Robert Earl Keen Honored with BMI's Troubadour Award

Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Jody Williams, Kathleen Keen, Robert Earl Keen, Dualtone’s Scott Robinson

Texas songwriter Robert Earl Keen recently joined BMI for an album release party celebrating his latest release, The Happy Prisoner.

During the party, Keen was also honored with the inaugural Troubadour Award presented by BMI’s Jody Williams. “It’s hard to define success as a songwriter,” says Williams. “We have charts and sales tallies and best-of lists, all designed to help us keep track of who’s on top. But the best songwriters will tell you, that as exciting and encouraging as those benchmarks can be, they aren’t necessarily the most accurate barometers of success. The Troubadour Award celebrates the artists who craft for the sake of the song. It’s the songwriter’s songwriter award.”

Keen and his band then played a set of new music. “This award means so much to me,” says Keen. “I have always been a songwriter; it’s in my blood.”

Keen will be touring in support of the album throughout the spring.