Tish Remembers:
Keith Carper (1959-2009)
The world has lost a wonderful musician. Keith Carper, an amazing upright and electric bass player and vocalist from Roanoke, Virginia, passed away at his home in New Braunfels, TX on September 22, 2009 of a heart condition at age 50. He was an important player in my music from 1989 through 1993, accompanying me on many U.S. tours, television appearances such as Austin City Limits, and playing on several recordings of mine during that period. Along with other band members, Marvin Dykhuis, Paul Glasse, Danny Levin, Gary Primich, Greg Leisz, and Wes Starr, he worked under Booker T. Jones in production of my unreleased first version of "Culture Swing" for A&M Records in 1990, then on the 1992 version that was released on Rounder Records in 1992. He also played and sang on my Christmas CD, "Memorabilia Navideña", released in 1991.
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| This photo was taken during a gig at the Bluebell Ice Cream offices in Brenham, Texas around 1991, when I appeared in their commercial. Keith, Marvin, and I played a lot as a trio during that time.
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Marvin Dykhuis, my band leader since 1988, brought him on board to tour my CD "Homeland" in 1989. Keith was an astounding musician to work with and to watch, both on stage and in the studio. He could bow the upright bass so beautifully on ballads, then go wild and jazzy on the tex-mex and country songs on the electric bass, and he had a great ear and voice for harmony. As good and important as all that is, it was Keith's easy-going, humble nature, and down-to-earth silly sense of humor that made him fun to be around. Keith moved on to play with Hal Michael Ketchum fulltime around 1994, and continued to jam and gig with Austin area musicians until his death. I am sure that everyone who knew him will remember him as I do - an incredible talent and truly warm and genuine person. His "Keithisms" will stay with me and will always make me smile.
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| This photo, taken on a shuttle bus at a festival in 1992, reveals the usual Keith activity on the road that would keep Marvin and me in stitches.
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Keith moved on to play with Hal Michael Ketchum fulltime around 1994, and continued to jam and gig with Austin area musicians until his death. I am sure that everyone who knew him will remember him as I do - an incredible talent and truly warm and genuine person. His "Keithisms" will stay with me and will always make me smile.
Tish (September 2009)
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| Here we are at the Museum of Natural History in Chicago for a black-tie event in 1990 (from left to right: Paul Pearcy, Tish, Marvin Dykhuis, Keith). Even in a tuxedo Keith's good humor shone through.
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Tish's Most Valuable Players:
Marvin Dykhuis
Glenn Kawamoto
Troy Wells
Uli Rademacher
Chip Dolan
Arturo Garza
Paul Pearcy
Tish remembers:
Gary Primich (1958-2007)
Keith Carper (1959-2009)
Amy Farris (1968-2009)
