Keb’ Mo’s rise to prominence began in 1994 with the release of the album "Keb’ Mo’" on the Okeh label, a subsidiary of Epic Records. To an unsuspecting blues public, he seemed to come out of nowhere. His debut CD, released when he was 42 years old, sold over a quarter million copies, many by people who normally don’t buy contemporary blues records. Keb’ has shown that he has tremendous crossover appeal while staying true to his blues roots. Keb’, whose real name is Kevin Moore, succeeds because he is able to blend traditional acoustic blues with his own contemporary pop sensibilities and topical lyrics. That and because he’s a great singer and is a heck of a guitar player.

Since his self titled CD in 1994, Keb’ has recorded two more albums. In 1996 "Just LikeYou" came out and last year saw the release of "Slow Down." Both of these recordings won Grammy Awards for best contemporary blues record. In 1997 and again 1998, Keb’ was named "Acoustic Blues Artist Of The Year" at the W.C. Handy Awards held each May in Memphis. His song from "Slow Down" called "Soon As I Get Paid" won a Handy for song of the year.

So what is it about his interpretation of the blues that makes people feel so good? "The music has to have some window out, even if it’s depressing, some kind of light or escape hatch," said Keb’ during an interview before the show. "John Lee Hooker said that the blues is a healer and I agree. Music is a very healing thing. I’m into the preservation of the real gut bucket blues of course, but I also want to see the blues take on a wider picture. I want to see the blues have a little bigger playing field."

Keb’ grew up outside of Los Angeles in Compton, California. He started playing guitar at the age of 12 and by the time he hit high school he’d taken up a variety of instruments such as steel drums, upright bass, trumpet, and French horn. As he became immersed in the L.A. music scene he did everything from top 40 to 50’s covers to R & B. He even hooked up with Jefferson Airplane violinist Papa John Creech for a time.

He went on to do studio work for A & M Records before finally landing a job with the house band at Marla’s Memory Lane, a Black club in L.A. It was here where Keb’ started drifting towards the blues.

L.A. is not really known as a blues mecca. However, there were people such as Mickey Champion, Vernon Garrett, Lowell Fulson, Bobby McClure, Coco Montoya, and Arthur Adams who were based there. Also, most of the blues people on the national circuit eventually played at Marla’s. "It had everything I needed," said Keb’ when talking about the L.A. blues scene. "Mickey Champion, she’s like an L.A. blues legend, I mean you talk about raw! And Vernon Garrett is someone I worked with and learned a lot from. He don’t play guitar or nothing, he just sings. He sure enough is the real article. Etta James, she’s from L.A. too,"

Keb’s break came when he passed along a demo tape of his solo acoustic work to noted blues producer

John Porter. Impressed with Keb’s unique sound and detailed songwriting, he offered him a contract with Epic. Now, six years later, Keb has become the newest blues sensation achieving the kind of commercial success that Robert Cray enjoyed in the 80’s and Bonnie Raitt in the 90’s.

So what does the future hold for Keb’? "Right now I’m working on two different CD’s," he said. "I’m about to do a family CD of cover songs. One tune will be ‘Love Train’ by the Ojays. I’m also working on my fourth record with Epic. I’ve been collaborating with Bobby McFarren, putting lyrics to some music he wrote. I got some solo things I’m working on too. You know I’ll just sit and I’ll be writing five or six songs at the same time, putting pieces together like a jigsaw puzzle."

Keb was in the midst of a nine show tour when he played at the Guard. He was driving around in a rented mini van with his longtime touring partner Clayton Gibb. That evening Keb’ sang about twenty-five songs, the majority coming from his three solo discs. Clayton played with him on about half the numbers. Keb looked as relaxed as a guy sitting in his own living room as he sang all his popular songs. Some of his selections that evening included (in order) "Victims Of Comfort," "That’s Not Love," "Everything I Need," "Muddy Water," "You Can Love Yourself," "Henry," "I Was Wrong," "Just Like You," "Dangerous Mood," "Soon As I Get Paid," "She Just Wants To Dance," "More Than One Way Home," "Dock Of The Bay," "Better Man," "I’m Telling You Now," and "God Trying To Get Your Attention." The truth is that all of the songs he sang were popular. It was more than obvious that the audience loved this show from start to finish. Don’t be surprised to see Keb back at the Garde sooner rather than later.