BIOGRAPHY

The Steelband world has seen many, but few have been as aggressively pursuing a dual career as Dexter Keane. In 1971, at the age of six, Keane was the youngest member of the T&TEC Power Stars Steelband, an event that he remembers very well. Dexter recalls having to be placed on a wooden crate to enable him to play the tenor pan which was very much beyond his normal reach. In 1974, when his parents migrated to the United States, Dexter made the journey. Two years later he became a member of the Maryland Pacesetters Steel Orchestra, playing, at one time or another Tenor Bass, Six Bass, Tenor, Double Tenor, Double Seconds and also drumming. Dexter as, you may have re4alized by now, is a very versatile and talented individual who has continuously tried to enhance his musical knowledge. Starting with his enrollment in a music class at his Alma Mater, Southern High School (Baltimore, MD), where he was leader of the school's marching band...a stint which was a major contributing factor in his percussive ability.

In the early 1980's, Dexter tried his first professional stint with a group of Caribbean musicians living in Baltimore, MD. The group "Glass Productions", had a very brief encounter with fame, for after just two years, the band folded. In 1984-1986 Dexter, together with Innis Goden, Emrold Gray, Earl Joseph, Samuel Thomas and some former members of the T&T Baltimore and Maryland Pacesetters Steel Orchestras formed Phase Three Pan Ensemble, the sister band of the then defunct Harmony Express Steel Orchestra. Like the latter, this ensemble's dreams were never fully realized and they too folded in 1987. It is said that when one door is closed, another is opened. Such was the case in 1987. That year a group of Non-Jamaicans living in the Baltimore area decided to form a Reggae Band. Things were going fairly well for the band when suddenly the drummer had enough. Dexter became a member of the Uprising Reggae Band that year, playing the role of drummer/lead vocalist...a feat that is considered very challenging by most musicians. In the four years Dexter spent with Uprising, he traveled the U.S. opening for Reggae superstars such as Burning Spear, Jimmy Cliff, EeK-a-mouse, the Wailers, The Itals, Third World and Yellowman.

In 1991, playing Bass, Keyboards, Drums and doing vocals, of course, Dexter started his own band "Dexter Keane's Solar System". This was a switch back to his roots, SOCA (SOul-CALypso).The single "Jam Waist Tonight", a Keane composition, was the group's first release. It was greeted with reasonable success and was basically the spring board for his solo career. Following a short stint with backing from the "Image Band" from Washington D.C., another single was released. This time, with help from veteran musician/composer Dr. Frankie Mc Intosh, the single "Jumping Up", which was a featured topic in both national newspapers in Trinidad & Tobago, was finally released to a world audience. This undoubtedly was the bridge to international recognition.

1994 was the year that saw Dexter Keane falling back into the PAN scene. That year Keane, together with long time associate Emrold Gray, formed the group Tropical Ensemble. 1995 was a good year for both Keane & T.E. That year he won Baltimore's first Calypso Monarch competition with "Jumping Up" and "The Message", a tribute to the late Gordon 'Slim' Barrow written by Emrold Gray. "The Message" was also the title selection from Tropical Ensemble's debut compact disk, which was produced by Dexter Keane. He traveled to Miami for the competition that same year and placed 9th in a field of fifteen. The following year saw Keane again taking the crown in Baltimore's competition and being the 1st runner up in the Miami competition, a feat that won him a trip to T&T and a cash award. This time with the help from, Trevor De Freitas, a young energetic writer from Baltimore, the selections "Wake up America" a powerful social commentary & the remake of "JAm Waist" were the winning tools. Since then this Panist/Soca Artiste has been the opening act for Ronnie Mc Intosh, Iwer George, Preacher, Chris Garcia, Ajala and Super Blue. In November, 2000, Dexter Keane released his 2001 T&T carnival contribution entitled "De Master". A tribute to the Lord Kitchener, The Grand Master, this one certainly established Dexter Keane as a master of "Pan Kaiso" also. A follow up CD a year later, "Embrace De Flavah", features some new material along with some tracks previously done with the Chaos Band.

For booking information please contact: Manager: Inniss Goden – (443) 520-0452

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