Keelan Jones

In 1987, after having spent seven years of his life surrounded by a musically talented family,Mrs. Darlene Jones felt that it was time for her youngest son, Keelan Jones, to nourish his musical talent. His mother’s encouragement materialized in her purchase of his first snare. According to Keelan, “after picking up the sticks and playing on my first snare, I never wanted to stop playing.”

The foundation of his talent, developing into a career, has proved to be his early but expansive experience playing at churches in Chicago, Illinois and surrounding metropolitan areas. He was frequently found playing at church functions and conventions, opening the windows of opportunity for the gift to make room for him on a consistent basis.

Keelan began to aggressively study the technique of playing drums, learning the fundamental rudiments necessary to take his playing to a different level. At the age of eleven, Keelan added the bass guitar to his repertoire and has continued to play routinely, with his opportunities expanding to live and studio recording sessions, festivals, plays, television programs, tours and any other venue where music is heard.

In late 2008, he embarked on the next journey of his musical career, by adding producing to his credits. With the advent of Pocket Productions, recently renamed BackBeat ProductionzInc., Keelan applies his musical experience and expertise to nurturing the talent of established and new artists.

In 2010 Keelan broadened his craft by enrolling in Columbia College . He felt the need toget his degree at this point in his life. With three years completed and one to go, Keelan has an expected graduation date of May 2014. The last three years has been a major factor in the development of his own production company BackBeat Productionz, which has been in the works for almost ten years. Keelan is currently working on his debut project “FlipSide.” He released the single, which is also entitled FlipSide on June 1st, 2013

Today Keelan spends the little time he has outside of school, serving as Music Director for his church and other artists, playing at local and national venues, networking to build a solid company, involved in a few community groups, as well as preparing his own platform for his solo career. Never a dull moment.

While the list is long, Keelan’s greatest influences are: Buddy Rich, Derico Watson, Dennis Chambers, Billy Cobham, Dave Weckl, and LaDell Adams, Calvin Napper, Calvin Rodgers Chris Dave, Will Kennedy.

Tags