Meet Keith Perrillo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Keith Perrillo.

So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I came onto this earth in 1959. My earliest memories of a song were Bobby Darin’s “Mac The Knife.” I remember my Mom pointing it out blasting from a convertible car radio as we waited to cross a street. I remember my Mom saying “listen to that beat” Now, my Mom, the true talent was a Ballroom Dancer in her day. Ultimately, dancing at Madison Square Garden in front of some 20K people and winning one of the Harvest Moon Ball dance categories which as a grand prize included appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show. As you will see, Ed crosses my path again.

First jam sessions were with my friend Scott, a drummer. We would play Day Tripper and The Night They Drove Ole Dixie Down for hours. Guitar and jam sessions came and went thru the 70s. In 1980s, I ended up in Tucson with a real job where I could afford to buy an electric guitar, my first Les Paul.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Along comes my 13th birthday which is when I started smoking, drinking beer, cussin, and shavin. First girlfriend going steady too and with all that I somehow talked my Dad into paying for guitar lessons. He sprang for $3.50 a week, including the guitar rental. Of course, he took it out of my .25cents a week allowance. At last, my first real guitar that would stay in tune and a pitch pipe to boot! Obstacles overcome.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
After all is said and done from a radio standpoint, I have had songs that I played guitar on aired in the Netherlands, Ireland, England, Australia, New Zealand and of course the good ole USA. I’ve played guitar live in Canada, The United Kingdom, Scotland, Australia, China, Mexico, Peru, and Key West, isn’t that a country? Bands or duos involved include Eric Douglas Music, Park Ave, Vaguely Familiar, Borderline, Los Patrons, Mills End, Rockin Chair and a stash of my own tunes as well. One additional thrill was getting one of my songs, “Stop” on vinyl with U-Turn Records, photo attached.

What were you like growing up?
My biggest influence came about in 1964 as my Brother, Mother and I were at the local park. It was early evening and my Brother who is eight years older had the transistor radio, I was five. On came “Do You Want To Know A Secret, Doo Da Do.” From there on, out and, of course, after watching the Beatles appear on the Ed Sullivan Show, the guitar became an obsession. In the same time frame, my Uncle Charlie who we would pay family visits with was a guitarist. I clearly remember the first time I haphazardly strummed his Epiphone Acoustic as it stood on its stand. I thought playing and singing was something I could do or anybody could do. Little did I know, how wrong I would be. Along the way, I picked up and had a variety of “throw away” guitars, that would not stay in tune. And Tuning? How did we do that without electronics?

Contact Info:

• Phone: 480 359 1979
• Email: Keithp1759@gmail.com
• Facebook: facebook/keith.perrillo

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