PETE 'KIWI' KEEGAN veteran american folk musician. Bluegrass,skiffle & blues

In 1954 Kiwi was given his first guitar as a present and was soon strumming a few chords. In 1956, with the overnight advent of 'skiffle' music thanks to the likes of Lonnie Donegan and others, Kiwi formed, aged fifteen, his first skiffle band ,two guitars, one tea chest base and a snare drum. Pete now had all that was all that was needed to launch himself into the 1950's music scene!      Pete'Kiwi' (aged 16) with Peter Taylor, Max Bygraves, Joy Shelton & BrianTownsend at Max's brother's pub the Brakespeare Arms, Brockly, south London in 1957.

Every saturday evening this small group of teenagers frequented the railway arches and doorways of London's west end. Around this time Pete met Dickie Bishop who was a member of the Lonnie Donegan band and soon after with a booking on BBC TV's 'All your own' hosted by the late Hugh Weldon, Pete enjoyed limited fame in south London  where he and the skiffle group were in considerable demand. ( Little did Pete know that Jimmy Page appeared on the same programme on TV only weeks appart!). Sadly, skiffle only enjoyed an 18 month chart topping period. The likes of Elvis, Tommy Steele and Marty Wilde caused rocknroll to almost completely eclispe this  music fad of the fifties. ( Pete met Marty Wilde, then 'Reg Smith' during a gig in Lewisham). So as he grew up, Pete became preoccupied with work, marraige and raising a large family! He never lost interest in American folk, country & blues music and spent many long evenings developing a guitar style that he now uses. In recent years he has formed a skiffle band and with the release of the film 'Oh brother! where art thou?' in 2000, american mountain music has had  a welcome comeback. Peter's influences are The Carter family, Woody Guthrie and Frankie Laine.( Peter produced and performed the life story of Woody Guthrie, with words and music at the Railway Tavern, Wymondham, Norfolk in 2005 &  corresponded with Frankie Laine on a regular basis.) With gigs at many Norfolk pubs, weddings,concerts and major beer festivals, Pete has been busy performing again. ( 'Over fifty three years of entertaining! ).

'PETE'KIWI'KEEGAN & HIS SKIFFLE & BLUES BAND' (see bands page)Skiffle, blues. country rock, 50's/60's rock'n' roll, ballards and folk songs are what is played. The line up includes  JOHN CAUSER, a fine guitarist, banjo player and vocalist with over 50 years experience.  Along with his new bass player, JOHN WRIGHT who plays real 'slap bass' style and his son in law NICK BARKER an experienced drummer who has played with a number of signed bands, the line up is complete, all experienced musicians with over 150 years in show business between them! ( see Page 5 for info on the  biography of the band members.)

 NEW CD RECORDINGS; Being so busy performing gigs for the last few years Pete has neglected to record his music, though often asked for CD's. In 2010, Pete has been recording skiffle and bluegrass  music at CRYSTAL WAVE STUDIOS in Norwich. Working with Alex Beschorner ( 'Shok Re-al' ), sound engineer and producer, Pete has recorded several new Albums. ( See 'Videos' page). These can be ordered. See further information on 'Contact details' page.

wearing well 51 years after the above photo! (2009), Music keeps you young!  ( see page 2)