Keith Allison


Sydney Keith Allison was an American musician and composer, best known as a member of Paul Revere & the Raiders from 1968 to 1975.

Music

Allison began working as a professional solo artist and session musician in the early 1960s. Allison played guitar and harmonica on Sonny & Cher's song “The Beat Goes On”. A year later, Columbia Records signed Keith and released his debut album Keith Allison In Action.

Where The Action Is

He would gain notoriety in 1965, when he became a regular act on the Los Angeles-based show, Where the Action Is. Reportedly, Allison became a regular on the show due to his resemblance to Paul McCartney after being spotted on cameras as a member of the audience on the first episode of the show:

Paul Revere & the Raiders

In 1968, Allison joined Paul Revere & the Raiders as their bassist. Keith played on their albums Something Happening, Hard ‘N’ Heavy, Alias Pink Puzz, Collage, Indian Reservation , and Country Wine. Around the time Allison joined the Raiders, the group's sole original members, Mark Lindsay and Paul Revere, had recently started hosting the show Happening '68. Allison and the additional members of the Raiders would become the house band for the show until its cancellation in 1969.
Allison left the Raiders in 1975.

Composing

Allison scored the 1972 film Where Does It Hurt?, and wrote and sang the title song. Allison recorded the song “Sail Away” with Harry Nilsson. He worked with Starr on his 1978 album Bad Boy, also serving as the musical director for his TV special, Ringo, the same year. Also in 1978, he composed music for the film Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, starring The Bee Gees, and had a small cameo in the film.
Keith performed on songs recorded by various artists, including The Monkees, Sonny & Cher, Harry Nilsson, and Ringo Starr. Keith also recorded and performed with Roy Orbison, The Beach Boys, The Righteous Brothers, Chuck Berry, Alice Cooper, Ricky Nelson, The Crickets and Johnny Rivers.

Acting

Keith played minor roles in numerous shows and films, starting with the role of “Hinkley” in Where Does It Hurt?. In most of the roles he played, he also did work in the composing of the music in the film. Allison played Captain James J. White in the 2003 film Gods and Generals.
Keith played a croupier in a 1978 episode of The Love Boat. He played the character “Ray” in two episodes of 7th Heaven and “Pete Weston” in Blossom and played a pirate called Buck in the 1999 film Treasure At Pirate’s Point. Allison played the groom in the final scene of the 2022 film Cuddly Toys, which was released after his death.

Personal life

Allison was born in Coleman, Texas and raised in San Antonio. His cousin was Jerry Allison, drummer for The Crickets. Keith was married to a woman named Tina for more than 40 years. When he was in a relationship with Judith D. Allison, they had a son, Ryeland, who is also a music producer. Keith had seven grandchildren including Adrian Gonzales, who achieved minor success in both tennis and competitive swimming.
Allison was a member of The Hollywood Vampires, an elite celebrity Drinking club founded by Alice Cooper in the 1970s, where you were made a member by outdrinking the members of the club. Members included: John Belushi, Marc Bolan, Jack Cruz, Micky Dolenz, Keith Emerson, Mal Evans, John Lennon, Keith Moon, Harry Nilsson, Ringo Starr, Bernie Taupin, and Klaus Voormann.

Death

Allison died on November 17, 2021, in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles at the age of 79. Celebrities such as Ringo Starr and Micky Dolenz shared their condolences on social media. The official social media account for Paul Revere & the Raiders would post:

Discography

Solo

With Paul Revere & the Raiders

Studio albums

Singles

Filmography

  • It’s Happening
  • Head
  • Where Does It Hurt?
  • Phantom of the Paradise
  • Sextette
  • Ringo
  • Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band
  • The Love Boat
  • The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia
  • Blossom
  • Left Luggage
  • A Rock and a Hard Place
  • Treasure of Pirate’s Point
  • Fly Boy
  • 7th Heaven
  • Don’t Let Go
  • 30 Days Until I’m Famous
  • Cuddly Toys
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