Keith Relf

2025-10-15T22:09:08Z

2603:6081:1DF0:6BF0:224E:3916:9BDE:8CA: /* The Yardbirds */

{{Short description|English musician (1943–1976)}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Keith Relf
| image = Keith Relf of The Yardbirds early 1966.jpg
| caption = Relf in January 1966
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = William Keith Relf
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1943|3|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Richmond, London|Richmond]], England
| death_date = {{death date and age|1976|5|12|1943|3|22|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Hounslow]], Greater London, England
| instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar|harmonica|bass}}
| genre = {{hlist|[[Blues rock]]|[[hard rock]]|[[psychedelic rock]]|[[folk rock]]|[[progressive rock]]}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Musician|singer|songwriter}}
| years_active = 1956–1976
| label =
| past_member_of = {{hlist|[[The Yardbirds]]|[[Renaissance (band)|Renaissance]]|[[Medicine Head]]|[[Armageddon (A&M band)|Armageddon]]}}
| website = {{URL|keithrelf.com}}
}}
'''William Keith Relf''' (22 March 1943{{snd}}12 May 1976) was an English musician, best known as the lead vocalist and harmonica player for [[Rock music|rock]] band [[the Yardbirds]]. He then formed the band [[Renaissance (band)|Renaissance]] with his sister [[Jane Relf]], the Yardbirds ex-drummer [[Jim McCarty]] and ex-[[The Nashville Teens]] keyboardist [[John Hawken]].

== Early life ==
Relf was born in the Richmond Institution on 22 March 1943 to Mary Elsie Vickers and William Arthur Percy Relf.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Perfect Sound Forever: Keith Relf |url=https://www.furious.com/perfect/keithrelf.html |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=www.furious.com}}</ref> Keith had a sister [[Jane Relf|Jane]]. His father was a builder, while his mother was a housewife.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=French|first1=David|url=http://public.eblib.com/choice/PublicFullRecord.aspx?p=6213703|title=Heart full of soul Keith Relf of the Yardbirds|last2=Cooper|first2=Alice|date=2020|publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-1-4766-4046-4|language=English|oclc=1156990166}}</ref>

==Musical career==

=== The Yardbirds ===
[[File:Keith Relf and Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds.jpg|thumb|Relf and Jim McCarty, early 1966|left]]
Relf started playing in bands around the summer of 1956 as a singer, guitarist, and harmonica player.<ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|date=2 April 2014|title=Keith Relf Biography: Singer (1943–1976)|url=http://www.biography.com/people/keith-relf-20892269|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315155613/http://www.biography.com/people/keith-relf-20892269|archive-date=15 March 2018|access-date=|website=Biography.com|publisher=A&E Television Networks}}</ref> He was in a band with [[Paul Samwell-Smith]] called The Metropolitan Blues Quartet. They met [[Chris Dreja]], [[Jim McCarty]] and [[Top Topham]] and backed [[Cyril Davies]] at Kingston Art School, which led to the forming of [[The Yardbirds]] in 1963,<ref>{{Cite web |title=From the Deep South of Kingston Upon Thames…. {{!}} Art Gallery Clothing |url=https://www.artgalleryclothing.co.uk/from-the-deep-south-of-kingston-upon-thames-%e2%80%a8/ |access-date=2025-08-14 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Keith Relf Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More ... |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/keith-relf-mn0000098278 |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}</ref> the name which was apparently first chosen by Relf according to McCarty which he likely chose from [[Jack Kerouac]]'s novel ''[[On the Road]]'', where it referred to railroad yard [[Hobo|hobos]].<ref>Page 62 of ''Nobody Told Me: My Life with the Yardbirds'' by [[Jim McCarty]], 2018</ref>
[[File:Keith Relf in 1966.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Keith Relf singing in mid-1966]]
Relf co-wrote many of the original Yardbirds songs ("[[Shapes of Things]]", "I Ain't Done Wrong", "[[Over Under Sideways Down]]", "[[Happenings Ten Years Time Ago]]"), later showing a leaning towards acoustic/folk music as the sixties unfolded ("Only the Black Rose").<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/keith-relf-mn0000098278|title=Keith Relf - Biography - AllMusic|author=Greg Prato|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=15 January 2015}}</ref> He also sang an early version of "[[Dazed and Confused (Jake Holmes song)|Dazed and Confused]]" in live Yardbirds concerts, after hearing musician [[Jake Holmes]] perform the song, which was later recorded by the band's successor group [[Led Zeppelin]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ontheflip-side.blogspot.com/2013/08/tower-records-spotlight-jake-holmes.html|title=On The Flip-Side: Tower Records Spotlight: Jake Holmes - Dazed and Confused|author=Morgan Young|date=9 August 2013 |publisher=Ontheflip-side.blogspot.com|access-date=15 January 2015}}</ref>

His debut solo single, "[[Mr. Zero (song)|Mr. Zero]]", peaked at No. 50 in the [[UK Singles Chart]] in May 1966.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book|first=David|last=Roberts|year=2006|title=British Hit Singles & Albums|edition=19th|publisher=Guinness World Records Limited|location=London|isbn=1-904994-10-5|page=458}}</ref>

=== 1970s ===
After the Yardbirds broke up in July 1968, Relf formed the [[acoustic music|acoustic]] [[duet (music)|duo]] Together, with fellow Yardbird [[Jim McCarty]], followed immediately by [[Renaissance (band)|Renaissance]] (which also featured his sister [[Jane Relf]]).<ref>{{cite web|last=Elliot|first=Russell W.|date=10 November 2002|title=The History of Renaissance|url=http://www.jtl.us/nlightsweb/lib/renhist.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203105649/http://www.jtl.us/nlightsweb/lib/renhist.htm|archive-date=3 February 2012|access-date=|website=Northern Lights|publisher=Joe Lynn & Russ Elliot}}</ref> After leaving Renaissance in 1970, he started producing other artists: [[Steamhammer (band)|Steamhammer]], folk rock band [[Hunter Muskett]], the acoustic [[world music]] group [[Amber (band)|Amber]], psychedelic band Saturnalia,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/saturnalia-mn0001357602/biography|title=Saturnalia - Biography - AllMusic|author=Richie Unterberger|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=15 January 2015}}</ref> and blues rock band [[Medicine Head]] (with whom he also played bass guitar).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://first-thoughts.org/on/Keith+Relf/|title=Keith Relf|publisher=First-thoughts.org|access-date=15 January 2015}}</ref>

In 1974, he formed progressive/rock group [[Armageddon (A&M band)|Armageddon]]. Their self-titled debut, ''[[Armageddon (Armageddon album)|Armageddon]]'', was recorded in England and released in the United States on [[A&M Records]]. The album's original liner notes used the term "[[Supergroup (music)|supergroup]]"; their personnel (besides Relf) included drummer [[Bobby Caldwell (drummer)|Bobby Caldwell]] (previously a member of [[Captain Beyond]] and [[Johnny Winter]]'s band), guitarist [[Martin Pugh (musician)|Martin Pugh]] (from [[Steamhammer (band)|Steamhammer]], ''[[The Rod Stewart Album]]'', and later of [[7th Order (band)|7th Order]]),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.7thorder.com|title=7th Order Home Page|publisher=7thorder.com|access-date=15 January 2015}}</ref> and bassist [[Louis Cennamo]] (also formerly of Renaissance and Steamhammer).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://somethingelsereviews.com/2013/05/01/forgotten-series-armageddon-featuring-the-yardbirds-keith-relf-armageddon-1975/|title=Forgotten series: Armageddon featuring the Yardbirds' Keith Relf – Armageddon (1975) - Something Else!|work=Something Else!|date=May 2013 |access-date=15 January 2015}}</ref>

== Personal life and death ==
Relf was a lifelong chronic asthmatic and nearly died on three occasions as a child during a bad [[asthma]] attack.<ref>{{Cite web |last=chuckhicks |date=2017-07-27 |title=After the Silver Cord is Loosed: Armageddon |url=https://progarchy.com/2017/07/27/after-the-silver-cord-is-loosed-armageddon/ |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=Progarchy |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Erich B. |date=2023-01-29 |title=Tragic Details About The Yardbirds |url=https://www.grunge.com/1177421/tragic-details-about-the-yardbirds/ |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=Grunge |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Simmonds |first=Jeremy |url=http://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofde0000simm |title=The encyclopedia of dead rock stars : heroin, handguns, and ham sandwiches |date=2012 |publisher=Chicago, Illinois : Chicago Review Press |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-1-61374-478-9}}</ref> His respiratory problems led to him losing a lung; in 1964, Relf passed out during the Yardbirds' first U.S. tour after a lung collapsed, resulting in the lung being removed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharp |first=Ken |date=2016-07-08 |title=Q&A: Jim McCarty Discusses the Yardbirds' Legacy |url=https://rockcellarmagazine.com/qa-jim-mccarty-discusses-the-yardbirds-legacy/ |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=Rock Cellar Magazine |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Unterberger |first=Richie |date=2020-06-04 |title=KEITH RELF: WHEN A YARDBIRD FLEW SOLO |url=https://pleasekillme.com/keith-relf-yardbird-solo/ |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=PleaseKillMe |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=LeValley |first=Jason |date=2021-11-25 |title=Interview: Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds |url=https://psychedelicscene.com/2021/11/25/interview-jim-mccarty-of-the-yardbirds/ |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=Psychedelic Scene Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> In his last years he developed [[emphysema]].<ref name=":0" />

In 1966, he married April Liversidge. They had two sons, Danny and Jason.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://members.madasafish.com/~relf/rock.html |title=International Relf Society: Let's Rock & Roll |publisher=Members.madasafish.com |date=2002-04-02 |access-date=2014-06-28}}</ref>

On 12 May 1976, Relf died in the basement of his home at age 33 from [[electrocution]] while playing an ungrounded electric guitar. He was discovered by his son Daniel.<ref name=":1" /> He may have been taking medications such as [[theophylline]], commonly used to treat respiratory diseases at the time, and these drugs may have led to [[tachycardia]] and/or [[arrhythmia]] which possibly contributed to his inability to survive the [[Electrical injury|electric shock]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Simmonds |first=Jeremy |date=2006 |title=The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars: Heroin, Handguns, and Ham Sandwiches |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PtpkCgAAQBAJ&q=keith+relf+earthed&pg=PA88 |location=Chicago, Illinois, USA |publisher=Chicago Review Press, Incorporated |page=88|isbn=9781613744789 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bittar |title=The arrhythmogenicity of theophylline. A multivariate analysis of clinical determinants |year=1991 |volume=99 |issue=6 |pages=1415–1420 |journal=Chest |doi=10.1378/chest.99.6.1415 |pmid=2036824 }}</ref> His death was announced two days later on 14 May, which is sometimes erroneously listed as the date of his death.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=French |first1 = David (1966–) |title=Heart full of soul Keith Relf of the Yardbirds|others=Cooper, Alice, 1948-|date=29 May 2020|isbn=978-1-4766-4046-4|location=Jefferson|oclc=1156990166}}</ref>

He was buried in [[Richmond Cemetery]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Beach|first=Darren|title=London's Cemeteries|year=2013|publisher=Metro Publications|location=London|isbn=9781902910406|pages=216–219}}</ref>

== Legacy ==

Relf's posthumous 1992 [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] induction with the Yardbirds was represented by his widow April, and sons Danny and Jason ("Jay").<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rockhall.com/inductees/the-yardbirds/|title=The Yardbirds|publisher=Rockhall.com|access-date=15 January 2015}}</ref>

==Solo singles discography==
Most of Relf's [[sound recording and reproduction|recordings]] were released under the name of the group he was in at the time. However, an early attempt was made to establish him as a solo musician, and two singles came out under his own name in 1966.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.keithrelf.com/relf.html|title="Golden Eggs" bootleg Interview '75|publisher=Keithrelf.com|access-date=15 January 2015}}</ref>

* "[[Mr. Zero (song)|Mr. Zero]]" / "Knowing" – UK [[Columbia Graphophone Company|Columbia]] DB7920 / U.S. [[Epic Records|Epic]] 10044 (May 1966)
::[[A-side and B-side|A-side]] written by [[Bob Lind]]
* "Shapes in My Mind" / "Blue Sands" – UK Columbia DB8084 / US Epic 10110 (November 1966)
::[[A-side and B-side|B-side]] is an [[instrumental]] credited to Relf, but actually performed by the Outsiders (not to be confused with the US band, [[The Outsiders (American band)|the Outsiders]], who performed "[[Time Won't Let Me]]"). The US single featured the same version as the UK single; US promotional copies (on red vinyl) featured a complete re-edit of the song.{{citation needed|date=January 2015}}

A further single appeared in 1989:
* "Together Now" / "All The Fallen Angels" – MCCM 89 002 (1989)
::US release only. The A-side was originally recorded in 1968 by Together. The B-side was recorded on 2 May 1976, ten days before Relf's death.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* [http://www.theyardbirds.com/ The Yardbirds official website]
* {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=mn0000098278}}

{{The Yardbirds}}
{{Renaissance (band)}}
{{1992 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Relf, Keith}}
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:1976 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century English singers]]
[[Category:Alumni of Kingston University]]
[[Category:English rock singers]]
[[Category:English blues singers]]
[[Category:English male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:English harmonica players]]
[[Category:Blues singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Electric blues musicians]]
[[Category:English blues rock musicians]]
[[Category:British blues (genre) musicians]]
[[Category:British rhythm and blues boom musicians]]
[[Category:Blues harmonica players]]
[[Category:Musicians from the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]]
[[Category:People from Richmond, London]]
[[Category:Singers from the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]]
[[Category:The Yardbirds members]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths by electrocution]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths in London]]
[[Category:Burials at Richmond Cemetery]]
[[Category:English baritones]]
[[Category:Maracas players]]
[[Category:Armageddon (British band) members]]
[[Category:Renaissance (band) members]]
[[Category:20th-century English male singers]]

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Keith Relf