Bob Keane (1922-2009)

Bob Keane, music producer and founder of the Del-Fi music label has passed away at age 87.  He's probably best known as the guy who discovered and recorded the legendary Ritchie Valens.  Keane was also famous for his open-door policy at Del-Fi where he'd give any and all performers a chance to be considered for the label.  In an interview he once said, "I'll listen to anyone, even if they bring 'em in on a stretcher."

A native of Manhattan Beach, he started playing clarinet at 5.  His music career kicked into gear at the age of 17 when he was signed to MCA and billed as the "World's Youngest Bandleader."  After a brief stint in the armed forces during WW2, Keane returned to playing his clarinet and making the rounds in the LA club scene.

In 1955 he and a partner started a label called Keen Records, and it was here that a two-song acetate from Sam Cooke found its way to Keane. He signed Cooke to a 3-year deal and one of the songs from that first acetate, "You Send Me" would go to #1 in November of 1957.  Despite the success, Keane felt he was getting a raw deal at Keen so he broke free to start his very own label.  And that's how Del-Fi came to be.

Del-Fi got off to a strong start with its first release being "Caravan" by Henri Rose.  The song sold so well, Warner Bros. Records bought out Henri Rose's contract, and Keane used the money to buy out his business partner at Del-Fi.

In May of 1958 Bob Keane discovered Ritchie Valens performing a matinee show at a movie theater.  He quickly signed Valens to a formal contract and started recording in Keane's basement studio.  A few months later, Valens and Keane had released "Come On Let's Go," "Donna" and "La Bamba," and all were huge hits!  Sadly, Keane's partnership with Valens was cut short by the singer's death in February of 1959.

There would be many other artists on the Del-Fi label in the years to follow, like Chan Romero who sang "Hippy Hippy Shake," and some notable surf bands like The Surfaris and The Centurions.  Keane would sign Bobby Fuller and the Bobby Fuller Four to a deal in 1964.  Within a year they would have an international hit with "I Fought The Law."  But after Bobby Fuller's death in 1966, Bob Keane was ready for a change.

He closed the label in 1967 and started a new career selling alarm systems.  

Over the years the music of Del-Fi would figure prominently in movies like LA BAMBA and PULP FICTION.  Keane would eventually sell the Del-Fi catalog to Warner Music Group in 2003.

Bob Keane died of renal failure on November 28, 2009.  He is survived by his wife, Dina; his sons Tom, Bob and John; his daughter, Chanelle Keane; and seven grandchildren.