Background
Background
Klassic Keith has been playing guitar for nearly 40 years, composing original works and covering his favorite artists along the way. Inspired by classic artists such as The Beatles, The Who, ELP, and more, Klassic Keith's compositions revive the feeling of real classic rock that he grew up listening to and playing along with. Klassic Keith has had many professions, but has always dreamed to take his music to further lengths, both to better himself as an artist and to widen the audience of his work. From his beginnings in Los Angeles, California to his current residence in St. Louis, Missouri, Klassic Keith has performed at a multitude of local venues sharing his works with the public.
On January 2nd, 1986, I packed my car and moved to Los Angeles pursuing a musical career. Shortly after arriving and settling in, I purchased my first guitar, a Yamaha acoustic F-135. I learned a few chords, and while walking up Torrance Blvd. in Redondo Beach a melody came to mind. I ran back to my apartment and wrote The Boys of Wiethaupt. It was my first attempt at song writing.
The Boys of Wiethaupt is so much more than a song. It is a mind-set. It is an experience. It is a memory. It is a dream conceived of innocence and built on a myriad of events that transpired in a small corn field converted into twelve baseball fields. Every important lesson you would need in your life, you learned there.
With the help of some good friends and extremely talented musicians, The Boys of Wiethaupt became a reality in the foothills of Montecito, California in 1994. None of the songs were ever rehearsed. All the tracks were recorded at separate times and only mixed together at the end. It was a project of love, and its only purpose was to be completed.
It never was.
The tracks never received the final vocals and for reasons beyond control, the project was recorded to cassette tape, with the scratch vocals that were all recorded back to back in one session without overdub. They were never intended to be used on the final mix. It was because of this reason that I kept it undercover all these years.
But finally, here it is in its current format. It has gone from 1/2" 30 IPS reel-to-reel tape, to digital audio tape, to cassette tape, to analog 4-track, to CD, to digital audio over the period of 28 years. It is of far lesser quality than the original recording, yet it captured the moment, the time, and the days of youth.
As life moves forward and we change from career to career, and relationship to relationship, I ask you to "jump on board" and free your mind. As Klassic Keith emerged from the dust of Wiethaupt Field, he has his eyes set on the long awaited follow-up, which has finally been written, and is ready to step into the batters box.
I invite you to enjoy this legendary recording, and appreciate any support you can offer. Tips and/or donations towards future Klassic Keith recordings are always welcome. Please catch a Klassic Keith performance in 2023, and remember to support your local artist.
Listen to and spread the word of Klassic Keith. All earnings made from performances and online streams will go directly towards the productions and completion of the journey that is The Boys of Wiethaupt. Donations through PayPal are also accepted and greatly appreciated. An artists journey is never completed without an audience, and Klassic Keith is no exception. Thank you for listening to The Boys of Wiethaupt, and please look forward to the completion of the story.