Kathryn Keats has been involved in music since the age of five, working as a teenager with such legends as Tennessee Ernie Ford, Loretta Lynn and Word Baker. She initially studied at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Early in her career, she performed at Carnegie Hall and toured the country with a successful off Broadway show. Her studio work included national commercials and sound tracks and recording for various producers. Then…Kathryn Keats was put into hiding after her former collaborator Ken Ford threatened her life. Law enforcement officials urged her to change her identity. Her name was legally changed after a harrowing experience with Ford culminated in a jury trial in Oakland, California. In order to protect herself, she was forced her to give up her career. All of her ties from her past were cut in 1989 after her last performance awarded her a Critic’s Circle award for best performance in the original stage version of The Rocky Horror Show.

When she could no longer work in the music industry she did not lament the loss of time. She began working behind the scenes, packaging feature films, creating and producing shows for television and film and directing several bands and artists. Her work included projects for Herb Ritts, Wayne Masur, and Mary Ellen Mark. When she had been to enough Herb Ritts birthday parties and met everyone the early 90’s required, she began creating, producing and packaging for television and radio.

Kathryn’s most impressive role was in taking on the persona of an industry executive, building strong industry relationships in Hollywood and New York while never disclosing her true identity.

On January 12, 2005 Keats discovered that the man who had threatened her life for over three decades had finally died. It was then that Kathryn Keats could come out of hiding. Since then, she has reclaimed her past beginning to write again and record her music. She created a one woman show an to mark her return and has played The Knitting Factory LA, New York’s The Bitter End as well as The Plush Room in San Francisco. She has also made time to perform benefit shows for the victims of violence.

Along with Tony Valenziano of Smile Records, Kathryn has recorded her first full length CD “After the Silence” (April 2007 release.) Kathryn’s story is being developed as a feature film and her life story will be featured in Readers Digest (March 2007.) Her ”After the Silence” Tour commences in 2007, bringing not only her music, but also her amazing story to the public.

In short, Kathryn Keats is no ordinary animal. When most would be happy to finally live their life in peace Kathryn is driven to share her story and teach others how to save their lives, reclaim their dreams, and live again.

Tony Valenziano, Producer, Guitar, Drums
Tony Valenziano is a veteran music producer and musician. He is the president and owner of Smile Records and created The Stand and The Ultra Suede’s. His work as a producer is renowned, his breadth of work is impressive as he has produced an extremely large music catalogue.

Michael Manring, Bass 
Winner: Bassist of the Year, Bass Player Magazine.  Grammy Nominated and one of the truly
timeless masters of bass virtuosity and mentioned in the same breath with the likes of Jaco
Pastorius and Stanley Clark.

Brad Ard, Guitar 
A critically acclaimed performer, composer, transcriber, and musical mentor.  Ard’s virtuosity evokes comparisons to a diverse range of guitarists, including Wes Montgomery and Egberto Gismonti; He is a veteran of the National and International Jazz Scene.

Jason Bodlovich, Drums
A  powerhouse of a musician. On drums and guitar he possesses the kind of technique, heart and soul that makes everyone in the studio or audience want to rock. “

 Joe Satriani says; we have a great time with Jason opening our shows. He always had house up and feeling good. “

Brian Stewart, Guitars

Rick Keller, Sax
Rick Keller is a composer/multi-instrumentalist living in Los Angeles. In 2001 Rick returned to the U.S. after a 17 year successful freelance music carrer in Europe residing in Munich, Germany. Rick was born in Syracuse, New York where he began studying saxophone at the age of 11.

Rick was 14 years old when he began participating in State and National Jazz competitions which consequently led to performances with scholastic as well as professional Big Bands.Rick was awarded a scholarship to the famed University Of Miami where he performed with some of the Jazz departments top ensembles, recieving ``Down Beat´ honors between 1979-1983. Since 1983 Rick has recorded and performed live with many well known musical personalities. Rick has performed for large audiences and small clubs and has recorded all styles of music for record albums, films, television and radio. Some highlights include: Ronnie Scott´s London, North Sea Jazz Festival, Blue Note Tokyo,Rick took his quartet to perform at the 1998 Canary Islands Jazz
Festival. Rick has maintained a high level of music performance by constantly challenging himself and his creative partners. Rick´s respect for the art of jazz and his reverence of Jazz masters past and present has continued to fuel his performance and compositional abilities. 

Dan West, Piano, Keys
Dan West is known for his ability to bring genius into every sound and situation that involves
music. He is, simply, the best.
AGUAFANTASTICA

Cynthia Pepper, Tour Choreographer & Director
Cynthia has choreographed for all aspects of stage, television, screen and film. She danced professionally with the choreographers Willem Christensen, Donald Byrd, Bella Lewitzky, and Loretta Livingston. Cynthia is a partner in Xanadu Entertainment and produces and writes dance films for Sesame Street™. Her award-winning dance films have been screened at numerous dance and film festivals and are distributed internationally. She has choreographed for Marin Shakespeare for the past six seasons doing eight of their critics circle award-winning shows. Cynthia served as the outreach director for Marin Ballet in San Rafael where she also taught contemporary dance and choreography for over 16 years. She is currently the contemporary dance teacher and Community Dance Director at Marin Dance Theatre. She teaches weekly classes in the Marin public school systems and directs the newly formed Let's All Dance! outreach program.

“After the Silence” is the first out of three cd’s Kathryn Keats has recorded since her re emergence and the first to be released. Grammy award winning players make up this original CD. Producer, composer, arranger and musician, Tony Valenziano, Smile Records, along with Michael Manring, Bass, Dan West, Keys and Guitar, Jason Bodlovich, Drums, Brad Ard, Guitar, Brian Stewart, Lead Guitar and Rick Keller, Sax and Flute, with compositions by Kathryn Keats, Valenziano, Aram Avagyan, Arsen Grigorian, George Hearst, Chip Harris, Sting and Ann Carlin. Add all vocals by Kathryn Keats and we have a CD that includes a host of songs guaranteed to pull at your heart and top the charts. “After the Silence” was recorded at The Old Firehouse Studio in Pasadena, Ca. and Ursa Minor in San Rafael, Ca. Keats’ yet to be released CD’s include “Going Home” with Pete Sears producing and on Keys, Darol Anger, Violin, Barry Sless, Jerry Cortez, Steve Evans, Paul Rivelli, Lorin and Chris Rowan and Roy Tyler, Paul Stubblevine, Engineering, recorded and mixed at Coast Recorders in San Francisco, Ca. and her “Live at the Knitting Factory and Plush Room” CD’s with Adam Blau, Aaron Redner, Avagyan and John Fulton.