Every song Keith sings sounds like a hit, and that includes "Pickin' Wildflowers," his romping debut single for Arista Nashville. He's already proven himself as an ace songwriter with the Grammy-nominated "Beer Run (B Double E Double Are You In?)," recorded as a duet by Garth Brooks and George Jones, and "The Bed," recorded by the multi-Platinum Gretchen Wilson as a vocal event with Big & Rich.
Even before joining Arista, Keith Anderson had endorsement deals with Jim Beam, Bud Light, Gibson Guitars, GooGoo Clusters, Jodie Head, Jim Dunlop brand guitar processors, Nady Wireless Systems, and Elixir Strings. He has successfully self-marketed his own CDs and merchandise. Music Row magazine once dubbed him "an industrial-strength hunk" for his physique, blue eyes, and dazzling smile. While still an "unknown," he performed at festivals for crowds of 10,000 and more. To top it all off, he has personality to charm the birds from their trees and an infectious sense of humor.
"I've had a really blessed life," says the Oklahoma native. "Whatever I set my mind to do, I believe I can do."
Indeed. Within four years of forming his band and playing the Nashville nightclubs, it seemed like everybody on Music Row was talking about this new country music sensation. In the wake of "Beer Run," dozens of song publishers courted him. After a series of showcases in 2004, he was lured by five record companies.
"His sound hits home with the core country music audience, with Middle America," says RCA Label Group A&R Senior VP Renee Bell, who signed him to Arista. "His music has so much energy, and it's so much fun. It makes you feel good."
Just being around him does that. Keith Anderson was raised deeply religious - and there's a sense of decency in him. He was brought up in a small city - and there's an openhearted friendliness about him. He comes from a close-knit, loving family - and there's honest affection in his manner. He is an athlete - and there's a "team player" quality in his relationships.
Keith is a native of Miami, OK, a town of 10,000 or so, near the Arkansas border and its Ozark Mountains. His father LeRoy worked as a mechanic and handyman. His mother Janice ran a dog grooming business from home. When Keith was a boy, the Andersons began taking in foster children.
"They are amazing people," says Keith. "They are just angels on earth. There were always loads of kids around, all kinds of cousins. It's a big, hugging family. I still kiss my parents when I see them. They are very, very affectionate."
Keith, his younger brother Jason and his older brother Brian grew up to be best friends. Jason remained in Oklahoma, where he is a successful accountant who created Keith's original website. Brian built the computer system for NASA's Mission Control in Houston and developed a self-guided rocket ambulance that can ferry astronauts back to Earth from the space station. Brian's scientific renown is such that he has been featured on the Discovery Channel.
"That's why in my show, I joke and say, 'It really did take a rocket scientist to teach me to play guitar.'"
While gregarious Keith was excelling in sports, quiet Brian was alone in his room, practicing the guitar. At the senior high talent show, Brian sang Dan Fogelberg's "Longer," and the girls screamed. A light bulb went on over 14-year-old Keith's head.
"All these girls were going nuts, and he wasn't the athlete! That's when I got my first taste of how cool music was."
So as a teenager, he began backing his brother on drums at their local church. He bought records by the Eagles and fell in love with harmony singing. He learned the songs of Kenny Rogers, James Taylor, Boston, and Willie Nelson. He made his first attempts at writing his own. Then it was off to college and academic excellence.
Keith earned his engineering degree at Oklahoma State, graduating first in his class with a 3.9 GPA and playing baseball well enough to be approached by the Kansas City Royals. A shoulder injury ended his baseball career, but his commitment to physical fitness led to him placing second in the Mr. Oklahoma bodybuilding competition. All the while, he was tinkering with songwriting.
He was hired by a top construction-engineering firm in Dallas. The job paid quite well, but Keith quit it within a year and a half.
"I became obsessed with music. At that time, there were four major clubs in Dallas, and every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, there was somebody that I wanted to go see. I just started falling in love with music and began to try to write songs again. I went home at Christmas and asked my brother to teach me chords on the guitar."
