Biography
Billy Keeble is a well-known name around the Dallas / Fort Worth area. His smooth vocals and easy listening delivery have made him an all time favorite in many of the clubs and lounges, and has earned him the name “Mr. Country.” Born and raised in Tullahoma, Tennessee, Billy joined his first country band and started singing at the age of fifteen. After a few years he branched out and explored Blues and Southern Rock, but it wasn't long before he realized that his heart was in Country Music. In 1978 on the advice of a good friend he moved to Texas. Within a short time he had formed the "Texas Pride Band," and from 1978 to 1990 “Billy Keeble and Texas Pride” were in constant demand throughout Texas and the surrounding states as well. They were noted for playing some of the finest country and western swing music that could be heard anywhere.
In February of 1990 a serious auto accident took Billy away from his music career for a brief time. Doctors predicted that he would never sing again because of vocal damage caused by the accident. Billy would not accept that diagnosis and refused to believe his music career was over. His concentrated efforts were rewarded when in July of the same year he was back on stage with his “Texas Pride Band.” Not only was he singing again, he was sounding better than ever. The band broke up shortly after this and Billy began his solo act. He sings Merle, Willie, Jones, Top 40, and a list of his own self penned songs.
In 1995, Billy was one of the first entertainers to be taken to the "Littlefield Denim Festival" to open for Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash. His unique vocal style and easy delivery of the older traditional country tunes, as well as his originals and Top 40 made him an instant hit there. Billy has also opened for other great acts such as Hank Thompson, Darrell McCall, Johnny Bush, Sammi Smith and many others.
In July 1999, Billy called on his good friend Curt Ryle, also a great singer and songwriter, to produce his next recording project "Unchained Country" which featured several songs written and co-written by Billy including a great waltz tune co-written with his wife Diane, entitled "Your Memory Still Takes Control." Also, featured on this CD is the legendary steel guitarist, Buddy Emmons, on a song written by Billy called “West Texas Morning.” The CD was sent to Europe where it had reached #1 in some places there and had also won him such awards as; "Album of the Year" in Germany, "Traditional Country Artist" (European) at the "2000 Gold Music Awards" held in Nashville, TN., plus many other recognitions throughout Europe and the U.S.A. Billy went on tour to Norway and Denmark in July of 2000 where he has made some great friends and fans.
In 2001, Billy was given the “Pioneer Award” at the “2001 Coast to Coast Music Awards.” That same year he recorded his second CD “Keeping it Country” co-produced with Curt Ryle which includes 6 songs co-written by Billy. This CD later won him “Album of the Year” at the “2002 Coast to Coast Music Awards” where they also awarded him “International Country Artist.”
In 2002, Billy recorded his first Christmas CD “Dear Santa from Billy Keeble” produced by Gary Carpenter and Curt Ryle. Along with the title track, Billy co-wrote 3 of the 11 songs on this CD including a beautiful inspirational song co-written with his wife Diane, entitled “He Will Stand beside Me.”
In May of 2005, Billy recorded his fourth CD “The Real Me” with producer Curt Ryle. It features an awesome duet with his favorite female singer and friend, Leona Williams, entitled “I'm so Afraid Of Losing You Again” written by Al Owens and Dallas Fraizer. Also featured on this CD are 3 songs written by Chuck Cusimano. “Please Play Silver Wings Again” was on the National Charts and reached #1 in Belgium, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Billy poured his heart and soul into this CD and his hard work, dedication and creativity paid off when he was awarded “Album of the Year” at the “2005 Terry Awards” in Fort Worth Texas, an event ceremony that is held every year for local entertainers.
On March 17, 2007, Billy went to Nashville, and he once again called on his good friend Curt Ryle. Together they recorded and produced an impressive 15- song tribute album to his favorite country artist and hero, the late-great Wynn Stewart entitled, “Billy Keeble sings Wynn Stewart.” Billy chose his favorite Wynn Stewart songs and brought them to life again by adding his own unique sound. As Billy would say- “I didn’t go in the studio trying to sing as Wynn Stewart would do them, ‘cause no one can sing like him. I just took some of my favorites and done them my way.” Billy has done it his way and the end result is superb. The CD features a remarkable duet with Wynn’s daughter, Wren Stewart Tidwell, on a lovely song entitled “After the Storm” written by Dale Noe. The sensational Ralph Mooney is also featured adding his signature sound to five of the tracks including his self-penned song “Falling For You.” Ralph is notable for creating the “West Coast” sound for Wynn Stewart, Buck Owens, and Waylon Jennings. The CD was publicly released in May 2007 and it received spectacular reviews from DJ’s and fans worldwide. On December 3, 2007, Billy was awarded “Album of the Year” for this C.D. at the “30th Annual Terry Awards” in Fort Worth, Texas.
In 2009, Billy co-wrote and recorded a duet with singer/songwriter Terry Ball on a clever and catchy little song entitled "Leave the Budlight On." The song was released as a single and had reached # 2 on the country charts in Denmark.
November 2010, Billy signed a record deal with "Pretty World Records" owner Charlie Ammerman. The label has released 2 singles by Billy thus far and both have gotten a lot of air-play. “Shame On Me,” a song co-written by Billy and Mo Cloy was the first single to be released and was on the” Indie World Record Chart” for twenty-nine consecutive weeks. The single reached # 3 on that chart. The second single, “I’m So Afraid Of Losing You Again” (written by Al Owens and Dallas Frazier) a duet with the awesome Leona Williams reached # 1 on the Indie World Record Chart.
October 2011, Pretty World Records released ten songs that Billy recorded on a vinyl LP back in 1987. There were only 100 copies pressed but it was never released. Over the years the LP made its way into the hands of several DJ’s around the world who have requested that Billy re-release the songs on a cd and make them available for their listeners. The tracks and songs are in their original format and have not been modified or digitally remastered. Billy - “I had thought about going into a studio and redoing the songs, but it was expressed to me that I should leave the recordings as is and not take anything away from the original sound we had back then. I was fortunate to have some of the best musicians around (and they still are) play on this album, which has resulted in a long friendship with each one.” Eight songs on the cd were written by his great friend and the producer of all his cd’s - Curt Ryle. The other two are cover tunes that he and the band liked playing and were crowd favorites at their gigs. Billy feels honored that Pretty World Records is releasing this cd on their label.
March 11, 2012, Billy went to "Big Matador RecordingStudio" in Nashville and recorded his seventh CD - "Just For You", produced by Curt Ryle. There are ten great tracks on this album, including a song Billy co-wrote with Curt Ryle entitled "Sharla Mane's Ghost." This CD was released in May 2012, on "Pretty World Records" with CEO Charlie Ammerman.
January 16, 2014, Billy attended the Country Music Association of Texas award show held at the Al Amin Shrine Temple in Corpus Christi,Texas. There he was awarded "Male Vocalist of the Year" and was inducted into the Country Music Association of Texas Hall of Fame by the President and CEO ~ Pat Grogan.
Today Billy performs both as a solo act and with his “Texas Pride Band” in several venues around Dallas / Fort Worth and the surrounding areas, where he still is an all time favorite. His music can be heard on numerous Internet and Independent radio stations. Through his music, Billy continues to accumulate new fans and friends all around the world.
