By Keith Walsh
The music of singer/songwriter Al Keith features messages and grooves that inspire hope and change. As a percussionist and vocalist in his band Al’s Peace, he and his colleagues Eric Endo (guitar), Mark London Sims (bass guitar), Mark Tyson (guitar), and Perry Ostrin (drums and percussion) got together for a stellar three-song set at Highlands Jam, run by John Pratt. The tunes feature mixing by Grammy-winning engineer Lucas Fehring and video editing by Jaynee Thorne. I had the chance to chat with Keith about his music, his message, and growing up in the U.S. as a person of color.

Popular Culture Beat: ‘Esperanza’ is a cool example of a positive song celebrating beauty and hope, and it’s particularly important for songs like this to exist in an age when much of pop and rock music celebrates nihilism. What’s the story behind ‘Esperanza?’

Al Keith: I just wanted to do something that was not about the life in the USA and the world as it is. I wanted to get away from that vibe for a moment. Love took the place. I had a feeling about a guy being touched by the voice of his woman singing to him. He had enough of bubblegum tunes that did nothing for the way he felt about the beauty of life he is living with his love. He and his love ‘Esperanza,’ made life enjoyable. 

Popular Culture Beat:  How do your experiences growing up in the 60s and 70s, and fighting for equality inform your musical messages today?

Al Keith:  Growing up in Cleveland was great. I was fortunate to be around gangsters, pimps and players. During the late ’50’s into the ’60’s, I saw the truth of being Black in America. I saw so many of us come from the South for a better life, only to find out it wasn’t that well after all. Yes, jobs were better than the South but the second class citizen was in full effect in the state of Ohio. I can say this era of Black music was a way of life. In the summer time, you can hear radios all up and down the street.  All we had were Black radio stations, the two we had. White played White and Black played Black! But 1968 changed — some radio stations were brave enough to go ‘crossover’ with Sly and The Family Stone, Santana, etc. It was very interesting during that ‘crossover’, (the) open interracial conduct among the ‘Baby-boomers,’ Yes, we stood up and fought for our rights, forcing the country to be true what was said on paper. We were not afraid to challenge the government, especially on the local level. Many of us were the first to be born and raised in the North. People of all colors becoming friends puzzled the sh#t out a lot parents, seeing their children change before their eyes. 

 The USA had to make some drastic changes all around because; that Vietnam war was bullsh#t, for one. No one wanted to be drafted. Many would rather go to jail or or find a way out. Since no one was willing to join the military, the government came up with a lottery. If your name fell below 350 (if I remember right) you went to war, jail or college. Many chose college. My name fell below 350 and I was classified ‘1-H’, which meant ‘One Home’ to fight here in the US. 

 A lot of memories from the 60s to now have a major influence on my music. I was asked once or even twice–who is your influence? I don’t have one because I’ve heard SO much that is good to my ears, I have heard music from ALL over the world and it is a beautiful thing that makes my ears smile. 

 I have a song called ‘Victims’ which is about my birth and the following decades, It’s about all of us and how we must work together, regardless. As of now, our country has gone so far done the drain, it’s unbelievable. The music scene is just weird, for one and I find it with no messages of H.olding O.nto P.ositive E.nergy; every now and then something  will get my attention. I don’t listen to the radio at all, I actually listen to sports talk and 88.9, to get my Salsa on weekends.

Popular Culture Beat: I know something about your meeting Dr. King but don’t know details. Please describe this meeting!

Al Keith: The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Perhaps the bravest person I have ever met. He loved him some Cleveland because of having the first Black mayor in a major city. MLK knew Carl B. Stokes would need support and he did that well. I was one of the lucky youths to be an usher, my brother hooked me up in the bid room where MLK was holding court before his speech in Cleveland. 

 He gave me a nice smile. I couldn’t take my eyes off him. Listening to his laughter was great because I never heard him laugh like that. Just another one of the fellows. I was asked to bring him some coffee, THAT was the moment! He shook my hand and said, ‘keep your grades up now.’ 

 When the riot of ’66 broke out, MLK came to calm things to a degree but many were not ‘feeling’ the peaceful vibe. I felt bad for him because he was trying to as best he could. The last he came to Cleveland I could see how Malcolm X, did have some affect on him. MLK spoke about how the country needs to take care of its own and the war. I could tell he was getting tired of it all. 

After watching and listening to him preach. I stopped going to church…. The time had changed.

Popular Culture Beat: Your songs are about peace, hope, love,  plus calling out hate. I’m sure these messages are more valuable than ever, but I’m skeptical that mere songs alone can bring positive change. Is music equal to the task of social change? What other actions are needed?

Al Keith: I’m glad music is helpful. I think people need a good song to make them feel better when they’re going through some rough life times. It does not matter what part of the world, music IS Universal. We all have the need of a ‘ear-hug’ and music can do that. 

The times we’re in now, this is the scariest time of my seven decades. The mass shootings, the human rights. etc. Social media can be a good thing but the country is divided like I’ve never seen before, Too many groups that are not open to everyone. We can sing all we want but it’s only getting worse. I don’t like saying that but I have seen our country not doing well at all. Are we still proud to be Americans? How can we follow the people we vote for when they’re suspect? 

We will have to sing and dance the hate away, It’s not going away and we have to fight. We don’t have the power that everyone may think we have, All of us artist or not, we have to see the change happening and speak on it or some kind of ‘something’ will cause some major conflicts, Yeah, I’m not too happy about our country right now but I’m not going anywhere. The entire world is suspect. I try not to speak like this in my songs but one pops up like ‘Blues’  or ‘In The Dark.’

If we all make an effort to (keep ) ‘some’ hope alive we (will) make a change. Sometimes I feel Mother Earth will shake the living sh#t out of it to the point where no one is safe, no matter how much money; money can’t save us at all. We’ll be deep into sh#t and we will all have to help each other because, one world is enough.”

Al’s Peace You Tube
Al’s Peace On Spotify
Highlands Jam Dot Com
Highlands Jam You Tube
Al Keith Q and A On Popular Culture Beat, part 1

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