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| Keith Barrow |
| Born: 9-27-1954 Died: 10-22-1983 ........from A.I.D.S. |
| Another Chicago disco star, Keith Barrow grew up on the city's southside. Singing came naturally to the youngster. Barrow's first singing experience was in gospel music, as befitting the son of a famous Chicago minister. His mother was Willie T. Barrow (she served as national executive director of Operation Push, an African American civil rights organization). In his teens, Barrow headed a gospel group called "The Soul Shakers." Produced by MFSB guitarist/songwriter Bobby Eli, his Columbia LP, "Keith Barrow," was issued in summer 1977. One track "Mr. Magic Man" received minor attention. Produced by Michael Stokes, "You Know You Wanna Be Loved" went to #-26 R&B on Billboard's chart in the summer of 1978. The "Physical Attraction" album yielded two other disco hits and is replete with sensuous slow jams, "Overnight Success," "Step Into My Garden" and "Free To Me." The 12" single, "Turn Me Up" b/w "Physical Attraction" was a huge disco hit charting #-79 R&B in early 1979. His song, "Teach Me (It's Something About Love)" was also a well played track. Switching to Capitol, Barrow recorded the 1980 album, "Just As I Am" before begining his health decline. Barrow's warm, naturally delicate falsetto was put to remarkable use in a small, but solid, body of music. And had his life not been cruelly cut short I'm sure he would have been a major artist of the 1980's. |
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