Keith Rowe

Keith Barrington Rowe (born October 22, 1950; Kingston, Jamaica), who sometimes records under the alias Keith Texon, is an acclaimed Jamaican rocksteady and reggae pioneer, tenor vocalist, songwriter, and radio broadcaster.

He rose to international prominence in the late 1960s as one half of the seminal vocal duo Keith & Tex alongside his childhood friend Phillip "Tex" Dixon. Celebrated for his smooth harmonic interplay, Rowe helped form the definitive soundscape of the brief but highly influential rocksteady era. Beyond his foundational contributions to Jamaican group harmony, he has established a lasting legacy as a solo recording artist, an independent label operator, and a prominent broadcasting personality dedicated to preserving Caribbean music history.

Early Life

He grew up in the Washington Gardens area of the Saint Andrew Parish on the outskirts of Kingston, Jamaica. Raised in a vibrant musical environment where the streets regularly filled with the burgeoning sounds of ska, he befriended Dixon during their teenage years. The pair initially formed a five-man vocal group singing on local street corners, drawing early inspiration from American rhythm and blues and soul harmony records.

After early auditions for legendary Jamaican producers like Prince Buster, Coxsone Dodd, and Duke Reid resulted in rejections that ultimately fractured their initial group, Rowe and Dixon persisted as a duo. Their foundational breakthrough arrived when they successfully auditioned for producer Derrick Harriott, who recognised their vocal capabilities and ushered them into the studio.

Career

Under Harriott’s direction, the duo achieved immediate commercial success, recording a string of definitive 1960s rocksteady classics including "Tonight" and their monumental 1967 signature anthem, "Stop That Train". Backed by legendary session musicians like Lynn Taitt and Hux Brown, these tracks became permanent staples of the genre, covered and sampled extensively across international music.

The original run halted in 1970 when both singers emigrated from Jamaica due to family relocations. Rowe settled in the United States and joined the US Army in 1972, initiating a dedicated 20-year military career. While still serving, he continued to pursue music independently, recording cult-classic solo cuts such as "Groovy Situation" and "Living My Life" under the guidance of legendary producer Lee "Scratch" Perry at the Black Ark studio.

He also established his own independent imprint, Kebar Music. In 1997, Rowe formally reunited with Dixon, releasing the album Together Again on cassette and initiating a highly prolific modern recording era. His mainstream presence expanded further into media through a distinguished broadcasting career, where he served for 19 years as the original founding host of the long-running radio program Sounds of the Caribbean on WBZC-FM.

Personal Life

Throughout his multi-decade trajectory, he has maintained a highly regarded reputation for bridging his distinct professional identities as a disciplined military veteran, a recording artist, and a cultural archivist. Following his retirement from active service in the US Army, he settled in Tampa, Florida.

He remains deeply committed to community engagement and music education, utilizing his broadcasting platforms to provide historical context on the roots of reggae while fostering exposure for independent musicians. His legacy is firmly established by his enduring friendship and unbroken artistic brotherhood with Tex Dixon, a partnership that stands as one of the most resilient and harmonious collaborations in the history of Jamaican music.

Current Activities

At present, he continues to record new music and host his weekly radio broadcasts from his base in Florida. Experiencing a significant creative renaissance, Keith & Tex released their eighth studio album, Gun Life, in March 2025 through the Spanish label Liquidator Music. Produced by Roberto Sánchez, the critically acclaimed, socially conscious 12-track record was officially included among the albums considered for the Best Reggae Album category at the 2026 Grammy Awards.

To support the project, the duo completed their 12th consecutive year of European touring and headlined major performances across regions including Mexico City. Concurrently, he steps behind the microphone each week to host his syndicated program, Reggae Rhapsody with Keith Rowe, broadcast via VP Records' Reggae King Radio and major digital streaming networks to highlight contemporary indie vocalists alongside classic selections.