Keaton Simons

Keaton Simons was born on July 20, 1978 just outside of Los Angeles, California to parents Eliza (Garret) Simons (singer, actress) and James Simons (producer: Malcolm in the Middle) (divorced).  He has one sister, Morgan Simons, a  step-sister, Emma Roberts (actress: Unfabulous), and a half-sister Grace Nickels. His stepfather is Eric Roberts (actor) and is also related to Julia Roberts (actress) and Lisa Gillan (actress).

Keaton grew up in an environment filled with show biz and entertainment.  His mother, Eliza was a well respected singer, actress and writer and even helped the booking of bands for Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert.  His father, James Simons is the producer of the hit TV comedy Malcolm in the Middle.

As an early teenage, he began getting into music, but he also began testing the waters with acting.  He appeared in a few films in the early 1990, including 9 ½ Ninjas (1991), Best of the Best II (1993), Family Prayers (1993) and Bye, Bye, Love (1995).

However, he began to delve more and more into his passion for music.  He began to bring his guitar wherever he went and began to be known as a solid guitarist around town.  He had many musical influences as a child such as rock, jazz, soul and pop.  He began to take these influences and mold them into his own style.  He helped to form a jazz-fusion band named Nobody Knows and began to play around the L.A. area.

He left L.A. to go to college and attended Evergreen State University in Olympia, Washington.  At Evergreen, he studied music and music composition.  This gave him an even broader understanding of the ins-and-outs of how to make good music.

After college, he came back to Los Angeles.  Hip-hop and rap began to draw his attention. Before long he found himself playing with many stars of the hip-hop scene such as Tre Hardson (Pharcyde), Kim Hill (Black Eyed Peas), N’Dea Davenport and even Snoop Dogg.

Working with these and many other performers gained him exposure in the music world.  Then in 2000, he was asked to write a song for the movie Mercy Streets (co-starring stepfather Eric Roberts).  This effort began to get the notice of record labels.

As he began to write the music for the movie, he began to focus on writing and pulled together a small collection of songs.  He put these songs onto a demo tape and began to play it for record companies.  When Maverick Records (Madonna’s company), they really enjoyed what they heard and signed Keaton to a record contract.

The songs on the demo tape wound up being the first few songs of his debut release, Currently (EP), which was released in April of 2004.  It was released to the acclaim of critics.  He also began to tour around the country and concert goers where amazed by the lyrics, sound and soul he brings to each of his performances.

Besides talent, Keaton also has good looks and in June of 2004, Elle Girl magazine named him one of the “50 Hottest Guys Ever.”

Besides working on his own career, in 2004 he also leant some time to charity and contributed a song for the album Love Rocks, for  the Human Rights Campaign.

At the end of a very busy 2004, he released his first full-length album, exes and whys with the help of the record production trio known as the Matrix (they produce Avril Lavigne).  Critics instantly acclaimed the two-disk album.  The album has a bluesy, down-to-earth sound and is a combination of Bob Dylan, Ray Charles and the Black Crows.

Keaton got his name and website onto the MTV Video Music Awards when his stepfather (Eric Roberts) mentioned him and his website in an introduction of R. Kelly.