He is frequently listed as one of the top fingerstyle guitarists by Guitar Player Magazine readers' polls, but he is equally at home on electric guitar. Keaggy is noted for crowd-pleasing solo live performances where he makes extensive use of recording live layers of loops to accompany himself. To do this he uses only an acoustic guitar but is able to create electric sounds.
Keaggy began performing professionally in the late 60s with drummer John Sferra. The two friends, with the addition of bassist Dan Pecchio, formed Glass Harp in 1968.
A major turning point for the trio was winning an Ohio area's "Battle of the Bands." One of event's judges happened to be an associate of the celebrated producer Lewis Merenstein, who was alerted about the hot young threesome. At the time, Merenstein was fresh from producing albums for many successful artists including The Spencer Davis Group, Turley Richards and Van Morrison's Moondance (Merenstein produced Astral Weeks as well) and had just been voted Producer of the Year by Rolling Stone. Merenstein was persuaded to fly down from New York to see what the fuss was all about.
Upon hearing the band perform, Merenstein was so inspired that Decca Records signed Glass Harp to a multi-record deal. A short time later, the band found itself in New York's Greenwich Village recording its first album at Jimi Hendrix' Electric Ladyland Studio with Lewis Merenstein as producer.
As a Decca Records artist, the band began to open for such artists as Iron Butterfly, Yes, Traffic, and Chicago.[1] At one point, future James Gang guitarist Joe Walsh was being considered to join New Hudson Exit (the band Phil Keaggy was in prior to the formation of Glass Harp) but the other members of the band felt Walsh's style was too dynamic.
Years later, Amboy Dukes guitar player Ted Nugent was quoted as saying "I don't know what happened to that Phil Keaggy, he could have saved the world with his guitar" in Guitar Player Magazine.
On Valentine's Day in 1970, Keaggy's mother was involved in a fatal car accident. He was heavily involved in drugs at the time, and that same day was badly hurt by an LSD trip. In the midst of this tragedy his sister Ellen took the time to tell him about finding peace in Jesus, and he converted to Christianity.
Keaggy left Glass Harp in 1972 and released his first solo album the following year entitled What a Day. Keaggy married his wife Bernadette the following summer. He then took a brief vacation from recording on his own and only toured in support of other artists like Love Song, 2nd Chapter of Acts, Paul Clark, and Nancy Honeytree. Keaggy returned to the studio in 1976 with Love Broke Thru which included his version of the Randy Stonehill/Keith Green/Todd Fishkind classic song of the same name, which at Keith Green's insistence was the first released recording of the song. During the summer of 1977 Keaggy went on an eighteen-city tour of the western United States with 2nd Chapter of Acts and "a band called David". This was captured in the live triple album How the West Was One. The only release of the Phil Keaggy Band also occurred in 1977, Emerging. The Phil Keaggy Band consisted of Keaggy, Lynn Nichols, Phil Madeira, Dan Cunningham and Terry Andersen. In 1978, Keaggy released his first critically acclaimed instrumental album entitled The Master and the Musician.
The Keaggy family then moved to Leawood, Kansas in August,1979. Their first daughter, Alicia, was born there in March, 1980. The Keaggys left Leawood in 1983 and settled in Costa Mesa, California. Their second daughter, Olivia, was born on Valentine's Day, 1984, and their son, Ian, was born in 1987.
Keaggy was signed to the Contemporary Christian music label Sparrow Records in the 1980s, where he released a string of albums including Town to Town, Ph'lip Side, and Play Thru Me. In 1988, Keaggy would team up with Stonehill, drummer Joe English (who had previously played with Paul McCartney and Wings) , singer Margaret Becker, and others for the Compassion All Star Band's album One by One.
In 1988, Keaggy won his first Dove Award for his second instrumental project, The Wind and the Wheat. Keaggy's second Dove Award came in 1992 for his Celtic-influenced Beyond Nature. From 1998 to 2001, Keaggy dominated the "Instrumental Record" category in the Dove Awards winning awards for Invention, Acoustic Sketches, Majesty and Wonder, and Lights of Madrid.
In 1989, Keaggy teamed up with Randy Stonehill, Russ Taff, Derri Daugherty, Mark Heard, Steve Taylor, Rick Cua and other musicians to create Phil Keaggy and Sunday's Child: a tribute of sorts to 1960s bands like The Beatles. That same year, Keaggy would hit the road with Stonehill for a tour by The Keaggy/Stonehill Band, which included Swirling Eddie David Raven on drums and Daniel Amos bassist Tim Chandler. In the fall of 1989 the Keaggys relocated once again, leaving the sunny shores and crowded freeways of southern California behind and moved to Nashville, Tennessee where they reside currently. A few years later, Keaggy would perform at former Beatle Paul McCartney's sister-in-law's wedding. Keaggy had met Laura Eastman, sister of Linda McCartney, while the former worked at CBN. After the wedding, Keaggy fulfilled a lifelong dream by jamming with McCartney in a bedroom at the Eastman family estate, site of the wedding.
Keaggy followed Sunday's Child in 1990 with all-out rock album Find Me In These Fields and in 1993 with Crimson and Blue, a bluesy rock album that included a cover of Van Morrison's "When Will I Ever Learn to Live in God". That album was also remixed and reissued as Blue, with the added Badfinger cover "Baby Blue". Once again, an impressive list of musicians joined Keaggy for these releases, including Steve Taylor, Rick Cua, Phil Madeira, Charlie Peacock, Sam Bush, John Mark Painter of Fleming and John, Ashley Cleveland, Jimmy Abegg, and fellow 1970s Keaggy Band members Lynn Nichols and Phil Madeira. Keaggy enlisted his old friend John Sferra of Glass Harp for the tour that followed. (The tour also featured Wade Jaynes from Chagall Guevara on bass and Phil Madeira on Hammond B-3 organ.)
In September, Glass Harp found itself in New York's Greenwich Village recording its first album Glass Harp at Jimi Hendrix's Electric Lady Studios with Lewis Merenstein as producer. Years later, a story would circulate widely and persistently concerning Keaggy and Hendrix. It has been said that during an episode of The Tonight Show, Johnny Carson asked Hendrix, "Who is the best guitarist in the world?" Hendrix is said to have answered, "Phil Keaggy." Another version of the story has Hendrix being asked, "Jimi, how does it feel to be the world's greatest guitar player?" To which Hendrix supposedly replied, "I don't know, you'll have to ask Phil Keaggy!" This account is sometimes attributed to a magazine interview in either Rolling Stone or Guitar Player. Occasionally the story has the setting for the question being the Dick Cavett Show. Other versions have the question being posed to Eric Clapton. A more recent variant has Eddie Van Halen being asked the question by either David Letterman or Barbara Walters. Keaggy has long insisted that such stories are completely unfounded, noting that "it was impossible that Jimi Hendrix could ever have heard me...We...recorded our first album at Electric Lady Studios two weeks after his unfortunate death, so I just can’t imagine how he could’ve heard me. I think it’s just a rumor that someone’s kept alive, and it must be titillating enough to keep an interest there...So I don’t think it was said…and that’s it for that!"
Glass Harp reformed around 2001 and released a new album titled "Hourglass" in 2003.
In 2004, Keaggy guest performed with the indie band Dispatch for several songs during The Last Dispatch. It was to be Dispatch's last performance together and became the largest concert in independent music history.[citation needed]
As of 2009, Keaggy continues to record and tour regularly.
Kathy's Song
Phil Keaggy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Riding in Dad's car in the back seat
I see you smile even in my memories
Kathy, you are still a child and will always be
You've given love to the old and the young
You're a brave soul in the tradition of our mom
Took care of Dad when he was so very weak
I'm proud to be our little brother dear sis
And all I want to say to you is simply this
I really love you, I really do
I'll be here when you need me,
Yes I'll be here for you
Just like a brother, just like a friend
You can count on me right to the very end
You're turning 60 but that is not so bad
I'm not too far behind you
There's no reason to be sad
Or spirits are ever young,
Our true selves will never wane
For in the light of eternity
There's nothing to lose and all to gain
You've given love to
The old and the young
You're a brave soul in
The tradition of our mom
Took care of Dad when
He was so very weak
You have a heart of
The loving and the meek
You've endured the pain
Of both heart and limb
And you reflect God
In the way that you see HimI'm proud to be your little brother dear Sis
And all I want to say to you is simply this
I really love you, I really do
I'll be here when you need me,
Yes I'll be here for you
Just like a brother, just like a friend
You can count on me right to the very end
I really love you, I really do
I'll be here when you need me,
Yes I'll be here for you
Just like a brother, just like a friend
You can count on me right to the very end
Right to the very end
The song "Kathy's Song" by Phil Keaggy is a touching tribute to the songwriter's sister. The lyrics describe various memories and qualities of his sister, Kathy. The song begins with the nostalgia of watching her dance and hearing her sing while riding in their father's car. The memories of her smile are still vivid in his mind. The song then transitions to Kathy's selfless character, as she has given love to both the old and the young, and cared for their father when he was ill. She possesses a heart of love and humility, just like their mother. The songwriter is proud to be her little brother and promises to always be there for her, as both a brother and a friend.
The song then acknowledges that Kathy is turning 60, but reassures her that there is no need for sadness. Their spirits will always remain youthful, as in the light of eternity, there is nothing to lose and everything to gain. The final verse reflects on Kathy's endurance through hardship, which showcases her faith and reflects God's love.
Overall, "Kathy's Song" is a beautiful expression of sibling love and admiration. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of Kathy's character, and the songwriter's love and commitment to her shines through.
Line by Line Meaning
I watched you dance, I heard you sing
In my memories, I remember seeing you dance and hearing you sing.
Riding in Dad's car in the back seat
I remember riding in the back seat of Dad's car with you.
I see you smile even in my memories
You always had a smile on your face, even in my memories.
Kathy, you are still a child and will always be
You have a youthful spirit that will never fade.
You've given love to the old and the young
You have shown love and care to both the elderly and the young.
You're a brave soul in the tradition of our mom
Like our mother, you are a courageous and brave person.
Took care of Dad when he was so very weak
You were there to take care of Dad during his time of weakness.
You have a heart of the loving and the meek
Your heart is full of love and humility.
You're turning 60 but that is not so bad
Although you're turning 60, there's nothing to be sad about.
I'm not too far behind you
I'm not too far behind you in age.
Or spirits are ever young
Our spirits remain youthful.
Our true selves will never wane
Our inner selves will always remain the same.
For in the light of eternity
When we view life through an eternal lens,
There's nothing to lose and all to gain
We have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
You've endured the pain of both heart and limb
You have experienced both emotional and physical pain.
And you reflect God in the way that you see Him
You have a godly view of the world and reflect His love.
I'm proud to be your little brother dear Sis
I am proud to be your younger brother, dear sister.
And all I want to say to you is simply this
The only message I have for you is this:
I really love you, I really do
I truly love you.
I'll be here when you need me,
I will always be there for you when you need me.
Yes I'll be here for you
You can count on me to be there for you.
Just like a brother, just like a friend
I will always be there for you like a brother and a friend.
You can count on me right to the very end
You can rely on me until the very end.
Contributed by Nolan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.