A reviewer once wrote that the typical Keith Reichley song is "extremely well-crafted." She also wrote "such are Reichley's gifts that he'd be better labeled a 'songwriter/singer'."

OK. So in a perfect world he'd have the voice of an angel, really have a handle on the guitar, the mandolin, the piano and harmonica. He would have had a real career over the last twenty or so years. As such, his career is based on the premise that if you do original songs and obscure covers, no one knows when you screw up.

A native and current resident of the vibrant town of Cleveland, Keith has been performing his distinctive originals and an uncommon collection of covers on guitar, piano, mandolin and harmonica for over two decades, appearing on concert stages, in coffeehouses and bars throughout the Midwest. In addition to numerous radio and television appearances, he has shared the stage with Jonathan Edwards, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and Kim Richey.

Start with the early 70's. Upon returning to Athens at spring break while a sophomore at Ohio University Keith had a spare $20 in his pocket, intent on buying his first musical instrument. He walked into Blue Eagle Music looking for a ukelele, but found in his meager price range only an eight-stringed contraption. He said "I'll take it. What is it?" It was a mandolin.

A few years later Keith started playing for audiences at coffeehouses and student hangouts in Athens with Amy Wooley, a fine singer/songwriter and eventual MCA recording artist. Together they moved to Chicago in the mid-seventies where they played folk clubs such as Somebody Else's Troubles, The Earl of Old Town, Kingston Mines, and the Barbarossa. They also performed for audiences in Cleveland, appearing at numerous venues including radio shows at WRUW and WMMS' Coffee Break Concert.

Being young and stupid Amy and Keith got married. The wisdom they gained over the next year and three months led to a merciful annulment.

Keith soon moved back to Athens to continue his pursuit of a degree in General Studies, a journey that would span sixteen years from start to finish. While being the model student he performed solo and played mandolin and guitar in several duos, notably with Mercury recording artist Kim Richey and with Randy Bare, a killer rhythm guitarist, singer, and as much a friend as a middle-aged white guy can be.

Strange that ex-wife Amy and ex-partner Kim went on to record albums which received favorable national attention. Keith is glad to have helped launch their careers. They write him every week.

Keith's 1996 cassette called Greetings from Palookaville grabbed the listening public's attention like the sound of one hand clapping.

The project was titled after one of his songs, Palookaville. The first incarnation of Palookaville was a metaphorical treatment of life on earth as a quick but tiresome whistle stop -- a Palookaville, if you will -- with the afterlife being the only true destination. Keith's wife said the song sucked, so he kept the title and made up a new song about a fat broad who kicks his skinny ass for asking her if she's pregnant. There's a little more to the song, but not much.

You could say that Palookaville strikes the familiar chord of man's tendency to put foot in mouth, to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, to make the immediately regrettable decision -- in other words, to be a palooka.

But it's really just about a fat broad who kicks Keith's skinny ass.

Somebody liked the song enough to include it in the sound track of the Travel Channel special "America's Best Beaches 2004."

His childrens' favorite song on the cassette is I Want To Grow Old. Here he makes a real stretch where the "narrator" is a crotchety middle aged lizard eagerly anticipating the pleasure of becoming more of one -- flaunting minor laws and generally getting away with rude behavior.

Likened to the humorously thoughtful compositions of the late Steve Goodman, this song allows the listener to justify an increasingly cranky disposition as the years add up. The song has been hailed (not by Keith) as "life-changing." One reviewer called it "a delightfully wicked take" with "a nifty smart-ass tone."

No fat broads kicking Keith's ass in this baby.

Some prefer Kirby, his first "keeper" written over twenty years ago. This one's about an old fiddle player and former landlord down in Chauncey, a tiny place just outside of Athens, Ohio. Kirby played fine old-time fiddle, but Keith didn't know him well enough to be hep to any of his great accomplishments or personal tragedies. So Keith killed off his wife midway through the song and sent him packing in the last verse.

A few of Keith's songs can be heard on the Acoustic Harvest: More Pickings and the Acoustic Harvest III - Fertile Land CDs from Folknet, the Northeast Ohio organization that promotes a vibrant folk and traditional arts community. Contact Folknet for ordering information. These CDs feature an impressive variety of original and traditional material from Northeast Ohio acoustic performers.

He continues to write and occasionally perform, much to the consternation of wife Cindy and children.

See some stuff from the old Athens days, gathered in preparation for the Athens Music Reunion on Oct. 19, 2002.