Career
Keen was born in Ealing, London. Before joining Thunderclap Newman, Keen shared a flat with and worked as a chauffeur for Pete Townshend of The Who. He is famous among fans of The Who for writing "Armenia City in the Sky" which was recorded on the album The Who Sell Out (1967). This was the only song The Who ever performed that was specifically written for the group by a non-member.'Armenia City in the Sky' was, apparently, inspired by a long-lost painting back in the 1960s. His first recorded song, however, was the 'Club of Lights' Reaction single by Oscar. He also notably wrote "Something in the Air" for Thunderclap Newman and recorded 2 solo albums for Track and Island both of which have been released on CD recently by Esoteric (Cherry Red). 'I promise you' from the second album was used in the American TV series,'The big C'. Keen was later a record producer for The Heartbreakers and Motörhead.
As a session musician Keen played for others such as, Rod Stewart, The Mission and Kenny G. He also provided music for television advertisements and television programmes such as The Zoo. As a writer, apart from 'Something In The Air' - which has been covered by numerous artists, he wrote songs for Oscar (Club of lights), The Swinging Blue Jeans (Somethings Coming Along) and Crokodile Tears (Your Love).
Keen died of heart failure in March 2002, at the age of 56.
Read more about this topic: John "Speedy" Keene
Famous quotes containing the word career:
“My ambition in life: to become successful enough to resume my career as a neurasthenic.”
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“In time your relatives will come to accept the idea that a career is as important to you as your family. Of course, in time the polar ice cap will melt.”
—Barbara Dale (b. 1940)
“He was at a starting point which makes many a man’s career a fine subject for betting, if there were any gentlemen given to that amusement who could appreciate the complicated probabilities of an arduous purpose, with all the possible thwartings and furtherings of circumstance, all the niceties of inward balance, by which a man swings and makes his point or else is carried headlong.”
—George Eliot [Mary Ann (or Marian)