Kelly Keagy
Encyclopedia
Kelly Keagy is an American
drummer and vocalist, best known for his work with Night Ranger
. Keagy sang lead vocals on several of their hits, such as "Sister Christian
", "Sing Me Away", and "Sentimental Street
".
band Rubicon
. Along with fellow members Jack Blades
and Brad Gillis
, he formed the band Night Ranger
in 1979 as Stereo.
booked Night Ranger as the opening act for such bands as Judas Priest
, Santana
, and the Doobie Brothers
. They became one of the most popular mainstream hard rock
bands of the mid-1980s. Night Ranger's first album, Dawn Patrol
, released in 1982, reached #38 on the U.S. charts and sold over 1 million copies, yet it was 1983's Midnight Madness
that established the band as a commercial force. Featuring the hits "(You Can Still) Rock in America" and "Sister Christian
", the record peaked at #15 and sold over 2 million copies. The 1985 album Seven Wishes
(7 Wishes) was even more successful, reaching #10 on the charts and selling over 3 million copies. In 1988, keyboardist Alan Fitzgerald
left Night Ranger, shortly after the recording of Man in Motion
. Then, in 1989, after the Man in Motion tour, front man Jack Blades left Night Ranger, with the group disbanding.
In 1991, Night Ranger reformed with Gary Moon
replacing Jack Blades on bass and lead vocals. Then in 1996, the classic Night Ranger lineup of Jack Blades/Kelly Keagy/Brad Gillis/Jeff Watson
/Alan Fitzgerald reunited. Fitzgerald departed in 2003, and Watson in 2007.
. They released a self titled album of the same name.
sees Keagy handling drums and vocals. To date, Keagy and his Night Ranger band mates have just finished a new studio album and a live album recorded in Japan. Keagy has just released his second solo work, I'm Alive
. Keagy is a core member of the band Scrap Metal, along with Mark Slaughter
and Gunnar Nelson
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
drummer and vocalist, best known for his work with Night Ranger
Night Ranger
Night Ranger is an American rock band from San Francisco that gained popularity during the 1980s with a series of albums and singles. The band's first five albums sold more than 10 million copies worldwide...
. Keagy sang lead vocals on several of their hits, such as "Sister Christian
Sister Christian
"Sister Christian" is a power ballad by the hard rock band Night Ranger, which was the second single released on their album Midnight Madness. It was ranked number 32 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 1980s. To this day, it is one of the most popular first dance songs at weddings.-Origin and...
", "Sing Me Away", and "Sentimental Street
Sentimental Street
"Sentimental Street" is a hard rock ballad by Night Ranger from their album, Seven Wishes. It reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in the U.S.-Music video:...
".
Early years
Keagy started out his career as a drummer, but over the years he has gained experience in many aspects of the music business. The day after Kelly graduated high school, he packed his bags and left home to pursue being a full-time drummer. After years of playing the club circuit, he became the drummer for the San FranciscoSan Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
band Rubicon
Rubicon (US band)
Rubicon was a one-hit wonder funk rock band from California, who had a hit single in 1978 with "I'm Gonna Take Care of Everything". The song peaked at #28 on the Billboard magazine national singles charts, spending 11 weeks on the Hot 100....
. Along with fellow members Jack Blades
Jack Blades
Jack Martin Blades is an American musician. He has worked in several bands: Rubicon, Night Ranger , and Damn Yankees . He also recorded with Tommy Shaw under the name Shaw/Blades, and has done work alongside TMG, the Tak Matsumoto Group...
and Brad Gillis
Brad Gillis
Brad Gillis is a guitarist most famous for playing with the band Night Ranger. He was in the band Rubicon during the 1970s before Night Ranger. He has also played for Ozzy Osbourne and Fiona, and has released solo albums....
, he formed the band Night Ranger
Night Ranger
Night Ranger is an American rock band from San Francisco that gained popularity during the 1980s with a series of albums and singles. The band's first five albums sold more than 10 million copies worldwide...
in 1979 as Stereo.
Night Ranger
After cutting their teeth on local gigs in San Francisco, promoter Bill GrahamBill Graham (promoter)
Bill Graham was an American impresario and rock concert promoter from the 1960s until his death.-Early life:...
booked Night Ranger as the opening act for such bands as Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
, Santana
Santana (band)
Santana is a rock band based around guitarist Carlos Santana and founded in the late 1960s. It first came to public attention after their performing the song "Soul Sacrifice" at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, when their Latin rock provided a contrast to other acts on the bill...
, and the Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers are an American rock band. The group has sold over 40 million units worldwide throughout their career. The Doobie Brothers were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004.-Original incarnation:...
. They became one of the most popular mainstream hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
bands of the mid-1980s. Night Ranger's first album, Dawn Patrol
Dawn Patrol
Dawn Patrol is the debut album by Night Ranger released in 1982. The band was named Ranger during the recording of the album. The first issues of the album were printed and ready to be shipped when it was discovered that there was a country band from California with the same name...
, released in 1982, reached #38 on the U.S. charts and sold over 1 million copies, yet it was 1983's Midnight Madness
Midnight Madness (album)
Midnight Madness is the second album from Night Ranger. The album contained the band's best known hit, "Sister Christian", and became the band's highest selling album, selling well over a million copies in the US.-Track listing:...
that established the band as a commercial force. Featuring the hits "(You Can Still) Rock in America" and "Sister Christian
Sister Christian
"Sister Christian" is a power ballad by the hard rock band Night Ranger, which was the second single released on their album Midnight Madness. It was ranked number 32 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 1980s. To this day, it is one of the most popular first dance songs at weddings.-Origin and...
", the record peaked at #15 and sold over 2 million copies. The 1985 album Seven Wishes
Seven Wishes
Seven Wishes is the third studio album by the band Night Ranger, released in 1985 and produced by Pat Glasser.The title of "Four in the Morning " describes the time of day Jack Blades wrote the song. In an interview with the Songfacts website, he explained, "Literally, I wrote that song at 4 in the...
(7 Wishes) was even more successful, reaching #10 on the charts and selling over 3 million copies. In 1988, keyboardist Alan Fitzgerald
Alan Fitzgerald
Alan Fitzgerald, U.S. musician , was a member of several U.S. bands.He played as a bassist in the bands Montrose and Gamma, both of which also featured guitarist Ronnie Montrose....
left Night Ranger, shortly after the recording of Man in Motion
Man in Motion (Night Ranger album)
Man in Motion is the fifth studio album released in 1988 by the hard rock/arena rock band Night Ranger. Original Night Ranger keyboardist Alan Fitzgerald had left the band prior to recording sessions for the album, and new keyboardist Jesse Bradman is featured as his replacement...
. Then, in 1989, after the Man in Motion tour, front man Jack Blades left Night Ranger, with the group disbanding.
In 1991, Night Ranger reformed with Gary Moon
Gary Moon
Gary Moon is a bassist who has played for several bands, including Night Ranger and Three Dog Night. He has also recorded as a solo artist. Before joining Night Ranger, he was in a band called The Pack with Steve Isham of Autograph. Matt Sorum, later of Guns 'N Roses, The Cult and Velvet...
replacing Jack Blades on bass and lead vocals. Then in 1996, the classic Night Ranger lineup of Jack Blades/Kelly Keagy/Brad Gillis/Jeff Watson
Jeff Watson (guitarist)
Jeff Watson is an American guitarist originally known as one of the founding members and lead guitarist of the band Night Ranger, in which he has played as co-guitarist with guitarist Brad Gillis. He has also released solo albums. In 2007, he left the band to pursue more challenging opportunities...
/Alan Fitzgerald reunited. Fitzgerald departed in 2003, and Watson in 2007.
The Mob
In 2005 Keagy joined Guitarist Reb Beach, Vocalist Doug Pinnick and Keyboardist Timothy Drury to form the group The MobThe Mob
The Mob may refer to:* The Mafia, an Italian organized crime secret society* The American Mafia, an offshoot of the Italian Mafia and also an organized crime secret society* Irish Mob, the first organized crime group for which the term was used...
. They released a self titled album of the same name.
Recent events
In 2001, Keagy took a turn down the solo album trail. Time PassesTime Passes
Time Passes is the debut solo album by Kelly Keagy.The track "Wrong Again" was written and demoed by the Gary Moon-led Night Ranger in the early 1990s.-Track listing:# "Anything Goes" – 4:19 Time Passes is the debut solo album by Kelly Keagy.The track "Wrong Again" was written and demoed by the...
sees Keagy handling drums and vocals. To date, Keagy and his Night Ranger band mates have just finished a new studio album and a live album recorded in Japan. Keagy has just released his second solo work, I'm Alive
I'm Alive (Kelly Keagy album)
I'm Alive is a solo album released by former Night Ranger's drummer Kelly Keagy. Released in 2006 on Frontiers Records, it features Jim Peterik, Reb Beach, and Michael Lardie.-Track listing:# "I'm Alive" - 4:36# "Stolen" - 4:36...
. Keagy is a core member of the band Scrap Metal, along with Mark Slaughter
Mark Slaughter
Mark Allen Slaughter is an American singer and musician. He is one of the founders of hard rock band Slaughter, and he also has worked as a voice actor and composer...
and Gunnar Nelson
Gunnar Nelson
Gunnar Eric Nelson is an American musician, singer, and songwriter and international multi-platinum recording artist.-Family:...
.
Night Ranger
- Dawn PatrolDawn PatrolDawn Patrol is the debut album by Night Ranger released in 1982. The band was named Ranger during the recording of the album. The first issues of the album were printed and ready to be shipped when it was discovered that there was a country band from California with the same name...
(as Ranger) (1982) - Dawn PatrolDawn PatrolDawn Patrol is the debut album by Night Ranger released in 1982. The band was named Ranger during the recording of the album. The first issues of the album were printed and ready to be shipped when it was discovered that there was a country band from California with the same name...
(as Night Ranger) (1982) - Midnight MadnessMidnight Madness (album)Midnight Madness is the second album from Night Ranger. The album contained the band's best known hit, "Sister Christian", and became the band's highest selling album, selling well over a million copies in the US.-Track listing:...
(1983) - Seven WishesSeven WishesSeven Wishes is the third studio album by the band Night Ranger, released in 1985 and produced by Pat Glasser.The title of "Four in the Morning " describes the time of day Jack Blades wrote the song. In an interview with the Songfacts website, he explained, "Literally, I wrote that song at 4 in the...
(7 Wishes) (1985) - Big LifeBig Life (Night Ranger album)Big Life is the fourth studio album by Night Ranger, released in 1987. It featured the single "The Secret of My Success", which was written for the 1987 film of the same name starring Michael J. Fox. The single flopped, stalling outside the Top 40, peaking at #64...
(1987) - Man in MotionMan in Motion (Night Ranger album)Man in Motion is the fifth studio album released in 1988 by the hard rock/arena rock band Night Ranger. Original Night Ranger keyboardist Alan Fitzgerald had left the band prior to recording sessions for the album, and new keyboardist Jesse Bradman is featured as his replacement...
(1988) - Greatest Hits (1989)
- Live in JapanLive in Japan (Night Ranger album)Live In Japan is a Night Ranger live album released in 1990. The concert was recorded during their 1988 Japanese Man In Motion tour.Jesse Bradman played the keyboards on this tour....
(1990) - Feeding Off the MojoFeeding off the MojoFeeding Off The Mojo is the sixth studio album by Night Ranger, released on October 17, 1995 on Drive Entertainment Records. It is the only album with bassist/vocalist Gary Moon."Music Box" was written by Moon before joined the group....
(1995) - Rock in Japan '97 (Japanese release) (1997)
- NeverlandNeverland (Night Ranger album)Neverland is the seventh studio album by Night Ranger, released on July 22, 1997. This album featured a reunion of all five original bandmembers, and was their first time they recorded together in a decade...
(1997) - SevenSeven (Night Ranger album)Seven is the eighth studio album by Night Ranger, released on July 14, 1998. All original members are present on this follow-up to 1997's Neverland.Tommy Shaw of Styx fame co-wrote the track "Kong" with Jack Blades.Two singles were released...
(1998) - Keep Rockin': Best Selection '97–'98 (1998)
- Rock Masterpiece Collection (1998)
- Rock in Japan: Greatest Hits Live (1999)
- The Millennium Collection (2000)
- 20th Century Masters: The Best of Night Ranger (2000)
- Rock Breakout Years: 1984 (live) (2005)
- Hits, Acoustic & RaritiesHits, Acoustic & RaritiesHits, Acoustic & Rarities is an album by Night Ranger....
(rerecorded hits) (2005) - The Best of Night Ranger Live (2006)
- Night Ranger Live (2007)
- Extended Versions (live) (2007)
- Hole in the SunHole in the SunHole in the Sun is the ninth and latest studio album by Night Ranger, released internationally on April 23, 2007 with Frontiers Records. The album was released in the U.S...
(released internationally) (2007) - Hole in the SunHole in the SunHole in the Sun is the ninth and latest studio album by Night Ranger, released internationally on April 23, 2007 with Frontiers Records. The album was released in the U.S...
(released in the U.S.) (2008)
Kelly Keagy
- Time PassesTime PassesTime Passes is the debut solo album by Kelly Keagy.The track "Wrong Again" was written and demoed by the Gary Moon-led Night Ranger in the early 1990s.-Track listing:# "Anything Goes" – 4:19 Time Passes is the debut solo album by Kelly Keagy.The track "Wrong Again" was written and demoed by the...
(2001) - I'm AliveI'm Alive (Kelly Keagy album)I'm Alive is a solo album released by former Night Ranger's drummer Kelly Keagy. Released in 2006 on Frontiers Records, it features Jim Peterik, Reb Beach, and Michael Lardie.-Track listing:# "I'm Alive" - 4:36# "Stolen" - 4:36...
(2007)