Johnny Dee (Born Keith Landers)
DOB Unkown – October 17, 2011
As the front man of Johnny Dee & the Rocket 88’s, Keith Landers was a familiar face throughout central Texas. As Abilene, Texas’ premier oldies party band, the Rocket 88’s have played for prominent political figures, foreign dignitaries, and numerous celebrities. They have shared the stage with the Beach Boys, Charlie Daniels, James Brown, and Rick Nelson, to name a few. Landers began making music as far back as anyone can remember and was forming bands while still in high school. With names like Omaha and Cadillac, Landers was rocking clubs from Abilene to Austin by the early ’70s. In 1974, he reinvented himself Johnny Dee and began his long career playing the rock ‘n roll sounds of the ’50s. Even as music tastes changed over the years, Johnny Dee & The Rocket 88’s never seemed to fall out of fashion and continued to entertain crowds across America well into the 2000s. Keith Landers was 60 when he died of a heart attack on October 17, 2011.
Thanks to Don Smith for the assist.