Keb' Mo'

KEB’ MO’

With five GRAMMYs, 14 Blues Foundation Awards, and a groundbreaking career spanning nearly 50 years under his belt, Keb’ Mo’ has nothing left to prove. Just don’t tell him that.

Born and raised in Compton, Keb’ began his journey at 21 when he landed his first major gig playing with Jefferson Airplane violinist Papa John Creach. For the next 20 years he worked primarily behind the scenes as a guitarist, songwriter, and arranger, developing a gift for linking past and present in his playing and singing.

In 1994 he introduced the world to Keb’ Mo’ with the release of his widely acclaimed self-titled debut. Critics took note of his modern, genre-bending take on old-school sounds, and two years later he garnered his first GRAMMY Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album with Just Like You.

Highlights and achievements:
- Four more GRAMMY Awards after his first win, and seven times topping the Billboard Blues Chart.
- Performances at venues including Carnegie Hall and the White House.
- Collaborations with artists such as Taj Mahal, Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, The Chicks, and Lyle Lovett.
- Compositions recorded or sampled by artists as diverse as B. B. King, Zac Brown, and BTS.
- Signature guitars released with Gibson and Martin.
- Music composed for television series including Mike and Molly, Memphis Beat, B Positive, Leanne, and Martha Stewart Living.
- Recipient of the Americana Music Association’s 2021 Lifetime Achievement in Performance.

Onscreen and acting work:
- Appeared as himself in Martin Scorsese’s The Blues, Aaron Sorkin’s The West Wing, and Sesame Street.
- Portrayed Robert Johnson in the 1998 documentary Can’t You Hear The Wind Howl, Howlin’ Wolf on CMT’s Sun Records, and the ghostly bluesman Possum in John Sayles’ 2007 film Honeydripper.
- Performed on late-night and nationally televised programs including Letterman, Leno, Conan, Colbert, Austin City Limits, The Kennedy Center, The Ryman Auditorium, and Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival.

Philanthropy and education:
Keb’ is a passionate philanthropist and activist who has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for social, environmental, and racial justice causes. As a celebrity mentor with The Kennedy Center’s Turnaround Arts Program, he “adopted” The Johnson School for Excellence in Chicago, working with teachers, students, and parents to develop arts education. He is also a longtime ambassador for the Playing For Change Foundation, supporting free music education and basic needs for children worldwide.