The Boy with the Blue, Sparkly Drum
Words by Erin Shockey | Images by Blakeney Clouse
A roar from the stands sliced through the brisk, autumn air as dusk settled on the Friday night football game between Cordova and Carbon Hill. Excitement hung in the air as fans eagerly awaited the Carbon Hill High School band’s halftime show, the weighty anticipation of that performance resting on the shoulders of 10-year-old, 56-pound Michael Keeton. Or at least, so it seemed to him.
With thoughts of doubt flooding his mind, the barely-four-foot drummer quelled the butterflies in his stomach and took the field with the Bulldog band for the first time, his Aunt Kathy’s blue, sparkly drum illuminating under stadium lights. After taking one step on that field, he would never look back again.
The only son of Sue and Kenny Keeton, Michael Keeton was four years old when he was musically influenced by close relatives. “I owe everything to my Aunt Kathy Pate and my cousin Tim McDaniel,” he says with gratitude.
When band director Rob Harris heard Michael play for the first time at the age of ten, his natural talent was undeniable. Members of the band, who affectionately referred to Harris as “Papa Smurf,” soon christened Michael the nickname “Baby Smurf,” a badge of honor he wore throughout high school. It was Harris who gave Michael his greatest gift, though: the opportunity to play in the band at such a young age.
When Michael graduated in 1984, he was selected to the University of Alabama’s Million Dollar Band, but ultimately chose to study music at Brewer State Junior College in Fayette. There, he started a band with Jason Wells, brothers Brian and David Carter, and Brian Keeton. Today Michael and the Carter brothers still play together in their Christian alternative band, Brown Bag, and he views the two men like brothers.
Michael began touring after his time at Brewer, and since then he has toured with literally hundreds of artists. “When you first start out touring, all you have is a van and a trailer,” he says. “Then come the fancy tour buses. We had good times in the van with my buddies watching funny videos and sharing stories. There’s so many memories and I’m not ready to stop.”
The Alabama Music Hall of Fame music achiever has opened for legends like Willie Nelson, Diamond Rio, and Joe Diffie, and has written with talented artists like Van Stephenson of the country group Blackhawk. He’s appeared on TV shows like CMT’s Western Beat with Billy Block, and has performed at venues that many musicians dream of: Ryman Auditorium, the Texas Hall of Fame, and Enron Field in Houston (now Minute Maid Park), to name a few.
“For me, getting to go play music, whether it’s here in town, another state, or whether I’m with a major artist or hometown pickers, it doesn’t matter to me,” Michael says. “The greatest show I’ll ever play is the very next one.”
In the late 80s-early 90s, Michael was touring with country artists professionally and was at the top of his music game. While visiting friend Ernie McClinton, leader of the band Shotgun who then worked at Franklin Motor Company, he met a beautiful young woman in a sunflower dress who changed his life forever. “She was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen,” Michael says of his wife, Amy. “My life and dreams changed the day I met her.”
Although it was the beginning of a beautiful love story, it also brought about a choice for Michael. When many artists, tour managers, music executives, and producers encouraged him to move to Nashville, Amy encouraged him to follow his dream. Ultimately, he did.
“I love music, but it doesn’t compare to my wife, Amy, my daughter, Kayla Hendon, and son, Luke Keeton,” Michael says. “In the end, I made the right decision because I can’t see my life anywhere else than where I am now.”
Now Michael is a member of rock band Handshake Promise, the country band Lost Creek, and the aforementioned Brown Bag. He’s currently in the studio recording new albums with both Brown Bag and with Handshake Promise. “We have rocked the Southeast for a long time and we’re still going strong,” Michael says.
Even now, Michael rarely turns down an opportunity to perform. To him, being behind a drum-kit is where he fulfills his purpose. “God put me in the world to entertain, to make people happy,” he says. “I owe everything to God and Jesus. The best decision I ever made in my life was being baptized into Christ at the age of 14. I’m also thankful for the support of my mom and dad, and my wife and family.”
Every song has a story, Michael says, and he is just a part of helping the audience connect with that story. Michael himself has a story to tell—a tale of a nervous 10-year-old boy with a blue, sparkly drum who dreamed of making it big one day.
Looking back at the triumphant moments of his career, many would say he did. 78