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Keith Hollis

Jazz organist, pianist, composer, stand-up comedian and actor

About Me

Keith Hollis was born in Los Angeles. He was raised in a musical family and started piano lessons at age 7. Keith attended middle school and high school at Crossroads School for the Arts in Santa Monica, CA. At 15 years old Keith began performing with Mickey Champion, Evan's Walker and Rick Taub at the original Babe and Ricky's Inn in South Los Angeles. Keith was helped along at Babe and Ricky's by B.B. Kings pianist ,James Rudy. Mr. Rudy was a kind and inspiring mentor, Mr. Rudy would let Keith stand behind him while on-stage to watch him play. At the same time Keith's best friend Joseph exposed Keith to the mighty sounds of Duke Ellington, Horace Silver and Johnny Hodges. Before long Keith was fully immersed into blues, and jazz music. Keith attended U.C.L.A. and New England Conservatory where he studied jazz piano performance with Panamanian composer Danilo Perez. Keith got ahold of his first Hammond Organ and Leslie speaker and recorded his first funk record with ”JP and Rebellion”, with members of the Greyboy All-Stars which included three of Keith's original compositions. In 2005 Keith started his own organ group “Keith Hollis and the Po' Boyz” performing original music. Po Boyz, which Keith still performs with and leads, plays original high energy organ funk-rock and soul-jazz.

As a sideman Keith toured the United States, Europe, Japan, and Africa for Grammy Award winning, and Rock and Roll Hall of fame, singer Solomon Burke until his passing in October 2010. Keith has played behind English soul singer Joss Stone for a tour , performed the funk with saxophonist Candy Dulfer and played NOLA Jazz Fest with Solomon Burke and members of the Blind Boys of Alabama. While on tour with Solomon Burke Keith was blessed enough to stage with Carlos Santana, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, Maceo Parker, Buddy Guy, Joan Baez and Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. Keith has been lucky enough to perform at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Bonaroo Music Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Nontrodden Jazz Festival, Glastonbury Music Festival, Roskilde Music Festival, Umbria Jazz Festival, The Hollywood Bowl and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

When he's not on the road Keith runs The Drop Site Recording Studio, a comfy recording studio and production facility. He also teaches intermediate and advanced organ and piano students in funk, blues, rock and jazz improvisation. As of 2015 Keith now spends his time living between Boston, MA and Los Angeles, CA doing music, recording and other creative things - like filmmaking and improv comedy. Keith has recently studied improvisational acting at the Groundlings School in Los Angeles. Keith's ancestry is of Sicilian, Irish and Ukrainian decent. He was raised Jewish and was a Bar Mitzvah at age 13.

My Jazz Story

I love jazz because... I was first exposed to jazz... at 15 thru my buddy in H.S. - listened to Johnny Hodges I met [musician name]... The best show I ever attended was... Lionel Hampton at the Hollywood Bowl The first jazz record I bought was... Art Tatum My advice to new listeners... Or whatever else you have in mind.