Bobby Keyes is an American guitarist and songwriter whose career spans six decades. Alongside his session career, he has released a series of instrumental solo records that he performs with his trio as guitarist and composer.
His albums Lucky Stereo, Lady Luck, Cloud 9, and Dojogobo, and the 2024 release, Alsuru, showcase lush melodies, with a modern take on classic guitar instrumental traditions. Critics have described his solo work “as romantic, cinematic, and deeply musical”, with songs moving from dreamy ballads to swing inflected grooves and jazz-tinged film noir.
Between studio sessions, touring work, and his own projects, Keyes continues to write, record, and perform, bringing a distinctly American guitar voice to the music.
TOURING
Bobby Keyes Trio
Bettye LaVette
Peter Wolf
Roy Buchanan
Martha Reeves
RECORDINGS
Roots
Jerry Lee Lewis
Toni Lynn Washington
Dick Curless
Tyrone Taylor
K D Bell
Jeanne French
Pop
Robin Thicke
Mary J. Blige
Lill Wayne
Mya Harrison
Jordan Knight
Tommy Page
FILM SOUNDTRACKS
For the Love of Movies - Composer
Dick Tracy
Swat
The Shag
Children of the Corn 2
“Guitarist Bobby Keyes is one of the great unsung heroes of the Boston scene.”
— Steve Morse, Boston Globe
“He evokes an entire era of classic playing.”
— Ted Drozdowski, Boston Phoenix
“One of the finest guys I’ve heard… I really like the way he plays.”
— Roy Buchanan, Guitarist
“Incredibly great player.”
— Ted Greene, Guitarist
“Best guitarist I’ve seen since Duane Allman”
— Rick Hall, Fame Studios
“A high class plucker.”
— Plas Johnson, Saxophonist
“Wow! One of the finest guitar albums – if not the finest - guitar albums I’ve heard in a while. Bobby Keyes on guitar leads his trio of Craig Macintyre on drums and Sean Hurley on bass through 12 dazzling instrumental pieces. Not since Chet Atkins/ Mark Knopfler duo CD have I heard such pristine guitar work A MUST HAVE for guitarists.”
— Blues Access Magazine #42
“Impeccable technique rules this band, with each player being a virtuoso.”
“Keyes is the main man, with a touch that is so incredible it makes his guitar sound alive, literally singing and purring as he tosses off riffs.”
— Bernard Baur, The Baked Potato
