# Keith (singer)

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**James Barry Keefer** (born May 17, 1949), known professionally as **Keith**, is an American vocalist. His best-known song was "[98.6](/source/98.6_(song))" which reached No. 7 on *Billboard* Hot 100 in 1966. He legally changed his name to **Bazza Keefer** in 1988, in memory of his mother.[1][2][3]

## Early life

Keith was born James Barry Keefer on May 17, 1949, in [Philadelphia](/source/Philadelphia), [Pennsylvania](/source/Pennsylvania), United States.[1]

## Career

### Early days

Keefer earned his first [recording contract](/source/Recording_contract) with [Columbia Records](/source/Columbia_Records).[1] When [Jerry Ross](/source/Jerry_Ross_(record_producer)) moved across to [Mercury Records](/source/Mercury_Records) he took Keefer with him, and the singer soon appeared in the [*Billboard* Hot 100](/source/Billboard_Hot_100) [chart](/source/Record_chart), with his 1966 solo single, "Ain't Gonna Lie".[1]

### Chart success

He is best remembered for his [one-hit wonder](/source/List_of_one-hit_wonders_in_the_United_States#1960s) [hit](/source/Hit_single) "[98.6](/source/98.6_(song))"; which was listed on the [*Billboard* Hot 100](/source/Billboard_Hot_100) chart for 14 weeks in 1966-7, peaking at number 7 for two weeks,[4] and finishing at number 79 on the [1967 year-end chart](/source/Billboard_Year-End_Hot_100_singles_of_1967). It also peaked at number 6 in Canada, number 24 in the [UK Singles Chart](/source/UK),[5] and number 25 in Australia. It sold over one million copies worldwide, earning a [gold disc](/source/Music_recording_sales_certification).[6] The [track](/source/Song) was written by [Tony Powers](/source/Tony_Powers) ([lyrics](/source/Lyrics)) and George Fischoff ([music](/source/Melody)), [arranged](/source/Arrangement) by Joe Renzetti, and was produced by Jerry Ross.[6] 98.6 refers to the body's normal temperature expressed in Fahrenheit.[7]

His debut album, *98.6/Ain't Gonna Lie*, was also issued on the Mercury label.

### Later days

His 1968 second Mercury [LP](/source/Gramophone_record), *Out of Crank*, failed to sell well.[1] The low point in Keefer's life came when [United States Army](/source/United_States_Army) officials arrested him for [draft evasion](/source/Draft_dodger) during a [concert tour](/source/Concert_tour).[8] "I was making coffee for [generals](/source/General_of_the_Army_(United_States))," said Keefer. When he got out, Keith did some independent recording and joined [Frank Zappa](/source/Frank_Zappa)'s 1974 touring band. "I think they brought me in to commercialize Frank," Keefer said.[8] Contrary to popular belief, he never sang in Zappa's band. Soon afterward, he recorded three singles for Zappa's [DiscReet Records](/source/DiscReet_Records) label.

Keefer recorded one last album in 1969, *The Adventures of Keith*, for [RCA Records](/source/RCA_Records). It did not sell well, and he then left the [music industry](/source/Music_industry) until 1986, when an attempted comeback under his real name proved unsuccessful.[1]

He set up A.I.R. Records in 1986 in [Redondo Beach](/source/Redondo_Beach,_California), California, and produced albums for several local musicians. These included the singer-songwriter Chuck Hill, and Keith's drummer Shawn Smith, who were both from [Denver](/source/Denver), Colorado.

In the 1990s, the singer moved into the [television industry](/source/Television), although he continues to play live dates.[3]

## Discography

### Singles

**Keith and the Admirations**

Year Title Peak chart positions Record label B-side US UK 1965 "Caravan of Lonely Men" – – Columbia Records "Dream"

**Keith**

Year Title Peak chart positions Record label B-side Album US UK AU CAN 1966 "Ain't Gonna Lie" 39 – – 30 Mercury Records "Our Love Started All Over Again" 98.6/Ain't Gonna Lie "98.6" 7 24 25 6 "The Teeny Bopper Song" 1967 "Tell Me to My Face" 37 51 99 22 "Pretty Little Shy One" "Daylight Savin' Time" 79 – – – "Happy Walking Around" Out of Crank "Sugar Man" – – – – "Easy as Pie" "I'm So Proud" 135 – – 44 "Candy Candy" 1968 "The Pleasure of Your Company" – – – – "Hurry" 1969 "Marstrand" – – – – RCA Victor "The Problem" The Adventures of Keith 1974 "In and Out of Love" – – – – DiscReet Records "What Did You Do in the Revolution Dad?"

### Albums

Year Album US BB [9] Record label 1967 98.6/Ain't Gonna Lie 124 Mercury Records Out of Crank – 1969 The Adventures of Keith – RCA Records 2004 Ain't Gonna Lie – RPM Records

## See also

- [List of performers on Top of the Pops](/source/List_of_performers_on_Top_of_the_Pops)
- [List of one-word stage names](/source/List_of_one-word_stage_names)

## References

1. Jason Ankeny (May 7, 1949). ["Keith | Biography"](http://www.allmusic.com/artist/keith-mn0000370327/biography). AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-01-26.

1. ["Bazza Keefer – Biography"](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0444407/bio). IMDB.com. Retrieved 2014-01-26.

1. ["The official Keith website! About Keith – Biography!"](http://www.keith986.com/keithbio.htm). Keith986.com. May 17, 1949. Retrieved 2014-01-26.

1. Roberts, David (2006). *British Hit Singles & Albums*. 19th ed. London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 297. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

1. ["Official \[U.K.\] Singles Chart Top 50: 16–22 February 1967"](http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19670216/7501/). *Officialcharts.com*. Retrieved 2018-05-29.

1. Murrells, Joseph (1978). [*The Book of Golden Discs*](https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/207). 2nd ed. London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. [207](https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/207). ISBN 0-214-20512-6.

1. [\[1\]](http://www.stanleycompany.org.uk/man/body_temperature.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20050527021824/http://www.stanleycompany.org.uk/man/body_temperature.htm) May 27, 2005 at the Wayback Machine

1. ["The Official Keith Site-Media: Where Are They Now..from Rolling Stone Magazine"](http://www.keith986.com/stone.htm). Keith986.com. Retrieved 2014-01-26.

1. Whitburn, Joel (1973). [*Top LPs, 1955–1972*](https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnstoplp00whit/page/77/mode/2up). Record Research. p. 77. Retrieved November 25, 2025.

## External links

- [Official Keith website](http://www.keith986.com/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Keith (singer)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_(singer)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_(singer)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.