The Bob Keane of Del-Fi Records Interview

Bob Keane helped to launch the careers of legendary artists such as Ritchie Valens and Bobby Fuller Four. In this interview he talks about Frank Zappa, Ritchie Valens and his autobiography that will hopefully appear one day.

Robert Pally: When came the decision to write an Autobiography? What triggered it?

Bob Keane: For many years I have heard people say to me, "Bob, you should write a book. You have so many stories to tell." Several years ago I finally decided that maybe I should have a book of my life and Del-fi so I hired several people to write for me. But they didn't have a clue as to what the book should be about, so in 1998 I started to write it myself. I have never written a book, but I have written many liner notes through the years, so I decided to give it a try.

Robert Pally: What was the hardest thing for you to talk about in your Autobiography?

Bob Keane: The hardest thing for me to talk about was myself and my inner feelings. I am not a very gregarious person and it is hard for me to express myself in the first person.

Robert Pally: What do you regret from your past as a musician and label owner?

Bob Keane: I regret that I didn't stay with the clarinet through my days as a record label entrepeneur, as did Herb Alpert. Regarding the label, I regret the partnerships with which I became involved. Keen records, and Larry Nunes in Stereo-Fi Corp. in particular.

Robert Pally: What was happiest moment for you as a musician and label owner?

Bob Keane: Aa a musician, my happiest moment was when, at the age of seventeen, I signed with MCA as "the world's youngest bandleader". My happiest moment with the record biz was when Ritchie Valens' "Come On Let's Go" hit the national charts.

Robert Pally: What was important for you when you wrote the Autobiography?

Bob Keane: The most important thing for me when I started to write the book, was to make sure that the reader would understand what I had gone through in my life, and what I had accomplished. After forty five years, the world is just now becoming aware of what Del-Fi has contributed to the record industry.

Robert Pally: What would you do again? What wouldn't you do again? (Being musician and label owner)

Bob Keane: If I had it to do again, I would have set up a business plan from the beginning with qualified people. I don't know what I wouldn't have done, since in this business you have to take chances or you'll never get very far.

Robert Pally: What is your opinion about Bobby Fullers mysterious death?

Bob Keane: Bobby Fuller's death is still a mystery to me as it is to everyone. I don't believe it will ever be solved. In my book I go into the mystery quite extensively, and it will undoubtedly open many new questions. However, it won't solve the mystery.

Robert Pally: Which artists have you discovered?

Bob Keane: The artists I discovered are listed in the prologue (Del-Fi was springboard for Frank Zappa, Ritchie Valens, Sam Cooke, Dick Dale, Barry White and others). Others not listed there, but who attained high positions on the charts, were The Gallahads, Little Caesar and the Romans, Bobby Curtola, Felice Taylor, and Chan Romero. There are others, however, that went on to fame after first being released on my label.

Robert Pally: Frank Zappa released a couple of singles on your label. What experiences have you had with him? Is there a specially good story that you can tell me?

Bob Keane: I write about Zappa from information given me by Paul Buff, the man really responsible for Zappa's musical success. In the book, I tell of him "playing" a bicycle on the Steve Allen show on CBS, and where he pitched his first record release, "How's Your Bird" on Del-Fi.

Robert Pally: Were there times when you wanted to give it all up (Label, being a musician)?

Bob Keane: Yes, in the '90s, things were very difficult because of the change in musical tastes and the music itself. My kind of music was not in vogue and I had to adjust.

Robert Pally: How much different was it to run a record company in the late fifties / early sixities compared to today?

Bob Keane: The difference between the '60s and '90s was like night and day. It was impossible to promote without a huge bankroll and the market was flooded with new releases, new labels, and no distributors.

Robert Pally: Was there a special incident why Frank Zappa called you a "hip-pocket producer"?

Bob Keane: Frank called me a hip pocket producer because I never planned anything specific for any artists. I let them do their thing, which is what they all wanted.

Robert Pally: What was the difference between the Hollywoods music scene and the ones from New York and the East Coast in the late fifties / early sixities?

Bob Keane: New York and Hollywood were almost foreigners musically back in the '50s and '60s. One of the reasons for my book is to show the difference, and how each area influenced the music of today. When rap became popular, any group from the west coast was considered just a poor copy of the eastern groups. Now, of course, it's mostly all in Hollywood for new talent, and New York for the business end. The Del-fi story is about all the talent that came out of Hollywood during those years and how much of it was not acceptable east of the Rockies.

Robert Pally: How many people worked for Del-Fi in the heydays?

Bob Keane: We had ten people in the office, but other reps and radio people throughout the country.

Robert Pally: What do you think about the movie La Bamba? Was it done good or was it showing a bit too romantic view of the real story?

Bob Keane: The La Bamba movie was about twenty five percent true to facts. The rest was the usual Hollywood treatment, with every trick in the books.

Robert Pally: What jobs did you do at Del-Fi?

Bob Keane: My jobs at Del-Fi were selecting talent, engineering recording dates, mastering records, and running the business of the day. This included contracts, financing, music publishing, and promotional ideas. In fact I did just about everything that had to be done.

Robert Pally: What did you think when you saw Ritchie Valens the first time sing?

Bob Keane: The first time I saw Ritchie I didn't think he was a great potential, because he didn't have any songs, and he was too young to have any stage presence. But he had a natural feeling for rock and a good voice. I was impressed by how he affected the audience while he was singing. Capitol Records had already passed on him because he looked too old to be a teenager, they said.

Robert Pally: In the Prolouge that Bryan Thomas, who used to work for Del-Fi, gave me, you talk about how tragedies have influenced you and forced you in another life. Can you give me an example?

Bob Keane: First it was Ritchie Valens who was killed, and then Bobby Fuller, which caused the dissolution of Mustang records. I had to find another form of work to raise my three sons.

Robert Pally: What is going to happen to Del-Fi? I heard once that you will sell it. Is that true? How many people work for it at the moment?

Bob Keane: Del-Fi and it's legendary artists will go on for many years. Right now, there are two other in-office employees. The business today doesn't warrant a large staff.

___________________________________________________

To reach any other page contained in this month's update on Fufkin.com, read the home page for the appropriate link and click on it. You can also search the site from any page using the search box located at the top of each page. Merely type in the word, phrase, name of the band, recording, name of the Fufkin writer that you are looking for or Whatever in the search box, and then click on "Search". If you would like to e-mail us, go to the About Us page for a list of e-mail addresses.

Go back to the home page by clicking here

____________________________________________________