Outsiders (not to be confused with The Outsiders who performed "Time Won't Let Me"). The US single featured the same version as the UK single, US promotional copies (on red vinyl) featured a different mix.
- A-side
A further single appeared in 1989
- "Together Now" / "All The Fallen Angels" – MCCM 89 002 – 1989
-
- US release only. The A-side was recorded in 1968, originally recorded that same year by Together. The B-side was recorded on 2 May 1976, 12 days before Relf's death