Keeney Nation patriarch, musician, and scene supporter Mike Keeney Sr. dies at 71

Plus, the Vista Session from Terry Barnes Trio.

Mike Keeney Sr. was one of those people you want to have in your pocket as a music journalist. The guy had a fairly deep career as a local player, going back to the ’70s with Bob Watson and the Country Edition (and then later with his own Keeney Brother’s Band).

His family (brothers, nephews and all host of cousins and kids, blood-related and otherwise) were part of a collective of musicians and bands known as Keeney Nation, which used to host an annual gathering/jam night.

So, the man had some deep institutional knowledge.

More than all that, Keeney seemed to just always be around. He knew everyone and what they were up to and when he reached out with a story pitch (which he did from time to time), you could trust it was probably worth whatever time you could give.

Keeney died on Monday at the age of 70.

This wasn’t necessarily unexpected. Keeney had been sick and in and out of the hospital for years. He spent a good chunk (more than 100 days) in the hospital in 2017.

“With saddened heart, we regret to inform you all that Mike has lost his battle,” the family wrote, sharing the news on social media. “He is now playing guitar on the golden streets of heaven.”

Remembrances came in quick and heavy.

Via singer Cheri Perry:

“The ultimate rockstar.

The first person to introduce me to the stage and include me in the band was my Uncle Mike Keeney. He had a passion for music that was unmatched and only surpassed by the love and pride he had for his family and friends — who became adopted family. He really saw no distinction between the two … I will miss him dearly. Rock on Uncle Mike.”

And from guitarist Richie Blue:

“He was my friend and a legendary guitarist here in Fresno. I loved his stories of playing with Don Rich, Conway Twitty, Freddie Fender, Rose Maddox, Roy Clark and so many more. Back in the day of HeeHaw a lot of performers who played the show in Bakersfield would tour up and down the 99, using Mike’s band, The Country Edition as the opening and back-up band. Solo artists using pick up bands was pretty common back in the ’60s and ’70s. Talk about being on your toes. Whoa. He was a great friend to all who knew him and his loss is a big hit to our community. Rest easy my friend.”

Keeney is survived by his wife Connie; sons Michael Keeney, Jr., Richard Keeney and Michael Eldridge; daughters Trisha Keeney and Christina Yanez; mother Glenna Keeney; sister Karen Abbott; brothers Bill, Randy, Toby and Shawn; eleven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and a whole host of friends and fellow musician that considered themselves part of the Kenney Nation.

Funeral services happen 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the Chapel of the Light Funeral Home. A celebration of life happens at 2:30 at Fulton 55.

Terry Barnes Trio, the Vista Session

Staying on the theme of remembrances and musicians who have passed, I somehow missed the death of Dennis Wombacher.

The violinist, who played with the Terry Barnes Trio (and also any number of other Fresno musicians over the years), was killed in a bicycle crash on Millerton Road. He was 79.

Before his death, the trio did a recording session at the Vista Theatre. Filmmaker Vince Consentino cut pieces of that session, along with other footage of the band, into a memorial video that was released in January. You can check it out on Youtube.

The full session, which features six songs, plus interviews with Wombacher and the Barneses (Terry and Steve), was also released and gives a really good glimpse at trio’s unique take on being “a cover” band.

In Wombacher’s words: “What we do isn’t pretty much like what anybody else does. I mean, have you ever seen a guitar, vocal, bongo, violin trio before? The answer for most people is …what?”

That’s it for this week. Remember you can now hear me on the Homegrown Show Sundays at 8 p.m. on New Rock 104.1 FM. Tonight, I have an interview with dark wave singer Puppet. Follow my other writing at The Fresno Bee. If you have anything you think I need to be looking at or listening to, feel free to let me know: jtehee@gmail.com