Rich Brotherton picked up a guitar at age eight in his home town of Augusta, Georgia, when his father showed him some chords on an old Harmony tenor. He began performing professionally at age 11, playing his first solo gigs at 14. He graduated from Aquinas High School in Augusta, then from the Colorado College with a degree in Music Theory and Composition.
After graduation he traveled to Ireland where he took up residency (lived in a tent, actually) in Doolin, Co. Clare, a center of traditional music on the country's west coast. That summer and the next saw him performing with and learning from some of Ireland's finest traditional musicians. From there it was back to Idaho where his family had relocated, and where he played in bars and met his future wife, Kathy. Then on to Austin, Texas, where he resides to this day with his family.
Rich has been with the Robert Earl Keen Band since 1993 and has never regretted it for a moment. He plays acoustic and electric guitars and sings harmony vocals. He also produced two of Robert's CD's - 2003's "Farm Fresh Onions", and 2005's "What I really Mean".
In addition to this work with the Keen band, Rich recently completed work on a recording studio, Ace Recording, where he works as a producer, arranger and engineer. (e-mail )
Rich has been cited twice as Best Acoustic Guitarist and once as Best Producer by the Austin Chronicle's Austin Music Awards.
Additionally, in 2006, the Colorado College granted him the Louis Benezet award for outstanding achievement by an alumnus. Despite these accolades, he remains humble.
Bill Whitbeck "Taurus"
Tom Van Schaik 2007 marks 10 years that I’ve have been playing with the Robert Earl Keen Band. I can’t believe it has been that long… and I’m still having this much fun running around the country.
I began playing professionally in Dallas while still attending St. Mark’s School and continued to do so while earning a degree in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas.
I was the original drummer (the rooster in the hen house) with the Dixie Chicks, touring and recording with them for almost 6 years (before “the incident”). I taught percussion, band and music theory at Navarro College and the Arts Magnet High School in Dallas.
I am grateful for the ongoing support of some great people and great drum companies - Mapex Drums, Aquarian Drumheads, Sabian Cymbals and Promark Drumsticks. I am blessed to be able to do what I do for a living, love it so much and have a great life in Austin, TX
Marty Muse was born in Spokane, WA. I started playing the steel guitar in high school in Chicago in the mid seventies. After playing with many bands in San Francisco and the Midwest, I moved to Austin,TX in 1985. Since then I have enjoyed being part of the diverse music scene in that town, playing shows and recording with a wide variety of artists culminating in joining up with REK and crew in 2000. A great start to the new
millennium and a happy ending for this story for sure. I am married and have two kids and live in the beautiful hill country outside of Austin
Charles Ray "The Sound Guy" for REK since August 1999; Sound business in Austin, Texas since 1975; mostly worked with Joe Ely, Jerry Jeff Walker, Delbert McClinton, Texas Tornadoes; 23 years with Crosswind Sound in Austin as Chief Engineer; engineered records, too (several Ely, Delbert, Jerry Jeff, Austin Lounge Lizards, Uranium Savages,Shakin' Apostles).
Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, then at age 8 moved to Dallas and then Irving, Texas; Austin (or nearby) since 1968; graduated high school in Austin; seven years at The University of Texas at Austin; one of the new guys in the Uranium Savages (band formed 1975, I joined 1979) -- guitar and vocals.
My wife, Pam, and I live about 20 miles outside of Austin on Onion Creek with Chester the bulldog, two more dogs and three cats; we were married out there on the land in 1990; moved out there and later built a house with our own hands; our only son, Jesse, moved back in to Austin where he is a junior at the University of Texas.
I've worked with many a great Texas musician, but when I went to work full time with Robert Earl Keen in August of 1999, it felt like home. He's the most generous, kind boss I've had (not to mention the best songwriter I've known). And damned funny, too. The music is wonderful, the band is the best, the camaraderie fun and it's a great place for me to be.