Keni Burke - Stay Close To Me

Keni was the lead singer of The Five Stairsteps on this stone killer Northern Soul classic, produced and written by Curtis Mayfield and released on Curtom Records, and one of the defining records of my own youth in the 1960s. It was such a pleasure to film him in his hometown of Atlanta, for The Strange World Of Northern Soul. Keni was born on the 28th September 1953, in Chicago, Illinois. He began his career in the 1960's with brothers James, Clarence, Dennis and sister Aloha in his family group the Stairsteps. When they split up in 1971 he moved to Los Angeles in search of session work. In 1974, he toured with Billy Preston who was a friend of ex-Beatle George Harrison. George met Keni at a time The Stairsteps were discussing a reunion album, and signed the group to his Dark Horse label. The result was one Billy Preston produced album '2nd Resurrection' including Keni's song 'Pasado' (later recorded by the band Pockets). In 1977, the group split up again, but, determined to succeed as a solo artist, Keni recorded a solo album for Dark Horse. The album 'Keni Burke' (1977), including 'Keep On Singing' and 'You Are All Mine', wasn't a great success so Keni returned to session work with his bass guitar. He played with Smokey Robinson, Sly and The Family Stone ('On The Right Track', 1979), Terry Callier, Linda Clifford ('Runaway Love' 1978), Dusty Springfield, Diana Ross, Ramsey Lewis ('Routes', 1980), Gladys Knight, The Four Tops, Curtis Mayfleld, Eugene Record, The Emotions and Bill Withers among many more. He later recorded two albums for RCA, 'You're The Best' (1981), including 'Let Somebody Love You', 'Gotta Find A Way Back In Your Heart', 'Paintings Of Love' and 'Never Stop Loving Me'; and 'Changes' (1982), including 'Hang Tight' and 'One Minute More'. The latter also included 'Risin' To The Top' which has become a cult song on the UK soul scene although it has never charted (though twice released as a single). As a songwriter / producer he has worked with The Jones Girls (1984's Keep It Comin' including 'You Can't Have My Love' and 'Ah Ah Ah Ah'), The O'Jays ('Put Our Heads Together'), The Whitehead Brothers, Mavis Staples ('Chocolate City'), The Whispers (co-writing 'Let's Go All The Way'), Perri (co-writing 'I'm The One', also playing bass on 'The Flight'), and Bill Withers. After many years tracking down Keni Burke, my best friend, Ralph Tee, persuaded Keni back into the recording studio with the resulting album 'Nothing But Love'. The album was missed by many of the critics although the tune 'Indigenous Love' seems to be destined for 'rare groove' status in years to come. In 1999 we filmed this performance of his classic in Atlanta, then in 2002 had him perform it at The Rocket. In 2003, Keni worked with the singer Kalvin Bishop and sang on a single for Acid Jazz Records entitled '(Love Is) Alive In My Heart'. Curtis Mayfield was his mentor, and it really shows here.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Northern-Soul
• Chicago
• Curtom
• Curtis-Mayfield
• Motorcity
• Male-Soul-Singers
• Soul-Classic
• Sixties

[LindaGB57]

Mr. Levine, where can I purchase a copy of The Strange World of Northern Soul here in the USA???

[IanLevine]

I'm trying to give you Wienerworld's website but YouTube won't let me - obviously due to spam blocking. But try wienerworld followed by the "." followed by the c word that ends in om.

[Stairsteps]

Nice to see my brother up here nice video too. peace from Len Burke

[IanLevine]

How utterly fabulous and brilliant to hear from you.

Were you in the Stairsteps when they originally recorded this ??

And "Ooooh Child" ??

My influences of my youth.

[imbees2]

I remember this song from Keni. Cubie was much more "star like" He had it going on. Don't change your love was one of my favorite Five Stairstep songs. I have their CD. The Stairsteps went "undercover" after Oooh Child. Never heard anything else after that, but they are still one of the best groups I've ever seen live. Cubie was da bomb and he was only about 10 or 12 at the time, back in the 60's.

I went to see them every time they came to town.

[MrNothingbutsoul]

Keni Burke Sounds and looks terrific. I'm definitely looking foward to a reunion. I will be right there.

[Niceonebeats]

wohho ohh man great song ! the good old days

[KarenPG621]

james was supposed to be mtyhusband and clarence was supposed to be my sisters husband lol...

[KarenPG621]

well i would settle for that i just want to see any performance from that family come on give us one more i wonder if they realize they still have fans out here who miss and love them unconditionally

[jdickerson19]

Most of the family is in Atlanta and they had tragedies as you say but they are still doing good when they left music they opened up one of the baddest hair salons Atlanta ever had to offer and they still make me go back and play on music just with them on it.

[aRealJawjaPeach]

He IS cute! Wish I was at least 20 years older.

[ns0710]

Keni Burke! Ian, you never stop to amaze me! I've been coming across your videos for several years. My FAVORITES: Hattie Littles, Lou Johnson, Chuck Jackson, Sammy Ward, several others. I am glad to get to know lesser known Motown acts thanks to you. I even did the "Hattie Littles" wikipedia page. Keep it up!!!

[michaeljulius119]

There is a brother in Chicago that has the only remaining footage of The 5Stairsteps Live at Shea stadium. It was The Isley Bros show called It's Your Thang....The did "Don't Change Your Love" I know he has it because I saw it 3 or 4 times

[michaeljulius119]

Keni is in the studio now recording again...finally. I wouldn't look 2 hard 4 a Stairstep Reunion...thoughClarence and keni might sometime in the future collaborate on a project together, But the newsflash is that Keni and his daughters Asia and Breanna are carrying the serious flavor. Keni has played a few tracks 4 me & they are the truth. Clarence also is creating music as well. They were going to NYC 4 Hal Jackson's bash @ The Apollo but Cubie's injuries squashed that. Hold them all in love