Jonathan Samuel Keeney

Jonathan was born in Knoxville, TN on November 19, 1984. From an early age he showed signs of developing some elevated athletics skills. At 5 he would kick a soccer ball for hours on the sidelines at his brother's soccer games and practices. At 5 ½ he joined his first soccer team. When he received his first pass during his first soccer game, he ran an unchallenged beeline straight to the goal and scored his first of many points in soccer. Over the years he continued to rapidly develop skills which enabled him to excel not only in soccer, but also in ice hockey, inline hockey, golf, basketball, football, and more. From his early years, and throughout his middle school and high school years, Keeney received numerous accolades and awards for his athletic skills.

While spending his formative years in Knoxville, Keeney was introduced to, and surrounded by, the musical traditions of Appalachia including folk, country and bluegrass. Born to musical parents, he was raised with both his father’s acoustic guitar style and his mother’s classical piano often filling the home. This foundation not only led to a deep appreciation for music at a young age, it would also spark what prove to be an ongoing passion and pursuit.

After exploring various types of rock and improvisational styles earlier in life, Keeney pursued a musical education in guitar performance at the University of Tennessee where he studied under jazz giants Donald Brown and Greg Tardy.

Upon completing his BA degree in Studio Music and Performance Jazz (with minors in psychology and musicology), Jonathan spent more than a decade as a touring musician, performing in both live shows and studio recording sessions.

After adding pedal steel to his skill set, Keeney quickly built up a reputation as a tasteful, melodic, and reliable utility player in East Tennessee. Knoxville alt-country band, The Black Lillies, invited him on tour to play both steel guitar and dobro. Keeney toured internationally with the group for several years, playing over 200 shows annually, notably performing multiple times at the Grand Ol’ Opry in addition to countless theaters, venues and festivals across North America and Europe.

After parting ways with The Black Lillies, Keeney made the short drive down I-40 and landed in Nashville. Even in Music City his musicianship quickly stood out. He went right to work playing gigs for Megan McCormick and Gil Landry, along with a variety of session work around town. Not too long after relocating to Nashville, Keeney was hired by Lee Ann Womack to play pedal steel, dobro, mandolin, and both electric and acoustic guitar for tours across the U.S. and Canada in support of her album Lonely, Lonesome and Lost.

After parting ways with Lee Ann’s camp Keeney joined up with The War and Treaty, the gospel infused, husband and wife Americana duo. He traveled across the U.S. and Canada with the band for several years doubling on lead electric guitar and pedal steel and performing at many of North America’s largest venues and festival stages including Bonnaroo, Newport Folk Festival, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and Edmonton Folk Festival along with a handful of performances at the Historic Ryman Auditorium to name a few.

AllAboutJazz .com included Jonathan in a list compiling many of the world’s top steel guitarists across genres, stating that “the delicacy and precision of his playing, as well as his avoidance of obvious flourishes associated with the country sound allow you to almost forget you're listening to a pedal steel.”

During Covid and thereafter, he decided that he needed to learn some new skills. He worked as a custom furniture builder in Southern California prior to returning to Knoxville, where he joined Axel Logistics and was able to develop other new skillsets.

During the past two years he worked as a logistics specialist with InstaPipe of Phoenix, AZ. Most recently he worked and traveled between LA, Phoenix, Sayulita, Mexico and Knoxville.

Jonathan was preceded in death by his mother, Priscilla M Keeney. He is survived by his father, David W Keeney and his brother, Nathan W Keeney; his aunts: Carol Humphreys, Jane Dark, Kathleen Murray; his uncles: Mark Keeney, Phil Dark, John Goddin, and Robert Humphreys; his cousins: Jason Walborn, Jessica Martin, Jack Murray, and Gina Croce; and many special friends located throughout Tennessee and the United States.

A Celebration-of-His-Life Memorial Service will be conducted Sunday, February 9, 2025 at St. James Episcopal Church, 1101 N. Broadway, Knoxville, TN 37917.

Prior to the service the family will receive friends from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM at the church and the service will begin at 3:00 PM.

Also, on the following Sunday, 02-16-2025, a Keeney Musical Tribute Celebration will be hosted and performed by various artist at both Scruffy City Hall and Preservation Pub on Market Square Mall in downtown Knoxville. Times TBA.

Watch a live performance here: https://youtu.be/04R3p34VttY?si=3AKVmuosyDthzbdK