NAB Hosts Keith Anderson Concert

TAHLEQUAH The Northeastern Activities Board will present Rocktoberfest, featuring rising country recording artist Keith Anderson live in concert, at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 23 at the Northeastern State University Doc Wadley Stadium in Tahlequah. Opening Act is the Eli Young Band.

Keith was ranked as countrys No. 1 New Male Artist in 2005 by music trades Billboard and Radio & Records. He was also chosen by People magazine for its 2005 50 Hottest Bachelors issue, was seen on the likes of Access Hollywood, Today and Inside Edition, and was named Mens Fitness Magazines Ultimate Country Star.

He has a major publishing contract with EMI Music. His energetic live performances have brought him a large and rabid fan following. He has contacts with some of the top radio stations.

Ive had a really blessed life, says the Oklahoma native. Whatever I set my mind to do, I believe I can do.

Keith is a native of Miami, Okla. His father LeRoy worked as a mechanic and handyman, while his mother Janice ran a dog grooming business from their home.

Keith earned his engineering degree at Oklahoma State University, graduating first in his class with a 3.9 GPA and playing baseball well enough to be approached by the Kansas City Royals. A shoulder injury ended his baseball career, but his commitment to physical fitness led to him placing second in the Mr. Oklahoma bodybuilding competition. All the while, he was tinkering with songwriting.

He left Kansas City for Dallas, where we worked with a top construction-engineering firm for a year and a half. His heart wasn't in the work though.

I became obsessed with music, he said. At that time, there were four major clubs in Dallas, and every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, there was somebody that I wanted to go see. I just started falling in love with music and began to try writing songs again.

He auditioned for the Grapevine Opry, a show that had been a springboard for LeAnn Rimes and others. After three years as a regular there, Keith earned a performing slot at the Six Flags Over Texas park and entertained at the Texas State Fair.

The lifestyle change to making music was financially difficult, but Keith was so happy doing what he loved that he didn't care whether he had health insurance or a house. By day, he worked as a landscaper and became certified as a personal trainer. With an eye still on education, he took pre-med courses and was accepted for the rigorous physical therapy program at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

The month before he was scheduled to begin the program, Keith decided to throw himself fully into the music business. He began modeling to earn extra money, posing for sports catalogs, J.C. Penneys, Dr. Pepper and others.

I never really was a big, successful model. I didn't get a lot of jobs, he said. I was just being a ham and listening and learning and doing just enough to where it helped teach me to do what I do now.

A stint in the singing telegram business landed Keith a spot on a Dallas radio station, which lead to a job writing ad jingles for radio.

After scraping together enough money, Keith traveled to Nashville, hired the band Western Flyer to back him in the studio, and recorded six of his songs. He took the result around to radio stations in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, trying to make friends wherever he could.

I just built a reputation. I started calling as many radio stations as I could think of that I could go into, interview, play live or play my CD, and just get them to like what I did enough to write a letter of recommendation, he said. And thats what I came to town with a card that had my head shot photo, those letters of recommendation and my little CD.

Keith returned to Nashville in the spring of 1998 with a terminally ill car and $2,000 hed saved. He took a job as a waiter at a restaurant on Music Row to make ends meet.

I met a lot of music industry people by just trying to be a fun waiter and making them laugh, said Keith. And I always had my demo CD ready if somebody asked for it.

A writing gig with a friend he met while recording his demo led to his entry into the Nashville songwriting community and collaborations with Jeffrey Steele, John Rick, Kim Williams, Craig Wiseman, Victoria Shaw, Bob DiPiero and other top-tier collaborators.

In 2000 Keith put together his own band and in 2002, his group won the Jim Beam Country Band Search. The companys sponsorship led to opening a concert for Montgomery Gentry, other endorsements, and a host of nightclub opportunities. Within months, his high-octane performances and genuine love of people were drawing standing room-only crowds. That enthusiasm led to his Arista contract.

Today Keith continues to maintain a hectic schedule one filled with touring, songwriting appointments and dedication to fitness. His latest album is scheduled for release later this year.

Tickets may be purchased in the lobby of the University Center in Tahlequah, in the business offices at the Muskogee and Broken Arrow campuses, online at tickets.com or by phone at 1-800-511-1552.