John Keane (record producer)

John Keane
Born (1959-01-21) January 21, 1959 (age 65)
Athens, Georgia, U.S.
Occupations
  • Record producer
  • musician
Years active1981–present
Websitewww.johnkeanestudios.com/index.html

John Denison Keane (born January 21, 1959)[1] is an American record producer based in Athens, Georgia, who has worked extensively with R.E.M., Indigo Girls and Widespread Panic. He owns and operates John Keane Studios in Athens, his hometown,[1] which opened in 1981.[2][3]

Keane began playing guitar at age 8 and developed an interest in recording music after receiving a cassette recorder on his 12th birthday. In a 2005 interview, he recalled: "Later I got another one and figured out how to overdub by bouncing tracks from one machine to the other while playing along. I'd do stuff like play both lead guitar parts to Allman Brothers songs, and layer vocal harmonies. When I got a four-track, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven."[4]

Keane has participated in many music conference panels as an expert on subjects such as record production, home recording, and Pro Tools. These include South by Southwest in Austin, Texas; The Tape Op conference in Portland, Oregon; Athfest in Athens; and the Cutting Edge in New Orleans. He has taught a Pro Tools course for the University of Georgia's Music Business Program, and is the author of the popular Pro Tools book, The Musician's Guide to Pro Tools (McGraw-Hill).[5] He has also created Online Pro Tools, a series of Pro Tools instructional videos.

He started in 1981 with an assortment of road-worn PA gear that belonged to Phil and the Blanks, a local band he was playing with at the time. He bought a TEAC reel-to-reel four-track tape machine which he mounted in a shopping cart and started making demos for local bands and taking them to the local college radio station for airplay.

Gradually the hobby evolved into a profession, and in 1985 Keane decided to attend The Recording Workshop in Chillicothe, Ohio. Shortly after that he bought an Amek Matchless console and an Otari 16-track tape machine and began to produce records for acts in the burgeoning Athens music scene such as the Indigo Girls, Widespread Panic, Vic Chesnutt, The Barbecue Killers and many others. His neighbor Peter Buck of R.E.M. began to bring many artists into the studio for collaboration, such as Warren Zevon, Robyn Hitchcock, Nicki Sudden, Billy Bragg, The Troggs, Richard Butler, and Nancy Griffith, to name a few. The other members or R.E.M.—Mike Mills, Michael Stipe, and Bill Berry—all brought bands into the studio to make records.

By the early 1990s, John Keane Studios had upgraded to an Otari 24-track, a Pro Tools rig and a Trident 80-B console.

His studio is still in operation today. In the early 21st century, he undertook recording projects with R.E.M., Randall Bramblett, and Widespread Panic's Dirty Side Down album, for which he received a Grammy nomination in 2011.

Record production discography

Project Artist Credit Release Date
"No One Needs Help Anymore" Polar Waves Producer 3/3/2017
"Lil' Bear" Ugly Cousin Producer, Engineer, Mixing 10/30/2015
Hard Working Americans Hard Working Americans Mixing 1/21/2014
"Before The Feast" Grassland String Band Mastering 2014
The Essential Indigo Girls Indigo Girls Producer 2013
Wood Widespread Panic Mixing 10/16/2012
Subject to Change Without Notice Jimmy Herring Producer, Engineer, Mixing 8/21/2012
Where It Hits You Jim White Mastering, Mixing 2/21/2012
Apollo Stockholm Syndrome Producer, Engineer, Mixing 2011
That Other Mile/Light of the Night Randall Bramblett Remastering 2011
Live in the Classic City II Widespread Panic Producer, Mixing 9/28/2010
Dirty Side Down Widespread Panic Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering 5/25/2010
Love Is a War The Corduroy Road Producer, Engineer 2009
Balm In Gilead Rickie Lee Jones Engineer 11/3/2009
Just One Drop The Corduroy Road Producer, Engineer 4/16/2009
Valdosta 1989 Widespread Panic Mastering 2/24/2009
New Day Jimmy Landry Engineer 2/17/2009
Bar Band Americanus Charlie Pickett Producer, Engineer 10/7/2008
Carbondale 2000 Widespread Panic Mixing 6/10/2008
Angel Songs Tim Prince Producer 2007
East of the Sun Tuatara Engineer 7/12/2007
Intermission Robert Forster Producer, Engineer, Mixing

6/18/2007

Chest Fever Widespread Panic Producer, Engineer 1/30/2007
ShadowBoxing Blue Flashing Light Engineer 2006
Volume 2 Billy Bragg Engineer 10/17/2006
Rich Someday Randall Bramblett Mixing 7/11/2006
Green Winter Love Tractor Mixing 4/11/2006
The Workhorses of the Entertainment/Recreational Industry The Workhorses of the Entertainment/Recreational Industry Mastering 4/11/2006
Sandbox Michael Houser Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering, Graphic Design 1/24/2006
Dog Days BR5-49 Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Mastering 1/10/2006
Friendly Fire Bill Mallonee Mastering, Mixing 2005
Rarities Indigo Girls Engineer 6/14/2005
Live at Myrtle Beach Widespread Panic Producer, Mixing 2/22/2005
Wear N' Tear Tishamingo Engineer, Mixing, Mastering 2/1/2005
Mouthfeel Magnapop Mastering 1/25/2005
Need James Evans Engineer, Mixing, Mastering 2004
Jackassolantern Widespread Panic Producer, Mixing 9/28/2004
Dear Life Bill Mallonee Producer, Mastering, Mixing 9/21/2004
In the Mood Corey Smith Mastering 9/15/2004
Über Cobra Widespread Panic Producer, Mixing 7/13/2004
Holy Happy Hour Stockholm Syndrome Mixing 6/29/2004
Night of Joy Widespread Panic Producer, Mixing 3/23/2004
Ain't No Horse Widespread Panic Producer, Engineer, Mixing 3/9/2004
Tishamingo Tishamingo Producer, Engineer, Mixing 2/17/2004
Must I Paint You a Picture? The Essential Billy Bragg Billy Bragg Engineer 10/28/2003
Bad Day R.E.M. Engineer, Mixing 10/1/2003
Ball Widespread Panic Producer, Engineer, Mixing 4/15/2003
Defector John Hermann Mixing 2/11/2003
Live from the Backyard Widespread Panic Mixing 2/4/2003
To Understand: The Early Recordings of Matthew Sweet Matthew Sweet Producer 10/1/2002
Door Harp Michael Houser Producer, Engineer, Mixing 9/24/2002
Coast to Coast The Cowslingers Producer, Engineer 7/30/2002
Live in the Classic City Widespread Panic Producer 6/11/2002
Co-Balt brute. Producer, Engineer, Mixing 4/9/2002
89/93: An Anthology Uncle Tupelo Producer, Engineer, Mixing 3/19/2002
Visiting Normal Town Big Wooden Radio Engineer, Mixing, Mastering 9/25/2001
No More Mr. Lucky Randall Bramblett Producer, Engineer, Mixing 7/10/2001
Don't Tell the Band Widespread Panic Producer, Engineer, Mixing 6/19/2001
Reveal (R.E.M. album) R.E.M. Engineer, Musician 5/14/2001
Imitation of Life R.E.M. Engineer, Mixing 4/30/2001
Set the Record Straight ID-X Producer, Mixing, Composer 4/10/2001
Smiling Assassin John Hermann Mixing, Percussion 4/10/2001
Insulation Something 5 Producer 2000
Another Joyous Occasion Widespread Panic Producer, Mixing 6/6/2000
Draggin' The Line R.E.M. Engineer 10/26/1999
End of Romance Charlie Mars Producer, Engineer, Mixing 10/12/1999
Kulanjan Taj Mahal Engineer 8/3/1999
'Til the Medicine Takes Widespread Panic Producer, Engineer, Mixing 7/27/1999
Straight Away John Keane Producer 6/15/1999
Who Died & Made You King? Doubting Thomas Producer, Engineer 10/26/1998
Up R.E.M. Engineer, Mixing 10/26/1998
Let's Kill Saturday Night Robbie Fulks Engineer 9/15/1998
See Through Me Randall Bramblett Mixing, Mastering 8/4/1998
Calling Sara Lovell Engineer 6/30/1998
Light Fuse, Get Away Widespread Panic Producer, Mixing 4/12/1998
Barrel Chested Slobberbone Mixing 8/12/1997
Help Wanted Love Needed Caretaker Mount Pilot Producer, Engineer, Mixing 8/12/1997
Love Among the Ruins 10,000 Maniacs Producer, Engineer 6/17/1997
Fantastic Distraction Dime Store Prophets Producer, Engineer 5/19/1997
The Lonesome Death of Buck McCoy The Minus 5 Engineer 5/5/1997
More than This 10,000 Maniacs Producer, Engineer 5/5/1997
Picnic Robert Earl Keen Producer, Engineer 4/29/1997
Bombs & Butterflies Widespread Panic Producer, Engineer, Mixing 2/4/1997
Albino Alligator Michael Brook Engineer 1/17/1997
About to Choke Vic Chesnutt Producer, Mixing 1996
Hip Hazel Virtue Producer, Engineer 1996
New Adventures in Hi-Fi R.E.M. Engineer, Mixing 9/9/1996
E-Bow the Letter R.E.M. Engineer, Mixing 8/27/1996
Lay It Down (Cowboy Junkies album) Cowboy Junkies Producer, Engineer 2/27/1996
Blister Soul Vigilantes of Love Producer, Engineer 1995
Horsebreaker Star Grant McLennan Producer, Engineer 1995
Tornado Alley Terry Lee Hale Producer, Engineer, Mixing 1995
At the Hands of Our Intercessors Buzz Hungry Engineer 10/30/1995
Nine High a Pallet Brute. Producer 9/12/1995
Is the Actor Happy? Vic Chesnutt Producer, Mixing 5/23/1995
Private Stock The Grapes Producer 3/14/1995
Beautiful Light The Fleshtones Engineer 1994
Spillage Mercyland Engineer 1994
Normaltown Catfish Jenkins Engineer 11/15/1994
Flyer Nanci Griffith Engineer 9/13/1994
Ain't Life Grand Widespread Panic Producer, Engineer, Mixing 9/6/1994
Drunk Vic Chesnutt Producer, Engineer 1993
Bottle Rockets The Bottle Rockets Engineer 9/18/1993
Swim Madder Rose Engineer 9/6/1993
Happiness Lisa Germano Engineer 7/27/1993
the Lion Sleeps Tonight R.E.M. Producer, Engineer, Mixing 2/5/1993
Don't You Know The Troggs Engineer 1992
Killing Floor Vigilantes of Love Engineer 1992
Out There Original Sins Engineer 1992
The Survivors Parade Ellen James Society Engineer 1992
Automatic for the People R.E.M. Engineer 10/5/1992
March 16–20, 1992 Uncle Tupelo Engineer 8/3/1992
Kitty Dashboard Saviors Engineer 7/20/1992
Rites of Passage Indigo Girls Engineer 5/12/1992
Lefty's Deceiver The Jody Grind Engineer 4/3/1992
Athens Andover The Troggs Engineer 3/1/1992
First We Take Manhattan R.E.M. Engineer 1991
8 Track Stomp Chickasaw Mudd Puppies Engineer 1991
A Green Little Pill Insane Jane Mixing 1991
Country Boy's Dream Normaltown Flyers Engineer 1991
Don't Try This at Home Billy Bragg Engineer 9/17/1991
Perspex Island Robyn Hitchcock Engineer 8/6/1991
Out Of Time R.E.M. Engineer 3/12/1991
Green Cat Island Run Westy Run Engineer 1990
I Belong to You Nikki Sudden Engineer 1990
Little Vic Chesnutt Engineer 1990
One Man's Trash Is Another Man's Treasure The Jody Grind Producer, Engineer 1990
Reluctantly We Ellen James Society Engineer 1990
White Dirt Chickasaw Mudd Puppies Producer, Engineer 1990
I Walked With A Zombie R.E.M. Producer, Engineer, Mixing 1991
Chain Pylon Engineer 10/4/1990
Nomads Indians Saints Indigo Girls Engineer 9/21/1990
MacDougal Blues Kevn Kinney Engineer, Mixing 1/21/1990
Indigo Girls Indigo Girls Engineer 2/28/1989
Drum Hugo Largo Engineer 1988
New Experience Michelle Malone Producer, Engineer, Mixing 1988
No Time The Squalls Producer, Engineer 1988
Green R.E.M. Mixing 11/7/1988
Space Wrangler Widespread Panic Producer, Engineer 2/4/1988
Strange Fire Indigo Girls Producer 7/28/1986
Lifes Rich Pageant R.E.M. Engineer 7/28/1986
Fables of the Reconstruction R.E.M. Mixing 6/10/1985
The Normaltown Flyers The Normaltown Flyers Engineer 1981

Musician discography

Project Artist Credit Release Date
Subject To Change without Notice Jimmy Herring Pedal Steel 8/21/2012
Where It Hits You Jim White Guitar, Pedal Steel, Vocals 2/21/2012
Apollo Stockholm Syndrome Guitar, Pedal Steel, Vocals 2011
Live in the Classic City II Widespread Panic Guitar, Pedal Steel 9/28/2010
Love Is a War The Corduroy Road Dobro, Guitar, Mandolin, Pedal Steel, Vocals 2009
Just One Drop The Corduroy Road Dobro, Guitar, Mandolin, Pedal Steel, Vocals 4/16/2009
Intermission Robert Forster Guitar, Bass, Keyboards 6/18/2007
Chest Fever Widespread Panic Guitar, Vocals 1/30/2007
Earth to Atlanta Widespread Panic Guitar, Pedal Steel 11/14/2006
Sandbox Michael Houser Bass, Guitar, Pedal Steel, Vocals, Piano 1/24/2006
Dog Days BR5-49 Member of Attributed Artist, Sound Effects 1/10/2006
Live at Myrtle Beach Widespread Panic Guitar 2/22/2005
Dear Life Bill Mallonee Guitar, Pedal Steel, Vocals 9/21/2004
Tishamingo Tishamingo Banjo, Pedal Steel 2/17/2004
Über Cobra Widespread Panic Pedal Steel 7/13/2004
Must I Paint You a Picture? The Essential Billy Bragg Billy Bragg Guest Artist, Musician 10/28/2003
Coast to Coast The Cowslingers Pedal Steel 7/30/2002
Door Harp Michael Houser Guitar, Pedal Steel, Keyboards 9/24/2002
Conscious Contact Jerry Joseph & The Jackmormons Keyboards, Pedal Steel, Primary Artist 4/23/2002
Co-Balt brute. Guitar, Pedal Steel, Vocals 4/9/2002
89/93: An Anthology Uncle Tupelo Guitar, Bass, Pedal Steel 3/19/2002
Visiting Normal Town Big Wooden Radio Pedal Steel 9/25/2001
No More Mr. Lucky Randall Bramblett Guitar, Horn Arrangements, Loop Programming, Percussion, Programming, Shaker, Vocals 7/10/2001
Don't Tell the Band Widespread Panic Guitar, Guitar Effects, Noise, Pedal Steel 6/19/2001
Reveal (R.E.M. album) R.E.M. Musician 5/14/2001
Set the Record Straight IDX Composer 4/10/2001
Smiling Assassin John Hermann Percussion 4/10/2001
End of Romance Charlie Mars Guitar, Vocals 10/12/1999
'Til the Medicine Takes Widespread Panic Banjo, Keyboards, Pedal Steel 7/27/1999
Straight Away John Keane Primary Artist 6/15/1999
Who Died & Made You King? Doubting Thomas Bass, Guitar, Organ, Percussion, Vocals 10/26/1998
Up R.E.M. Musician 10/26/1998
Calling Sara Lovell Drum Programming, Keyboards 6/30/1998
Help Wanted Love Needed Caretaker Mount Pilot Vocals 8/12/1997
Love Among the Ruins 10,000 Maniacs Guitar 6/17/1997
The Lonesome Death of Buck McCoy The Minus 5 Vocals 5/5/1997
Picnic Robert Earl Keen Vocals, Mandolin, Guitar, Pedal Steel, Bass 4/29/1997
Bombs & Butterflies Widespread Panic Guitar, Pedal Steel 2/4/1997
About to Choke Vic Chesnutt Guitar 1996
Lay It Down (Cowboy Junkies album) Cowboy Junkies Guitar, Pedal Steel 2/27/1996
Blister Soul Vigilantes of Love Guitar, 12 String Guitar, Pedal Steel, Vocals, Percussion 1995
Tornado Alley Terry Lee Hale Guitar, Bass, Pedal Steel 1995
Horsebreaker Star Grant McLennan Banjo, Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Vocals, Xylophone 1995
At the Hands of Our Intercessors Buzz Hungry Sonic Assistance 10/30/1995
Nine High a Pallet Brute. Pedal Steel 9/12/1995
Is the Actor Happy? Vic Chesnutt Guitar, 12 String Guitar, Pedal Steel 5/23/1995
Private Stock The Grapes Guitar, Vocals 3/14/1995
Beautiful Light The Fleshtones Guitar 1994
Spillage Mercyland Pedal Steel 1994
Normaltown Catfish Jenkins Guitar 11/15/1994
Flyer Nanci Griffith Guitar, Pedal Steel, Vocals 9/13/1994
Ain't Life Grand Widespread Panic Guitar, Pedal Steel, Vocals 9/6/1994
Drunk Vic Chesnutt Slide Guitar 1993
Bottle Rockets The Bottle Rockets Pedal Steel, Vocals 9/18/1993
Happiness Lisa Germano Guitar, Pedal Steel 7/27/1993
Killing Floor Vigilantes of Love Pedal Steel, Slide Guitar 1992
Lefty's Deceiver The Jody Grind Guitar, Pedal Steel 1992
March 16–20, 1992 Uncle Tupelo Banjo, Bass, Guitar, Pedal Steel 8/3/1992
Kitty Dashboard Saviors Pedal Steel 7/20/1992
8 Track Stomp Chickasaw Mudd Puppies Bass, Guitar, Lap Steel Guitar 1991
A Green Little Pill Insane Jane Pedal Steel, Piano, Tambourine, Vocal Harmony 1991
Country Boy's Dream Normaltown Flyers Guitar, Pedal Steel, Percussion 1991
Don't Try This at Home Billy Bragg Bass, Guitar, Pedal Steel 9/17/1991
Out Of Time R.E.M. Guitar, Pedal Steel 3/12/1991
One Man's Trash Is Another Man's Treasure The Jody Grind Bass 1990
I Walked With A Zombie R.E.M. Musician 1991
MacDougal Blues Kevn Kinney Banjo, Bass, Guitar, Percussion, Slide Guitar 1/21/1990
Indigo Girls Indigo Girls Bass, Drums, Guitar, 12 String Guitar, Shaker, Slide Guitar 2/28/1989
Space Wrangler Widespread Panic Vocals 2/4/1988
The Normaltown Flyers The Normaltown Flyers Guitar, Percussion 1981
The Boy From Nowhere, Who Fell Out of the Sky Nikki Sudden Pedal Steel

[6][7]

References

  1. ^ a b Who's who in Entertainment. Marquis Who's Who. 1989. ISBN 978-0-8379-1850-1.
  2. ^ "John Keane Studios website". Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
  3. ^ Discogs - John Keane Studios - profile and discography
  4. ^ Interview with John Keane, Athensmusic.net, July 23, 2005 Archived October 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "The Musician's Guide To Pro Tools". Archived from the original on 2010-02-11.
  6. ^ "Allmusic.com Credits". AllMusic.
  7. ^ "John Keane: Selected discography". Johnkeanestudios.com.