JACK PONTI - WHEN THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE - VOLUME #2
In the late 80s and early 90s, Ponti co-wrote songs for Bon Jovi, Alice Cooper, Keel, Trixter, Nelson, Kane Roberts, Joe Lynn Turner, Bonfire and other artists. He also produced and wrote albums for hard rock and glam metal bands Babylon A.D., Baton Rouge, Doro and for his own band Surgin
Ultra Rare. Awesome 1981-91 Demo Versions later recorded by Other TOP Artists/ Bands. Feat Awesome Melodic Rock/ AOR Luminaries (Ex-Surgin/John Bongiovi) !!!
TRACKLIST
1.If I ever fall
2.Take me back
3.Turn on
4.Stop the rain from fallin'
5.A little taste of dangerous
6.Lonely little thing
7.Jet black
8.Too hot to sleep
9.Who do you run to
10.Written in fire
11.How many tears
12.Win some lose some
13.Fallin to pieces
14.Hands of time
15.Hands of time #2
16.Tear it down
17.Love strikes
18.Heart of the fire
LEAD VOCALS
Jeff Scott Soto, Stan Bush, Al Fritsch, Erika, Kelly Keeling, Russell Arcara, ...
SONGWRITERS
Jack ponti, Vic Pepe, Kelly Keeling, Lance Bulen, Stan Bush, Alice Cooper, Mark Mangold, Randy Jackson, ...
-----------------------------
Jack Ponti
Born February 16, 1958
Origin Red Bank, New Jersey, USA
Genres Rock, hard rock
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter, record producer, talent manager, CEO
Instruments guitar, bass, keyboards
Years active 1970s–present
Jack Ponti (born February 16, 1958) is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, manager, label executive, and consultant.
Career
Ponti is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, manager, label executive, and consultant who started his career in the music business playing guitar in the rock band The Rest in his native New Jersey in the late 70s.[1] The Rest featured a young Jon Bon Jovi as vocalist, but despite promotion by other successful New Jersey musicians, such as Southside Johnny and members of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, and a demo produced by Billy Squier, did not obtain a recording contract and split up.[1] Jon Bon Jovi went to form his own band Bon Jovi, which in the following years gained worldwide success and multi-million record sales, while Ponti found a job as songwriter and producer for other rock bands. The late music business legend Ahmet Ertegun gave Ponti his first production job and the two grew close.
In the late 80s and early 90s, Ponti co-wrote songs for Bon Jovi, Alice Cooper, Keel, Trixter, Nelson, Kane Roberts, Joe Lynn Turner, Bonfire and other artists.[2] He also produced and wrote albums for hard rock and glam metal bands Babylon A.D., Baton Rouge, Doro and for his own band Surgin', which he had created in 1985 at the insistence of his then managers. Surgin' disbanded after one record, though subsequent compilations have been released of early demos. Surgin' still has a strong following in the AOR community.[3]
During the last period of popularity of glam metal, he was deeply involved with American glam metal bands Skid Row and Nelson.[1][4] In 1991 he retired from the music business for a few years. During this time he built a gym, a martial arts school, and devoted his energies to martial arts and dogs, especially the rare breed Fila Brasileiro.[1]
He came back in 1996, approaching the music business as a talent manager and record label owner.[1] In 1998, he founded CazzyDog Management and became the manager of R&B artist and Grammy Awards winner India.Arie who was nominated for a record 7 Grammy awards as a debut artist, a record that is still held by her today. Other clients in the CazzyDog roster included: Boyz II Men, Az Yet, Mike E., Pru, and Scarface. Amongst the writer/producers they managed were Carlos (Six July) Broady. N.O. Joe Johnson, Mary Brown, all of the writers under Teddy Riley, and a host of others.
In 2004 he founded both Bardic Records and the Platform Group. Both companies were designed to work within the ever expanding "indie" sector. Both ventures were dismantled after a reconfiguration.[1][4]
He is currently the CEO of Merovingian Music, a non-genre record label founded in 2006, with strong partnerships within the industry and a roster of pop, indie rock, hip hop and heavy metal artists.[5] Merovingian Music currently has joint ventures with both Capitol Records and Jive Records and has recently merged with C.E Music, a label owned by David Letterman's Worldwide Pants production company.
Discography
Produced albums
Surgin' – When Midnight Comes (1985)
Baton Rouge – Shake Your Soul (1990)
Baton Rouge – Lights out on the Playground (1991)
China Rain – Bed of Nails (1992)
Lance Keltner – Lance Keltner (1992)
Doro – Angels Never Die (1993)
Doro – Machine II Machine (1995)
Baton Rouge – Baton Rouge (1997)
Angry Tears – Angry Tears (2000)
Holyday Express – Greatest Hits (2000)
Sinopoli – The Eyes Never Lie (2002)
Surgin' – Tokyo Rose (2003)
Surgin' – Electric Nights the Final Chapter (2003)
Jack Ponti Presents vol. 1 (2003)
Kittie – Funeral for Yesterday (2007)
Otep – Smash the Control Machine (2009)
Runner Runner – Runner Runner (2011)
Singles written or co-written
Bon Jovi – "Shot Through the Heart" from the album Bon Jovi (1984)
Glen Burtnik – "Follow You" from the album Heroes & Zeroes (1987)
Keel – "Somebody's Waiting" from the album Keel (1987)
Bonfire – "Sweet Obsession" from the album Fireworks (1987)
Bonfire – "Hard on Me" from the album Point Blank (1989)
Babylon A.D. – "The Kid Goes Wild" from the album Babylon A.D. (1989)
Baton Rouge – "The Price of Love" from the album Lights out on the Playground (1991)
Alice Cooper – "Hey Stoopid", "Love's a Loaded Gun" from the album Hey Stoopid (1991)
Doro – "Enough for You", "Bad Blood" and "Last Day of My Life" from the album Angels Never Die (1993)
Eric Gales Band – "Paralyzed" from the album Picture of a Thousand Faces (1993)
Doro – "Ceremony" and "In Freiheit Stirbt Mein Herz" from the album Machine II Machine (1995)
Nelson – "We Always Want What We Can't Get" from the album Imaginator (1997)
Melvin Taylor & The Slack Band – "Bang That Bell" from the album Bang That Bell (2000)
Credits
Year Album Artist
2018 Forever Warriors Doro Composer
2012 Can't Stop Issa Composer
2012 Rockin' in Cleveland 1984 Bon Jovi Composer
2012 Start Over Blake Executive Producer
2011 Pure... Drive Composer
2011 Ultimate Guide to Rock Anthems Composer
2010 Before the Rain Nelson Composer, Lyricist
2010 Runner Runner Runner Runner Executive Producer, A&R
2010 Tour Box Bon Jovi Composer
2009 Once Upon a Lie The Sunstreak Mastering
2009 Smash the Control Machine Otep Executive Producer
2008 World's Best Dad Gift Set Composer
2007 20 Years a Warrior Soul Doro Composer
2007 Angel Down Sebastian Bach A&R
2007 Funeral for Yesterday Kittie Producer, Engineer, Arranger, Audio Engineer, Audio Production, Art Conception
2007 No. 1 Rock Album Composer
2007 World's Best Dad [2007] Composer
2006 Chronicles Bon Jovi Composer
2006 Collections Alice Cooper Composer
2006 Sunstorm Sunstorm Composer, Lyricist
2004 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Nelson Nelson Composer
2004 Eyes Never Lie Sinopoli Guest Artist, Producer, Consultant
2003 Electric Nights Final Chapter Surgin' Composer
2003 Hell Is Alice Cooper Composer
2003 Jack Ponti Presents Volume 1 Jack Ponti Primary Artist, Liner Notes, Composer
2003 Poison Alice Cooper Composer
2003 Tokyo Rose Surgin' Liner Notes, Vocals, Guitar, Composer
2002 Bon Jovi/7800 Farenheit Bon Jovi Composer
2002 Mutations: A Tribute to Alice Cooper Composer
2002 United: 02 - The Sound of the Underground Composer
2002 Very Best Bonfire Bonfire Composer
2001 Acoustic Soul India.Arie Management
2001 Ballads Doro Composer
2001 The Definitive Alice Cooper Alice Cooper Composer
2000 Bang That Bell Melvin Taylor & the Slack Band Composer
2000 Best of Doro Doro Composer
2000 Classic Rock, Vol. 3 [Platinum Disc] Composer
2000 Don't Touch the Light/Fire Works Bonfire Composer
2000 Greatest Hits Holiday Express Producer, Engineer
2000 Pru Pru Direction, Management
1999 I Wanna Rock Composer
1999 I Wanna Rock, Vol. 2 Composer
1999 Live in Your Face Babylon A.D. Composer
1999 Super Hits Alice Cooper Composer
1999 The Life & Crimes of Alice Cooper Alice Cooper Composer
1999 Turn Me Loose!: The Very Best of Fabian Fabian Composer
1998 A Nice Nightmare [Sony Special Products] Alice Cooper Composer
1998 Angels Never Die Doro Producer, Engineer, Arranger, Mixing, Guitar, Keyboards, Guitar (Bass), Vocals (Background), Composer
1998 Freedom for Frankenstein: Hits & Pieces 1984-1991 Alice Cooper Composer
1998 Machine II Machine Doro Producer, Engineer, Guitar, Vocals (Background), Bass, Composer
1998 Most Wanted 1991 Composer
1998 Naked Brownie Mary Composer
1998 The Finest of Hard-Rock, Vol. 4 Composer
1997 A Nice Nightmare [Excelsior] Alice Cooper Composer
1997 Baton Rouge Baton Rouge Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards, Composer
1997 Hot & Slow: The Best of the Ballads Bonfire Composer
1996 Game Recognize Game Daddy D Composer
1996 Imaginator Nelson Composer
1996 The Early Years Geoff Moore Composer
1995 Because They Can Nelson Composer
1995 Classicks Alice Cooper Composer
1995 Half of the 90's Composer
1995 Live...The Best Bonfire Composer
1994 Foundations Geoff Moore & the Distance Composer
1993 Picture of a Thousand Faces Eric Gales / Eric Gales Band Composer
1993 Wake up Screaming Every Mother's Nightmare Composer
1992 Lance Keltner Lance Keltner Producer
1992 Nothing Sacred Babylon A.D. Composer
1991 Bed of Nails China Rain Producer, Engineer, Arranger, Composer
1991 Hard & Hot (Best of Bon Jovi) Bon Jovi Composer
1991 Hey Stoopid Alice Cooper Arranger, Vocals (Background), Vocal Arrangement, Composer
1991 In the Red Airkraft Composer
1991 Lights Out on the Playground Baton Rouge Producer, Engineer, Arranger, Mixing, Vocal Arrangement, Composer
1990 Shake Your Soul Baton Rouge Producer
1990 Trixter Trixter Composer
1989 Babylon A.D. Babylon A.D. Composer
1989 Point Blank Bonfire Composer
1988 Feel the Shake Jetboy Composer
1987 Fire Works Bonfire Composer
1987 Wanted Dead or Alive Bon Jovi Composer
1985 When Midnight Comes Surgin' Arranger, Vocals, Guitar, Production Engineer
1984 Bon Jovi Bon Jovi Composer
100 Hits: The Best Rock & Power Ballads Composer
Byte the Bullet Bonfire Composer
Dad Songs Composer
Drew's Famous Halloween Fun House The Hit Crew Composer
Live @ XXV Babylon A.D. Composer
Monsters of Rock Alice Cooper Composer
Party Tyme Karaoke: Rock Male Hits 2 Party Tyme Karaoke Composer
Re-Volt Derek Davis Composer
The Many Faces of Alice Cooper Composer
Surgin
This US melodic hard rock group was founded in 1984 by former Rest members Tommy Swift (drums) and Jack Ponti (guitar, vocals). Enlisting the services of Russel Arcara (vocals), John Capra (keyboards), Gay Shapiro (keyboards) and Michael King (bass, vocals), they debuted in 1985 with When Midnight Comes. This featured the Bon Jovi track, ‘Shot Through The Heart’, which was written by Ponti and Jon Bon Jovi, while they were both part of Rest. Elsewhere the album was comprised of infectious hard rock anthems, underscored by strong melody lines, and was critically acclaimed at the time of release. In spite of tours supporting Aerosmith and Ratt, Surgin’ failed to achieve commercial success. As Ponti concentrated on session work and composing for other artists, Surgin’ became redundant. The album was reissued in 2001 by Zoom Club.
WHEN MIDNIGHT COMES
Nelson Ayres Assistant Engineer
Jon Bon Jovi Guest Artist
Danny Caccavo Engineer
Carol Chen Design
Rob Freeman Engineer, Mixing, Production Engineer
Gary Hellman Engineer
Michael King Bass, Vocals
John Luongo Arranger, Editing, Mixing, Producer, Programming
George Marino Mastering
Vic Pepe Production Coordination
Jack Ponti Arranger, Guitar, Production Engineer, Vocals
Mick Seeley Choir/Chorus
Frank Simms Choir/Chorus
Steve Simms Choir/Chorus
Surgin' Primary Artist
Jack Waldman Digital Programming
TOKYO ROSE
Russell Arcara Vocals
John Capra Composer, Keyboards, Vocals
Crusoe Artwork, Mastering
Geoff Gillespie Project Coordinator
Richard Hughes Engineer, Mixing, Producer
Michael King Bass, Vocals
Vic Pepe Production Coordination
Jack Ponti Composer, Guitar, Liner Notes, Vocals
Surgin' Arranger, Primary Artist
Tommy Swift Drums
ELECTRIC NIGHTS FINAL CHAPTER
Geoff Gillespie A&R
Jack Ponti Composer
Surgin' Primary Artist
JACK PONTI PRESENTS VOLUME 1
Sebastian Bach Primary Artist
Baton Rouge Primary Artist
Richard Black Composer, Primary Artist
Martin Briley Composer
Lance Bulen Composer, Primary Artist
Glen Burtnick Composer
Glen Burtnik Primary Artist
Stan Bush Composer, Primary Artist
Eric Gales Composer, Primary Artist
Eugene Gales Composer
Geoff Gillespie A&R
Kelly Keeling Composer, Primary Artist
Gunnar Nelson Composer, Primary Artist
Matt Nelson Primary Artist
Matthew Nelson Composer, Primary Artist
Vic Pepe Composer
Jack Ponti Composer, Liner Notes, Primary Artist
Dave Sabo Primary Artist
Will Sexton Composer, Primary Artist
Baton Rouge
Background information
Origin Pearl River, Louisiana, USA
Genres Hard rock, glam metal
Years active 1986–1991, 1997, 2009
Labels Atlantic, East West, MTM Music
Past members Kelly Keeling
Lance Bulen
Scott Bender
Corky McClellan
David Cremin
Tony Palmucci
Keith Harrison
Harold Knappenburger
Brian Scott
Jack Ponti
Pat Schick
Guy Daniel
Camus Celli Road Crew = Clint Letulier, Rick LeJeune, John O'Brien and Bill Teague
Baton Rouge were an American hard rock band, formed in 1986 in Pearl River, Louisiana.[1] The band produced two albums and enjoyed limited success during the final part of the hair metal explosion in the early 1990s, (never actually broke up)before disbanding.[2] All the band members went on to work with other hard rock recording artists Lance Bulen (Puzzle Gut and Kingbaby). Vocalist and guitarist Kelly Keeling performed with Michael Schenker Group and Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
History
The group was originally composed by Lance Bulen (vocals), Kelly Keeling (guitars and keyboards), Keith Harrison (bass) and Harold Knappenberger III (drums).[3] The group began their career under the name Voices, later changed to Cheetah, then to Meridian, finally changed to "Baton Rouge" which Ahmet Ertegun asked for, so some roots from Louisiana would be part of the name and because of the similar name of the band Melidian.[3]
The band relocated to Los Angeles in 1987, experiencing changes of personnel and roles within the group.[3] Keeling assumed the role of frontman after producer/songwriter David Foster sat down with Lance and said that Kelly's voice for the songs fit your band better. After that inspiring conversation, Bulen became lead guitarist backing vocalist, bassist Bryan Scott and drummer Corky McClellan.[3] The band, still under the name Cheetah, signed to MCA Records and produced a demo and a song with Jack Ponti, before Scott departed and was replaced by Scott Bender. In 1989, after only six shows in Los Angeles clubs, Atlantic Records put the band under contract .[4] With the collaboration of the two songwriting members of the band Surgin’, Jack Ponti and Vic Pepe (the first had worked on the first album of Bon Jovi), Baton Rouge began rehearsing material for their first album.[4] Meanwhile, in 1989, Keeling, Bulen, and Ponti, contributed some songs for the album Point Blank of the German hard rock band Bonfire.
The debut album of Baton Rouge, Shake Your Soul , was published in 1990 with the production of Jack Ponti.[5] The album saw the participation of several guest musicians, from drummer Frankie LaRocka of Company of Wolves and the band of John Waite, to Joey Franco, drummer of Good Rats and Twisted Sister, to Bobby Gordon and Randy Cantor on keyboards.[6] The track "There Was a Time (The Storm)" was co-written with Jaime Kyle.[5] Keyboard player David Cremin, is credited in the album and is pictured on the back cover but he did not participate in the recordings.[4] Shake Your Soul peaked at No. 160 in the U.S. charts.[7]
Baton Rouge underwent a change of label and another change of formation for the recording of their second album, with the addition of former Keel guitarist Tony Palmucci in place of Cremin.[3] Their second album Lights Out on the Playground was released in 1991 and included the song "Desperate", written by Jack Ponti and also previously recorded by Babylon AD on their album with the same name.[3] The album did not enter the American charts and was a commercial failure.[8] Keeling was very unsatisfied with the music Baton Rouge had been playing and of the band itself, so when he received the offer to enter in Blue Murder, a group founded by guitarist John Sykes (Tygers of Pan Tang, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake), he accepted the proposal.[9] Consequently, Baton Rouge disbanded in 1991.[3]
After the dissolution
Kelly Keeling performed with Blue Murder until 1994 and then collaborated with former Europe guitarist John Norum (1995–1997), Michael Schenker (1999), Erik Norlander (2003), Dokken (2004) and George Lynch (2004) for both their tours and solo efforts. He also pursues a solo career as musician and vocalist.[10] In 2006 he became the vocalist of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.[11]
Lance Bulen collaborated with Paul Sabu and Dave Spitz, former bassist of White Lion and Black Sabbath, in a quartet called Insomnia (1993–1994)[3] and in 1996 founded the band Puzzlegut, with former member of XYZ Patt Fontain. Bulen finally formed the band KingBaby in 2004, where he is the lead vocalist and guitarist.[12] He has also worked as touring and session musician with many rock artists during his career after Baton Rouge dissolution.[13]
Tony Palmucci was a session and touring player for Twisted Sister's vocalist Dee Snider solo projects.[4]
In 1997, Jack Ponti returned to record production after a few years hiatus with a new Baton Rouge album based on some old demos and recruited Keeling as vocalist for the project. Ponti played guitars and keyboards on the album, with the help of bassist Pat Schick, keyboard player Guy Daniel and drummer Camus Celli. In September 1997, the German label MTM Music published the album under the title Baton Rouge. Two of the tracks included on the album were written in collaboration with Stan Bush and "Love's a Loaded Gun" was a cover of the song composed by Ponti, Vic Pepe and Alice Cooper, which appeared on Cooper’s album Hey Stoopid of 1991.[3] The reformed Baton Rouge lasted only for the recording the album. In fact, Keeling never considered the group as a reunion of Baton Rouge.[4][9]
The original line-up of Baton Rouge reunited in 2009 to perform at the Rocklahoma rock music festival held in Pryor, Oklahoma.[14] A permanent reunion of the band never materialized.
Band members
Initial Lineup
Kelly Keeling – vocals, guitars, keyboards (1986–1991, 1997, 2009)
Lance Bulen – guitars, vocals (1986–1991, 2009)
Keith Harrison - bass (1986-1987)
Harold Knappenberger - drums (1986-1987)
Subsequent Members
Bryan Scott - bass (1987-1988)
Scott Bender - bass, (1989–1991, 2009)
Corky McClellan – drums, percussion, acoustic guitar (1987–1991, 2009)
David Cremin – guitar, keyboards (1990–1991, 2009)
Tony Palmucci – guitar, (1991)
1997 Album Contributors
Jack Ponti - guitar, keyboards (1997)
Pat Schick - bass (1997)
Guy Daniel - keyboards, bass (1997)
Camus Celli - drums (1997)
2009 Rocklahoma Participants
Kelly Keeling – vocals, guitar, keyboards (1986–1991, 1997, 2009)
Lance Bulen – guitar, vocals (1986–1991, 2009)
Scott Bender - bass, (1989–1991, 2009)
Corky McClellan – drums, (1987–1991, 2009)
David Cremin – guitar, keyboards (1990–1991, 2009)
Timeline
Discography
Studio albums
Shake Your Soul (1990) (U.S. No. 160)
The bayou boys of Baton Rouge rode in on the final hair wave, injecting just a hint of funk (not enough to make a difference). Unlike the band's innovative brethren in Faith No More or even Extreme, Baton Rouge concentrates on nothing more challenging than the age-old concept of girls, girls, and more girls; this limited paradigm considerably constricted the group's commercial impact in the angst-ridden '90s, but sure makes Shake Your Soul a fun spin. The big-bang production, shot through with crystal keyboards, conjures bands like Warrant that hurt hair's credibility, as well as talented units like T-Ride that suffered thereafter. Anyone with a passing interest in party metal will enjoy connecting the dots: "Doctor" burns to the bone, "Young Hearts" apes Rod Stewart (or is it Axe?), and lead huffer Kelly Keeling's Hagar-isms are impossible to ignore on "Baby's So Cool" and radio flash "Walks Like a Woman" (which strategically name-checks the album). "There Was a Time" quotes REO and Bryan Adams (or are these phrases just so trite the source is lost forever?) plus the almighty Aerosmith. The quintet even cops to cliché-wielding when showing a softer side in "It's About Time." Most telling, "Melenie" actually derives from misunderstood maestro Winger's "Madalaine." None of the above tunes, nor the powers of Jack Ponti (whose mighty micro-movement also included Alice Cooper and China Rain), made Shake Your Soul anything more than a fading footnote in the history of hair, but nothing's wrong with wanting nothing but a good time.
Baton Rouge Primary Artist
Scott Bender Guest Artist
Scott Bender Bass, Vocals
Lance Bulen Guest Artist
Randy Cantor Keyboards
David Cremin Guest Artist, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
Joe Franco Drums
Bobby Gordon Keyboards
Kelly Keeling Guest Artist, Guitar, Vocals
Frankie La Rocka Percussion
Corky McClellan Guest Artist
Corky McClellan Drums, Percussion, Vocals
Jack Ponti Producer
Lights Out on the Playground (1991)
Credits
Artist Credit
Baton Rouge Primary Artist
Scott Bender Bass, Composer, Vocals
Lance Bulen Composer, Guitar, Vocals
Tamara Champlin Composer
Derek Davis Composer
Kelly Keeling Composer, Vocals
Corky McClellan Composer, Drums, Percussion, Vocals
Tony Palmucci Composer, Guitar, Vocals
Vic Pepe Associate Producer, Composer
Bob Pfeifer Composer
Jack Ponti Composer, Producer
Baton Rouge (1997)
Baton Rouge Primary Artist
Stan Bush Composer
Camus Mare Celli Associate Producer, Drums, Engineer, Mixing, Percussion
Alice Cooper Composer
Kelly Keeling Composer, Guitar, Vocals
Jack Ponti Composer, Engineer, Guitar, Keyboards, Mixing, Producer, Vocals
Compilation albums
The Hottest of Baton Rouge (2006)
Music Videos
Walks Like A Woman (1990)
The Price Of Love (1991)
Kelly Keeling
Birth name Kelly Keeling
Born June 25, 1966 (age 53)
Origin Lafayette, Louisiana, United States
Genres Hard rock, blues-rock, heavy metal, Progressive metal
Occupation(s) Musician, singer, songwriter, record producer
Instruments Vocals, guitar, bass, piano,multi instrumentalist
Years active 1980–present
Labels Mascot Records
Associated acts Baton Rouge, FOUNDRY, Blue Murder, John Norum, Carmine Appice's Guitar Zeus, Michael Schenker Group, Heaven and Earth, Erik Norlander, King Kobra, Lynch Mob, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, O'2L
Kelly Keeling (born June 25, 1966) is an American musician and songwriter. Keeling started playing at the age of 14 and first appeared on the music scene as the lead singer of the American heavy metal band Baton Rouge.[1] In his career, he worked with many major hard rock acts, wrote movie soundtracks and played also with Christian rock bands.[2]
Biography
At the age of 14 Kelly earned a GED and commenced a career in music, which has led him all over the world several times as a recording artist, singer, songwriter, multi instrumentalist, and producer.
Starting with being signed by Ahmet Ertegun of Atlantic Records with the band Baton Rouge put him in the public eye with MTV, AOR radio exposure, and two USA tours.
This was a busy year as Kelly Keeling worked on Alice Cooper's Hey Stoopid album for which he co-wrote the song “Snakebite”, and sang background vocals. He also wrote songs for the movie Rich Girl.
After the release of the third album Baton Rouge, the band split due to Kelly joining Blue Murder where he met Carmine Appice and Tony Franklin.
Kelly and Yngwie Malmsteen recorded "Speed King" for a Deep Purple Tribute - Smoke on the Water.
Kelly became vocalist for the John Norum Band, produced two albums, and toured in Sweden. Kelly appears on the albums Another Destination and Worlds Away.
Kelly then became singer, songwriter, producer, guitarist, and keyboardist for Carmine Appice’s Guitar Zeus first three albums: Guitar Zeus, ... (Japan), and Guitar Zeus 2 Channel Mind Radio.
He co-wrote/contributed two songs for the movie “Dish Dogs”. Kelly also appears, along with Denny Laine, Roger Daltrey, and Carmine Appice, on the movie soundtrack "Chasing Destiny" which Kelly wrote, produced and performed songs and scored. Kelly also scored the soundtrack for the movie "Totally Irresponsible".
In 2000 Kelly appears on the Grand Funk Railroad tribute A Tribute to Grand Funk Railroad ... an American Band.
In 2001 he sang on Heaven & Earth's Windows to the World, King Kobra's Hollywood Trash and played keyboards and sang harmony on ...'s Doin' Business As...
He became the Michael Schenker Group vocalist for the albums The Unforgiven & The Unforgiven World Tour. He also appeared on the 25th anniversary CD Tales of Rock 'n' Roll featuring all MSG singers. Kelly wrote three songs for this album, two for previous MSG vocalists Graham Bonnet and Gary Barden and one for himself ("Big Deal") which opens the album.
Kelly was recruited by Don Dokken to step in as assistant songwriter, background vocalist and producer for 7 songs on Dokken's CD Long Way Home. 2004 - Kelly again writes and produces with Dokken for the album Hell to Pay. Then he was also featured on album Furious George and toured with George Lynch.
Kelly was featured as vocalist on Erik Norlander’s album Music Machine and European tour in June where they also performed songs from Kelly's solo album, which was in the mixing stage at that time. This three-piece band featuring Erik Norlander and Vinnie Appice, performed shows as Kelly Keeling during a three-day festival. In the fall of summer 2004 he toured again as singer and bassist with Lana Lane and Erik Norlander in the USA, Europe, and Russia. He also released live album Stars Rain Down.
Giving Sight to the Eye is Kelly’s first solo album featuring Kerry Livgren, Roger Daltrey, Don Dokken, Denny Laine, Tony Franklin, Carmine Appice & Vinnie Appice (Black Sabbath, Dio) among other friends he has met along the way.
He also appears on Jack Ponti's Jack Ponti Presents, Volume 1.
Keeling recorded and toured with the bands O'2L, featuring all members of the west coast branch of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and recorded eight songs intended for another solo album which eventually appeared in the first studio album of the project Paris Keeling with executive producer Marty Paris. He started his solo recording career with the album Giving Sight to the Eye in 2005. In those years, he toured with Erik Norlander, Trans-Siberian Orchestra (he received gold and platinum album awards from TSO) and Wayne Morrisson's Rock4Xmas, featuring Badfinger member Joey Molland. On this tour he performed backing vocals for Eddie Money and did his solo career retrospective set The Kelly Keeling Show, with band mates Ethan Brosh, Alex Pierce and Dave Vandiggitty.
In 2012, Kelly formed the band Balance with guitarist/co- writer Kim Roy, formerly of the band Kingdom, and reunited Baton Rouge for a new recording to appear on Frontier Records, which was cancelled in 2013.[3]
In 2015 Keeling signed on as the Lead Singer with FOUNDRY, an American Rock Bank from Las Vegas featuring Kelly on vocals, Marc Brattin, drums and James Fucci, guitar. The debut FOUNDRY record, released January 15, 2015, is 10 Hard Rock/Pop song engineered by Matt Breunig (The Killers) and mixed by 7x Grammy Award Producer Steve Thompson (Guns N' Roses, KISS, Metallica, Korn and Soundgarden). Keeling, Brattin and Fucci are now composing original works for a second album to be released January 2017.
Keeling also continues to play in Louisiana doing his Piano Show and a monthly Beatles Night featuring local High School Choirs and College Horn Sections.
Discography
Solo albums
Giving Sight to the Eye (2005)
Lime Green Limousine with Marc Zimmerman (2010)
Mind Radio (2015)
With FOUNDRY
Blinded (2015)
Mind Radio (2015)
Get Over It (2015)
Rolling Stoned (2015)
Calling Allah (2015)
Hell Raiser (2015)
Shake (2015)
False Alarm (2015)
Television (2015)
Vegas Baby! (2015)
With Baton Rouge
Studio albums
Shake Your Soul (1990)
Lights Out on the Playground (1991)
Baton Rouge (1997)
Compilation albums
The Hottest of Baton Rouge (2006)
With John Norum
Studio albums
Another Destination (1995)
Worlds Away (1996)
With Carmine Appice's Guitar Zeus
Studio albums
Carmine Appice's Guitar Zeus (1995)
Guitar Zeus II: Channel Mind Radio (1997)
Conquering Heroes (2009)
Compilation albums
Ultimate Guitar Zeus (2006)
With MSG
Studio albums
The Unforgiven (1999)
Tales of Rock'n'Roll (2006)
Live albums
The Unforgiven World Tour (1999)
Compilation albums
Forever and More, The Best of Michael Schenker (2004)
Greatest Riffs (2009)
With King Kobra
Hollywood Trash (2001)
With Heaven and Earth
Windows to the World (2001)
With Erik Norlander
Music Machine (2003)
Stars Rain Down (2004)
Live in St. Petersburg (2006)
Hommage Symphonique (2007)
With George Lynch
Furious George (2004)
With Paris Keeling
End of Ride (2006)
End of Ride Revisited (2009)
With O'2L
Eat a Pickle (2007)
Other appearances
Alice Cooper – Hey Stoopid (songwriting and backing vocals – 1991)
Blue Murder – Nothin' but Trouble (backing vocals, lead vocals on "I’m On Fire" – 1993)
Dokken – Long Way Home (songwriting – 2002)
Jack Ponti Presents – Volume 1 (compilation – 2003)
Dokken – Hell to Pay (songwriting – 2004)
Lana Lane – Lady Macbeth (backing vocals – 2005)
Moonstone Project – Time to Take a Stand (guest vocalist – 2006)
JK Northrup – Wired in My Skin (guest vocalist – 2007)
The Screamin' Lords – Long Live Me (guest vocalist – 2007)
Liberty N' Justice – Independence Day (guest vocalist – 2007)
The Rocket Scientists – Looking Backward - The 2007 Sessions (guest vocalist- 2007)
Lana Lane – Gemini (backing vocals – 2007)
Don Dokken – Solitary (backing vocals – 2008)
Trans-Siberian Orchestra – Night Castle (backing vocals – 2009)
Moonstone Project – Hidden in Time (guest vocalist – 2009)
Liberty N' Justice – Light It Up (guest vocalist – 2010)
Chris Bickley – Tapestry of souls (guest vocalist – 2012)
FOUNDRY – Calling Allah (guest guitarist Michael Guy – 2015)
Tribute albums
Smoke on the Water: A Tribute to Deep Purple (1994)
A Tribute to Grand Funk Railroad...an American Band (2000)
A Millennium Tribute to Sammy Hagar (2006)
Soundtracks
Rich Girl (1991)
Dish Dogs (two songs – 1998)
Chasing Destiny (1998)
Totally Irresponsible (1998)
Killer Bud (2000)
Kill Speed (one song – 2010)
Credits
Year Album Artist
2020 Solitary Don Dokken Vocals (Background)
2016 Billion Dollar Babies: A Tribute to Alice Cooper's Greatest Hits Primary Artist
2014 Refuel Rocket Scientists Featured Artist, Vocals
2012 Legends Never Die King Kobra Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards, Bass, Composer, Guitar (Rhythm), Slide Guitar
2009 Greatest Riffs Michael Schenker Vocals, Composer
2009 Guitar Zeus: Conquering Heroes Carmine Appice Vocals, Keyboards, Vocals (Background), Guitar (Rhythm), Composer
2009 Night Castle Trans-Siberian Orchestra Vocals (Background)
2008 Hidden in Time Moonstone Project Guest Artist, Vocals, Vocal Harmony, Composer
2007 Long Live Me The Screamin' Lords Guest Artist, Additional Personnel, Vocals
2007 Wired in My Skin J.K. Northrup Composer
2006 Gemini Lana Lane Vocals, Vocal Harmony
2006 Hommage Symphonique Erik Norlander Vocals
2006 Hoochie Koo Once More Rick Derringer Keyboards, Vocals (Background), Guitar (Rhythm), Primary Artist
2006 Live in St. Petersburg Erik Norlander Vocals, Bass
2006 Tales of Rock N Roll Michael Schenker Vocals, Group Member, Composer
2006 Three Lock Box: A Millenium Tribute to Sammy Hagar Vocals, Primary Artist
2006 Time to Take a Stand Moonstone Project Vocals, Vocal Harmony
2006 Ultimate Guitar Zeus Carmine Appice / Carmine Appice Project Vocals, Keyboards, Vocals (Background), Guitar (Rhythm), Group Member, Composer
2005 Lady Macbeth Lana Lane Vocal Harmony
2004 Furious George George Lynch Main Personnel, Vocals, Keyboards
2004 Hell to Pay Dokken Composer
2004 Return to Japan Lana Lane Vocal Harmony
2003 Forever and More: The Best of Michael Schenker Michael Schenker Composer
2003 Jack Ponti Presents Volume 1 Jack Ponti Composer, Primary Artist
2003 Music Machine Erik Norlander Vocals, Vocal Harmony
2002 A Tribute to Grand Funk Railroad Primary Artist
2002 Guitar Zeus: Korea Carmine Appice Vocals, Keyboards, Vocals (Background), Bass, Guitar (Rhythm), Composer
2002 Long Way Home Dokken Composer
2002 Then & Now Dokken Composer
2001 Doin' Business As... Carmine Appice / Tim Bogert / DBA / Derringer / Bogert & Appice Keyboards, Vocals (Background), Musician
2001 Windows to the World Heaven & Earth Vocals, Synthesizer, Bass, Group Member
2000 Guitar Zeus: Japan Carmine Appice Vocals, Keyboards, Vocals (Background), Bass, Guitar (Rhythm)
2000 Slipped Into Tomorrow John Norum Composer
1999 The Unforgiven Michael Schenker / Michael Schenker Group Vocals, Composer
1999 The Unforgiven World Tour: Live Michael Schenker / Michael Schenker Group Composer
1998 A Nice Nightmare [Sony Special Products] Alice Cooper Composer
1998 Chapter One John Sykes Vocals (Background)
1998 Face It Live 1997 John Norum Composer
1997 A Nice Nightmare [Excelsior] Alice Cooper Composer
1997 Baton Rouge Baton Rouge Vocals, Guitar, Composer
1997 Guitar Zeus, Vol. 2: Channel Mind Radio Carmine Appice Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals (Background), Guitar (Rhythm), Composer
1997 Worlds Away John Norum Vocals, Keyboards, Composer
1996 Game Recognize Game Daddy D Composer
1996 Guitar Zeus Carmine Appice Vocals, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Piano, Vocal Harmony, Guitar (Rhythm), Composer
1995 Another Destination John Norum Vocals, Keyboards, Composer
1995 Smoke on the Water: A Tribute Vocals, Performer, Primary Artist
1993 Nothin' But Trouble Blue Murder Vocals, Vocals (Background)
1992 Face the Truth John Norum Composer
1991 Hey Stoopid Alice Cooper Vocals (Background), Composer
1991 Lights Out on the Playground Baton Rouge Vocals, Voices, Composer
1990 Shake Your Soul Baton Rouge Guest Artist, Vocals, Guitar
1989 Point Blank Bonfire Composer
1988 Feel the Shake Jetboy Composer
1985 Electric Messengers 220 Volt Composer
Carmine Appice's Guitar Heroes Carmine Appice / Carmine Appice's Guitar Heroes Vocals, Keyboards, Vocals (Background), Guitar (Rhythm), Composer
End of Ride Revisited Paris Keeling Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Fretless Bass, Organ (Hammond), Group Member, Bass, Bass (Electric), Guitar (12 String Acoustic), Producer, Vocals (Background)
Mind Radio Kelly Keeling Primary Artist, Vocals, Vocals (Background), Composer
One World, One Heart James Friedman Composer
Still Of The Night: A Millennium Tribute To Whitesnake Primary Artist, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Tapestry of Souls Chris Bickley Composer
The Dominic Didgeridoo Express Dominic Gaudious Vocals
The Many Faces of Alice Cooper Primary Artist