“He’s like Jekyll & Hyde, this guy…” MARC STRIGL – SiriusXM Radio, formerly with VH1/MTV
“These are songs of alienation, remorse, defiance, and a whisper of vulnerability. This is good stuff, intelligent and real. The man can write a song and pick a guitar, and he has an emotional well he knows how to tap.” SANDY LOVEJOY – KNIX 102.5 Country Spirit
RFK Media has announced the 30th anniversary remastered reissue of the album that shocked both worlds – Ronnie Lee Keel’s debut, “Western Country.”
In 1995, long before any of his 80s peers ventured into country music, Keel was the subject of the highly rated MTV program “Where Are They Now,” and the now-infamous declaration of his commitment to country music created a dust storm of dissent in the rock and metal community.
“Western Country,” the album he released that summer, was a shameless statement that reinforced that commitment in words and music. This is pure 90s radio country in the tradition of George Strait, Garth Brooks, Brooks & Dunn and other chart-topping icons; the songs were inspired by Keel’s roadhouse and rodeo experiences as he embraced a relentless schedule of over 250 shows per year during that decade, including opening slots for Chris LeDoux, Jo Dee Messina and others.
Many of these tracks found their way onto major TV shows (“X Files,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Touched By An Angel,” “King Of The Hill”), movies (“Where The Money Is” starring Paul Newman, “1000 Acres” starring Michelle Pfeiffer, “Chill Factor” starring Cuba Gooding Jr.) sports broadcasts for NASCAR and the Daytona 500, and the background music for the “CMT Insider” series.
“Western Country” won the Best Album award from the Phoenix chapter of the Country Music Clubs of America and earned the artist a Lifetime Achievement Award from the same organization.
While alienating a legion of metal fans who just didn’t understand, this album broke down many barricades between the two genres and gave birth to Keel’s modern identity as the “Metal Cowboy.” Pristine digital production compliments the traditional country instrumentation; the songs are laced with the brilliant country guitar picking of Hal Michael Monti, beautiful pedal steel guitar work by Ralph Borchert, honky-tonk piano from Wayne Holland, masterful fiddle tracks by Craig Delphia, drumming by Joe Morris, and tied together with bass lines by Mike Wood.
Ron’s 2024 album KEELWORLD includes great new rock and metal from his bands Steeler, Keel, Ron Keel Band, and Emerald Sabbath; but it also features a couple of brand-new “Ronnie Lee Keel” songs, proving that this “Jekyll & Hyde” is still proud of his redneck roots as well. Visit “Western Country” to hear where it all began.
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