Every Night's a Saturday Night: The Rock 'n' Roll Life of Legendary Sax Man Bobby Keys

Born in Slaton, Texas, some 15 miles southeast of Lubbock, Bobby Keys has lived the kind of life that qualifies as a rock 'n' roll folktale. In his early teens, Keys bribed his way into Buddy Hollys garage band rehearsals. He took up the saxophone because it was the only instrument left unclaimed in the school band, and he convinced his grandfather to sign his guardianship over to Crickets drummer J.I. Allison so that he could go on tour as a teenager.

Keys spent years on the road during the early days of rock ‘n roll with hitmakers like Bobby Vee and the various acts on Dick Clarks Caravan of Stars Tour, followed by decades as top touring and session sax man for the likes of Mad Dogs and Englishmen, George Harrison, John Lennon, and onto, most famously, his gig with The Rolling Stone from 1970 onward. Every Night's a Saturday Night finds Keys setting down the many tales of an over-the-top rock ‘n roll life in his own inimitable voice.

Augmented by exclusive contributions with famous friends and fellow travelers like Keith Richards, Joe Crocker, and Jim Keltner, Every Night's a Saturday Night paints a unique picture of the coming-of-age of rock ‘n roll itself while celebrating how Keyss raw talent and outsized personality have elevated him from sideman to a rock ‘n roll icon.

Bobby Keys has been an in-demand session and touring saxophone player since the 1950s. He has toured and recorded with The Rolling Stones since 1970, and has played on record or onstage with Elvis Presley, Buddy Hollys Crickets, Joe Cocker, Eric Clapton, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Keith Moon, Warren Zevon, and Sheryl Crow, among countless others. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

Bill Ditenhafer is the former editor of Nashville Lifestyles magazine and has worked as a features writer, arts writer, critic and editor at weekly newspapers from Nashville, Tennessee to Warsaw, Poland. He lives in Nashville with his wife and two children.