career overview and biography

Songwriter:

  • Written ten national hits/many regional hits & approx. 500 + songs.
  • Airplay in foreign countries includes Spain, England, Germany, Italy, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Ireland, Israel, Norway, Slovak Republic, Switzerland, Turkey, the U.K., Denmark, Finland, France, the Philippines, South Africa, Sweden, Argentina, Austria, China, Denmark, USA, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Australia and other European and South American countries.
  • Has written 250 recordings by such artists as Bobby Vee, Tom Jones, Rick Nelson, Pat Boone, Jackie DeShannon, Bobby Bare, Keely Smith, Gene Vincent, Skeeter Davis, The Sandpipers, Glen Campbell, Gary Lewis, The American Breed, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, Abba, The Browns, The Knickerbockers, The Four Preps, Spiral Staircase, Jerry Wallace, Jerry Fuller, Gene McDaniels, Bud & Travis, The Magic Lanterns, The Righteous Brothers and Kenny Rogers, Kim Carnes and Barry McGuire (The New Christy Minstrels).
  • Songs featured internationally on television specials and films, including "Scrubs," "Rolling Kansas," "Beerfest," "All Over The Guy," "Pimp My Ride," "The Oh in Ohio," "Date My Mom," "Made," "Mad Men," "Trainwreck," "American Loser," and "London Boulevard".

Twenty-five of Keith's songs were recorded by artists who have occupied the number 1 position on Billboard's Top 100 charts.

Numerous YouTube videos feature Keith's songs.

A man holding a guitar in front of him.

Recording Artist:

Has enjoyed many regional hits and national/international hits, "Enamorado" and "Queridita Mia," with Keith Colley, Trini Lopez, Connie Francis, and Richie Valens being the only single recording artists on the USA pop charts to have recorded a hit record totally in a foreign language with Keith being the only artist to also have written the song as well as performing it.

Musician/Arranger:

Acoustical guitar, keyboard, and percussion, worked with top industry producers, musicians, arrangers, performers, recording studios and record companies. His earlier career included his own dance bands. Arranged approximately half of his songs recorded by other artists.

Performer:

Performed with many top-name personalities, including Bob Hope, Patti Page, Art Linkletter, Phyllis Diller, The Beach Boys, Fabian, Bobby Rydel, Jimmy Clanton, Duane Eddy, Jan & Dean, The Coasters, Danny Thomas, Seals & Crofts and as lead or background vocalist on hundreds of recordings and in various clubs, television shows, stage productions and other events including the Hollywood Bowl and the National Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon.

Graphic Artist:

Created illustrations for Constellation CANDO, the achievement universe found in one's own imagination! Keith's 'visual technology' techniques also include co-developing the leading 3-D Camera with his co-owned company (Depth Projection Advertising) in the Three Dimensional Printing industry.

Producer:

Produced hundreds of recordings/popularized industry expression. The Hook was known for his new expression, Singer/Songwriter Pression, with his wife Linda creating the new girl's name for their daughter (Jenna), which became a common girl's name, and the original creator of the brand name Can Do Kids/CANDO Kids.

Executive:

East Coast Manager/West Coast Manager and executive producer for 4-Star Music Co. & Challenge Records of Los Angeles, New York, and Nashville (as originally founded/owned by Gene Autry/Keith's childhood King of The Cowboys favorite singer/actor. Keith is the president of CANDO Studios.

The Evolution of CANDO:

Creator/Founder of the original Sun Child, The Cando Kids, Little Elmo, ELMO, and The Elmo Project, maturing into The CANDO Project as a brand name CANDO (Creating A New Dimension of Optimism).

In following the original American government, "We Can Do It" motto with Rosie The Riveter, designed to promote enlistment and win WW2 with The Can Do Attitude, it worked; we won! Now, as a global societal media technology, it will again in our current 21st century World War 3 we find ourselves in – the war of values.

  • Started famed guitarist Larry Coryell (who began in Keith Colley's band) and co-produced Bonnie Guitar in Nashville sessions with Keith's song "Shine."