When considering the roll call of rock's most influential icons, those rare artists that pose a triple threat are the ones that consistently stand out, musicians that seize the spotlight through their singing, songwriting and instrumental prowess. That hallowed breed of musician has become increasingly less common in popular music, so it's especially worth noting that Keaton Simons also qualifies as a triple threat, given that his multifaceted talents have garnered him a presence on radio, television, film and the concert circuit. This instantly comes across in his debut album, Can You Hear Me, released in 2009 by CBS records.
Earning a degree in Ethnomusicology --- the study of World Music --- at The Evergreen State College in Washington State he absorbed a varied array of classic influences --- Hendrix, Dylan, The Beatles, Joni Mitchell, Muddy Waters, B.B. King and Robert Johnson among them --- he immersed himself in all forms of music, from Rock to Jazz, Blues to Bluegrass and melded them into a mix that's timely and timeless.
Keaton's career has pushed him into many different genres: he found himself as musical director of the LA alternative rap group The Pharcyde and began working with other notable hip-hop acts, including the Black Eyed Peas, Medusa and Snoop Dogg, with whom he performed on The Tonight Show. Despite extensive roadwork and a growing professional pedigree, Keaton started getting restless and chose to focus on ways to move his own career forward. He signed a deal with Maverick Records, put a debut EP called Currently, which garnered massive airplay at several stations around the country including KCRW along with success at MTV.
Keaton soon began garnering exposure in other media as well. His songs were tapped for several movie soundtracks while Keaton himself was recruited for guest appearances on such popular network shows as The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Malcolm in the Middle and American Dreams. Meanwhile, he continued to tour, gaining exposure before increasingly larger audiences and sharing the stage with such notable names as Coldplay, Chris Isaak, Gnarls Barkley, Mike Doughty, Josh Rouse, Guster, Five For Fighting, Tyrone Wells and Josh Kelley with whom he co-wrote three songs for Kelley's upcoming album. He capped his accomplishments with a second place win in the prestigious John Lennon Songwriting Competition.
He then signed with CBS records and released his album Can You Hear Me, which has made a powerful impact on the music community in the short year it has been out, with placements on American Dad, Harper's Island, NCIS, The Cleaner, Ghost Whisperer and Crash just to name a few. Indeed, Can You Hear Me lives up to all expectations. Produced by Dave Bianco, the album mines the classic singer/songwriter traditions spawned by greats like Van Morrison, Rod Stewart, John Hiatt and other artists known for their soulful sway.
As he views his prospects going forward, Keaton maintains his main ambition is to continue to focus on his live performances, and draw more and more fans to his shows. "I've been doing this awhile, but I believe there�s so much left for me to accomplish," he reflects. "There's no reason to aim low; I have confidence in my abilities and I believe that widespread success is within my grasp. It's cool to be with a company like CBS that feels the same way and believes in me so strongly. It reinforces my confidence."
