Born in Chicago, Keith was born to be a musician. His father played guitar and sang doo-wop tunes with his friends in the streets. He was too shy to perform in public, but always encouraged his gifted son to show off his talent. His mother was also a singer and a classically trained pianist. Like her husband, she didn’t like to perform for others either and kept her talent hidden from friends. S​hortly before her death, when Keith was 6 years old, he saw B.B. King on the Ed Sullivan show. He was transfixed.  After 3 years of begging and pleading, his father finally bought him a guitar. Keith attended Tilden Technical School and studied mathematics, carpentry, electricity and music, all of which would benefit him later in life. He also attended Harold Washington College where he concentrated on his budding musical career. 

Keith began singing in taverns around the south side of Chicago when he was 9. When he was a sophomore in high school, he wrote his first musical score on the back of a music composition notebook. He couldn’t read music at that time, but he knew what sounded good and everyone was amazed at his ability, he was just getting started. While in high school, he began to study music under the tutelage of Timothy Lord Galloway who had performed with the Morris Ellis Band. The Band was a 12 piece jazz band that accompanied greats such as Diana Ross and the Staple Singers. As a drum major, Kniles was recognized in the 1980 Who’s Who in Music. He also studied with James Mack where he learned to play the violin and the piano became interested in modern jazz composition. After winning a local talent show, some recruiters from Motown wanted to sign him into a record deal, but his mother tore up the contract because he was too young and inexperienced. After a bad experience at a social event, Keith decided to turn his attention towards gospel music. He felt he needed to be spiritually and morally trained before he could deal with the music industry. Keith has a myriad of musical influences including B.B. King, Ray Charles, The Jacksons, Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Heatwave, The Brothers Johnson, John Coltrane, The Stylistics and Marvin Gaye.

Keith likes to write love songs in the style of another of his favorites, the late Luther Vandross. He says he wants people to enjoy his music, but he wants them to think too. ”Music should be soothing and should not overpower the message, he says. “I want to give them a calm, still voice. Jesus spoke in a calm voice, so why shouldn’t I sing in one?

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Keith is currently back in the studio working with his band on his body of music.  He performs majorly in the Greater Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana areas.  He invites you to follow him on social media @thenilesexperience and check back here regularly for upcoming performance updates.