THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “In the early 1980s, saxophone colossus Bobby Keys — best known for his lengthy tenure with The Rolling Stones — recruited bandmates / drinking buddies / employers Ronnie Wood and Keith Richard to record what was intended as his sophomore solo album. Cut over the course of several years under the production of Jamaican reggae master Clive Hunt, the album was never released, and has remained buried in Hunt’s archives all these years. Until now.
Keys was born in Slaton, Lubbock County, Texas in 1943. Not knowing how to read music, he learned to play the saxophone on his own. At the age of 14, he met fellow Lubbock resident Buddy Holly at a gig near his home. While still a teenager, he toured with Buddy Knox and accompanied singer Bobby Vee on the Caravan of Stars tour, organized by Dick Clark.
In 1964, he discovered The Rolling Stones during a concert in San Antonio. With trumpeter Jim Price, he was one of the musicians recruited for their 1969 tour. He took part in the recording of several Stones albums, including Let It Bleed in 1969, Sticky Fingers in 1971 and Exile On Main Street in 1972. The famous saxophone solo on Brown Sugar is considered his most significant contribution. Born the same day as Keith Richards, he became one of the guitarist’s close friends and running buddies. He also served as Mick Jagger’s best man at the singer’s first marriage.
While most of his career was centred around The Rolling Stones, Keys also played for many artists, including The Who, B.B. King, John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Johnny Hallyday and Barbra Streisand. He participated in the recording of the albums Mad Dogs and Englishmen by Joe Cocker, All Things Must Pass by George Harrison and Cosmic Wheels by Donovan. In 1972, Warner Bros. released his self-titled solo album. The record brought featued ex-Beatles Harrison and Ringo Starr, and several friends of the veteran musician, including singer-bassist Jack Bruce, trumpeter Jim Price and pianist Nicky Hopkins.”
