Welcome to the joshkeller.com website,
where I share my musical obsession with all who stop by; jazz standards, popular songs and cowboy tunes from the 1930's. I sing and play only my most favorite songs. They might become your favorites too!
This all began in the cartoons...
As a kid in the 1960's I was glued to the 1930's era Betty Boop and Popeye cartoons on a local TV station (thanks Officer Joe Bolton!). Amid the hijinx, inventive animation and violence were musical soundtracks by some of the best jazz musicians of the era. Many great songs were introduced to my generation by Betty Boop (voiced by Mae Questel). This had a deep and lasting effect; "Cartoons will ruin your mind!" (Ren & Stimpy, 1992)
And then there was Fats...
A few years later I heard Fats Waller's "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter" on a local TV news program (TV again!). And so began a life-long attraction to the music of this genius musician, songwriter and entertainer. Listen to the songs recorded in 1934 and 1935 by "Fats Waller and his Rhythm." As Fats would say, "The ticklin's so terrific!"
Which brings us to the thing I do;
sing and play dobro (resophonic guitar). It is that simple...no band, no backing tracks. It's stripped down to the bare essentials, because that's all I have! I play bottleneck style, with two slides and a semi-raised nut. I use the "Low G" open tuning, if you're thinking of playing along.
The sheet music
Our research team has circled the globe in search of the original sheet music for my favorite songs. Music publishers really put something extra into the cover art back then! Click on the "Sheet Music" tab for a view.
The sound samples
are direct recordings of performances, recorded on site with a Zoom H4n. Minimal post-production has been done with WavePad Audio Editor. Thank you for listening!
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Gear here -
Dobro: Dobro Model 27
Beard/Goldtone PBRCA
Slides: Acousta Glide
Picks: Dunlop
Strings: John Pearse #3000
PA: Bose L1 Model II
Vocal Mic: Neumann KMS105
Dobro Mic: ElecroVoice RE-2
Recorder: Zoom H4n
Software: WavePad Audio Editor
Beverage: Ketel One
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