Keith Wayne Swinney was born February 20^th 1982.  He grew up on a farm in the small town of Holton, Indiana. Music was bred into his blood. Keith’s great grandmother, Maxine Wilson taught Keith to play guitar when he was 12 years old. He knew then that making music and entertaining people is what he wanted to do. Only three years later Keith was winning contests, and even joined his first band.

By age 16 he had released his first Album “Sweet 16” and was opening shows for acts like Tracy Byrd, Neal McCoy, Merle Haggard, and other well known stars. By age 18 Keith signed his first publishing deal with Sideroad music group, and had songs pitched to artists like Mark Wills and Tim McGraw.

The last 10 years Keith’s music has taken him places he never dreamed it would have. He went from playing the Ripley County Fair for a few dozen people to opening shows in front of 10,000 to 12,000 screaming fans. Keith has stood in the same spot where his heroes like Keith Whitley, Vern Gosdin, George Jones and others stood and performed at The Little Nashville Opry.  Keith has performed more than once at the Colts Stadium, with the Colt’s Cheerleaders dancing a routine to one of his songs.  The Keith Swinney Band was hired to fill in as a headliner in Blue Ash, Ohio when country star Chris Cagle cancelled due to illness.

Over the years Keith has spent a lot of time traveling back and forth to Nashville TN. Winning talent contests, playing, songwriters’ nights, and even doing showcases at famous Nashville Hot Spots like Tootsies Orchid Lounge.  Keith was even offered a few deals with smaller independent labels that were declined.  Keith still hopes that one day he will still get that big break and sign with a major label.

Travis James Drockelman has been playing drums from age 3 or 4. His first drumset was the Muppets with Animal on the front. When he was  6 or 7, Travis built a drumset from 5 gallon buckets and trash can lids. His dad felt sorry for him and the next Christmas Travis got his first drumset.  When Travis got that drumset he beat the heck out of it.  

Travis started playing in a band when he was around 10 years old or so. His brother, Trevor Drockelman and his cousin, Josh Paul both played guitar. Every time they would see each other they jammed out to” Smoke on the Water, LaGrange, Guns and Roses songs and lots of original music.

Roger James from the band Southern Sky asked Travis if he wanted to run with them and learn how to setup a PA system, run lights and learn to play drums  For the next 3 or 4 years. Travis took a tape recorder and taped Roger every Saturday night and the rest of the week Travis played that tape and beat along to the drums. Roger taught Travis a lot about playing the drums and gave some very good life advice as well. Roger passed away when Travis was 19 years old.

After Travis graduated high school, he played in the Hoosier Daddy band with Brian Collins. The band included this crazy guitar player from England , Jack Addison (now lead guitar player of KSB). Travis was young and not sure of what he wanted to do and ended up leaving after a few months.  Travis played in numerous bands and could not find the right fit.  Somewhere in the middle of all this Travis decided he needed a change and woke up a few days later in Marine Corp Boot Camp (yeah that’s right) It is the last place anyone would have thought to find Travis. Travis is very glad he became a Marine because it changed him. He worked on helicopters while in the Marines. While home on leave, Travis met the woman he would marry, 13 weeks later. Travis also inherited 2 step kids Justice and Jalen. After leaving the Marines, Travis went back to work back at Hill-Rom where he had been employed for just a few months when he joined the service. Travis and Nichole have a 5 year old son, Seth, aka Zard. This young dare-devil one day  will be a singer, drummer, guitar player , dirt bike rider  or all of the above. 

After the Marines Travis tried to again to find the right band and played with so many bands traveling all over.

Travis then got a call from Brian Collins (Hoosier Daddy), letting him know that Keith Swinney was looking for a drummer.  Even though it was COUNTRY music, Travis practiced with the song list Keith brought him. In August 2007, Travis played for the first time with KSB @ Midwest Trail in Norman, IN.  While there Travis looked up from playing and saw 6 or 7 people that he grew up with down at the Saddle Club in Versailles.  He realized then this band was the right fit.  Travis has been drumming with Keith, Ron, and Jack ever since. So if you ask Travis “Was it a good decision to go country? “  Travis will tell you, yeah he could not be in a better band with a better group of friends. He still likes heavy metal and maybe one day he’ll get Keith to do a heavy metal song.  Travis enjoys playing music with the Keith Swinney Band and hopes to see all the Keith Swinney Fans soon….