He’s the man behind some of your favorite hits, but you may not know his name. Keith Harris, who has been playing drums with the Black Eyed Peas for more than 20 years, is still touring with the group, and working on his latest album.
Growing up in the South Side of Chicago, Harris is a lifelong musician. He first started playing drums in church as a kid.
“Everything started from me playing in church,” said Harris. “That's where music found me, and I fell in love with music.”
He went on to attend Chicago’s Marie Sklodowska Curie Metropolitan High School, and later Berklee College of Music in Boston. Just after college in 2003, he got the opportunity to work with the Black Eyed Peas, who at the time, had already released two albums, but had not yet blown up into the supergroup they are today.
While with the Black Eyes Peas, Harris slowly began writing and producing for the group and other artists including Madonna, Mariah Carey, Usher and Chris Brown. By the late 2000s, Harris began to score some of his biggest, era-defining hits.
With the Peas, he produced Meet Me Halfway and ‘Imma Be, both double platinum records. For Estelle, whom he still works with, Harris co-wrote American Boy, which won the GRAMMY Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and was nominated for Song of the year in 2009.
Personally, Harris has won a GRAMMY for Best Urban/Alternative Performance in 2009 for being the producer of the the song Be OK, by Chrisette Michele and in 2010 as a producer and writer for the Black Eyed Peas album The E.N.D., which won for Best Pop Album.
“It's really fascinating to see something that was in your in your mind fully progressed into something that's tangible, and that other people vibe with as well,” said Harris of his biggest hits. “Everybody doesn’t get to that point in their career that they have hit songs, so I'm extremely blessed to have done that.”
Harris may have a long and impressive career playing, writing, and producing for others, but as his own artist, he’s had to start from the ground up.
In 2020, he independently released his first project, The Keith Harris Experience, a music collective produced by Harris where he collaborates with other artists including rapper Chief Wakil and vocalists Church Boi and Elle E.D.
“I use my platform as The Keith Harris Experience to bring on new and upcoming talent to give them exposure,” said Harris.
The Keith Harris Experience is currently opening for the Black Eyed Peas on tour.
“I have a whole band as big as 11 pieces, or as small as five pieces. We go out there and rock the crowd and get people's energy and spirit up. That’s the Keith Harris Experience, good times, good vibes, good party.”
But as an independent artist, the cost of touring can be high. Harris is currently running a Kickstarter campaign to help cover costs for himself and the other artists in the Keith Harris Experience as they tour with the Black Eyed Peas. Gifts with donations include signed drumsticks by Harris and a vinyl of his first record, The Keith Harris Experience: Volume 1.
“I am a one-man operation. I have no label. I'm an independent artist just really trying to hustle and get my music out there,” said Harris.
While on the road, Harris is working on the final touches of The Keith Harris Experience: Volume 2, which he says will feature collaborations from Estelle, the Black Eyed Peas, and other artists.
“This next project is more pop-Urban. I want to switch directions and give people a different experience,” said Harris of the album. “Some of the greatest R&B artists are from Chicago, they influenced me.”
On tour, Harris wears many hats. In addition to playing drums for the group and opening for them, he also serves as their overall musical director. He's responsible for hiring other musicians for the band, getting musicians for studio sessions and helping to guide their musical vision.
"They trust me musically, and they trust me as a person." says Harris.
The Black Eyed Peas are currently on tour in Europe, and will be coming to the U.S. in August. They will perform at Ovation Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. on August 4.
