Jimmy Keegan joins Spock's Beard on tour as session drummer since Nick D'Virgilio cannot play drums and deliver lead vocals at the same time.



Jimmy was born as James E. Keegan on November 3rd 1969, to Patrick and Joyce Keegan. Growing up the youngest of eight children, the competition for attention would be fierce and standing out in a crowd would be a matter of survival. James excelled at it! Acting, dancing and singing were second nature to everyone growing up in this family, but James was a little different. Winning talent show after talent show proved that.



It wasn’t until he was eight that he picked up the drumming bug thanks to John Bonham. By October, one month before his 10th birthday, his parents gave in and decided it was time for a set of drums. By January, three months later, he had booked his first gig. N.B.C. produced two specials called “Real Kids”, “Real People” for kids. As part of what would be considered a supergroup-to-be, he, along with River and Rain Phoenix and future jazz pianist extraordinaire Chris Dawson, the band would take the show to commercial breaks with all original compositions. This was just a sign of what was to come.



By eleven, he would be a cast member of the longest running stage play in L.A., “Let’s Put On A Show” at the Roxy for over three and a half years; by fourteen, several headlining performances at various Las Vegas Showrooms; by fifteen, a founding member of Polo, a group consisting of kids ranging from fourteen to eighteen, composing and performing original music (unlike these sissy boy bands of today), the youngest band to be hired as a regular act at Disneyland (alongside drumming phenom Josh Freese). This, as well as several movie and television appearances as an actor, would form the foundation of what would become one of the finest most original drummers to hit the scene.



The 90’s music scene would prove to be the perfect stomping ground for an artist like James. As the session world called, James answered with a variety of dynamic sessions for artists such as Tevin Campbell, Rhasaan Patterson, Selena, Luis Angel, John Waite, Jimmy Seals, Stacey Q and most recently in the studio with Kenny Loggins. The hi-light of the decade though had to be the sessions with Carlos Santana for the Grammy award-winning album Supernatural. In addition to the studio work, James’ recent projects include a band called Transmission O.K. along with guitar freak Blues Saraceno. Jimmy also hit the road with prog-rock staples Spock’s Beard.



You would be lucky to find a musician with the maturity, sensitivity, dynamics, artistry and absolute passion and love for his craft. If you do, don’t be surprised if he shows up with his kit of Ayotte drums and an incredible desire to make your music better than you ever imagined.