Page 28 - the NOISE June 2016

KEITH OKIE AND FRIENDS
RAISING INSPIRATION
STORY BY JOE SCRIBNER
Keith Okie is no stranger to hard work. He’s a fulltime teacher of seventh and eighth graders in Cottonwood, a fulltime student earning a BA in business management, and a fulltime reggae musician with gigs booked through the end of the year. Plus, he’s a husband and new father of a baby boy. While some would crack from the pressure of a far less ambitious schedule, he not only perseveres, but thrives. I recently spoke with Mr. Okie and found through all of his sacrifice of sleep and spare time — tireless inspiration is what continues to fuel his musical quest to create and grow.
Mr. Okie grew up in an area of the country where the American reggae scene has been centered for decades — Southern California. “Music has always been a part of my life. My mother and father were both very much into music and were musically gifted,” he explains.
“When I was ten years old I heard Gregory Isaacs for the first time.”
From that moment on, reggae would be Mr. Okie’s go-to music genre of choice. “My family
was music oriented, but I’m the one who actually introduced reggae to the family,” he recalls. He attended high school in Laguna Beach and spent a lot of time in and around the Orange County music scene growing up. “Anywhere there’s a beach, there will be reggae,” Mr. Okie explains. Being surrounded by the genre wasn’t the only cause for his new passion. “I have always loved reggae music because it is truthful and full of love. It makes me feel happy and
that’s what I believe music is supposed to do.”
Mr. Okie was exposed to many different types of music in his household and his deep interest
proved there was no doubt he would become a musician himself. He began playing guitar and singing early on and quickly excelled at both. During his adolescence, he discovered an aspect of music he loved beyond his technical and creative abilities — playing alongside other musicians. He began to make friends who were also musicians, and he enjoyed the visceral dynamic of collaborating and playing music in a group. “When I first played with other musicians I found the energy and emotional connection very exciting. It doesn’t always happen, so when it does it’s very special,” he says.
Throughout his teens and twenties music remained at the forefront of what he loved to do. He eventually moved north and attended Humboldt State University where he studied music. He found himself surrounded by like-minded, talented musicians sharing in his passion who were also students of music. Music was all encompassing and it wasn’t long before he found his place within a talented group of young musicians as a lead guitarist and vocalist. His newly formed band consisted of fellow music students who called themselves The Dukes of Ted. They were all very accomplished students who were eager to create and play. The group began writing and rehearsing, and once enough songs were ready they purchased an old van, packed up their gear and hit the road.
Mr. Okie would spend the next two years touring the Southwest fronting the Dukes, doing what he loved most — creating and playing music. “We played funk and R&B with a lot of improvisational elements,” he reflects, naming the Grateful Dead as one of several bands who have influenced his own music. “It was an amazing adventure.” As carefree as it may have been, the band mates were still very young and the tour would inevitably end. No one had really thought much past the multiyear fun-filled musical expedition. With members hailing from all different parts of the country, each with different aspirations, inevitably the curtain was called and one by one they would make their way home. Mr. Okie now needed to decide where his place in the music world would be. He was a young man who led a band on the road for a long time, and was now a solo artist again. Deep down he knew there was more meaningful music within him still yet to be offered.
As a kid Mr. Okie visited Verde Valley often on family vacations. After he left for college and subsequently toured the Southwest, his family relocated from Southern California to Verde Valley. His family roots were now firmly planted in the high desert and it’s where he chose to return.
28 • JUNE 2016 • the NOISE arts & news • thenoise.us
PHOTO BY MARINA BLAZE
Soon after his move to Cottonwood, Arizona his daily tasks would take center stage. He would toil away for the next few years making a life for himself, finding time to write and perform his own music at small venues whenever possible. Reggae had real meaning to him and he loved to draw from other inspirational artists to fuse with his admired genre. He began transitioning between ska and a unique fusion of soul and reggae. Influences such as Otis Redding, Peter Tosh and Paul Simon helped to establish his desire to blend soul with reggae.
“Famous artists aren’t my only inspiration — I have always been inspired by the local musicians of the Verde Valley and Northern Arizona. There are some really talented people here who have influenced me as well,” Mr. Okie says.
Even though he was busy with life’s everyday business (by now he had a teaching career, a wife and a home) he managed to spread happiness around through his music now and then. All the while in his heart he knew one day he would do something more; something he could look back on proudly and know he had found success through music. He just wasn’t sure when the time would come. “It wasn’t until my son was born I found a renewed energy. Once he arrived, I was inspired to be the best I can be,” Mr. Okie says.
Along with the birth of his son came renewed spirit, drive and inspiration. This new motivation to write and perform helped push him to embark on the quest for the meaningful music career he’d been waiting for. He began to write songs about his son, and began to book and play more venues, generating rapid fan-base growth. He started to incorporate other musicians into his performances to round out and expand his sound.
Playing and collaborating with friends over several months would lead to the formation of Keith Okie and Friends, a band layered with talented musicians. Percussionist Tory Campbell, bassist Jason Teague and drummer Stan Dulkoski all came aboard full time. “I feel truly blessed to play with such great musicians and friends,” Mr. Okie says. “What we play is both different and familiar. Not too many bands in the Verde Valley play world music, so in that way it’s different. My added soul influence creates music that feels familiar. It creates a sort of crossover niche people enjoy. It’s about rhythms and melodies and lyrics that tap into the human experience we all share and feel.” Mr. Okie’s unique use of melody and rhythm is featured prominently in his popular song “Mexico,” where Flamenco-esque guitar riffs are blended with harmonious choruses and fused with reggae’s signature offbeat rhythm and staccato guitar.
With his band lineup now complete and his son turning one year old, things are moving pretty fast for Mr. Okie. “I’m blown away we are able to be booked in so many places without a proper demo recording. Other than a few cell phone videos posted online, I don’t really have a recording of the entire band,” Mr. Okie admits.
The band’s calendar is filling up fast with gigs at local venues and he is now well on his way to gaining the musical success he’s been working so many years for. “It’s been the craziest year of my life. This thing has been growing so fast it’s like it has a mind of its own. We’re doing great locally, but to get into bigger venues and expand out, a professional recording of the band is the next crucial step,” Mr. Okie explains. A Kickstarter page was created to help the band secure funding to record their debut album. “From a business standpoint, it will allow growth and expansion and extend our fanbase. Creatively I’d like to see the album define our musical identity and ultimately spread love and happiness to as many people as possible.”
Keith Okie and Friends play often all over Northern Arizona. Their next two upcoming shows are 5PM on June 3 at THAT Brewery in Cottonwood, and 6PM on June 11 at THAT Brewery and Pub in Pine. To see their full line-up of gigs, check out their schedule online. you may also help Keith Okie and Friends continue their musical journey by donating to their Kickstarter page by searching “Keith Okie and Friends.” keithokiemusic.com
| Joe Scribner is scribing from the high desert.
PROFILE