Troy Keyes

Soul singer - songwriter best known among soul aficionados for his cult-classic 1968 single "4783644" Born on March 13, 1940 in Pantego, NC. A member of his church's choir throughout childhood, from the age of ten he grew up in Brooklyn, New York, singing in street-corner doo wop groups in addition to studying dance at the Fred Astaire Studio. In 1955 Keyes joined a vocal group dubbed the Starlites. In 1958 he joined The Velours. In 1960 he made a brief stint in The Rays (2). He started a solo career with ATCO Records and after a solo single he formed The High Keys with Jimmy Williams who had a hit with a 1963 rendition of the Doris Day smash "". He also recorded the duet "A Good Love Gone Bad" with Norma Jenkins. Troy was introduced to Bob Crewe by the Starlite’s Clifford Rice and with Bob he cut “The World Without You” (Atco) and this was released under the name of Mitchell Keyes. He recorded for several labels, like Vmp, Verve Records, ABC Records, as well as singing background vocals for Peabo Bryson.