RIP Eleanor Keenan
I think we all know instinctively when we’re in the presence of a truly great talent. It’s hard to pin down what it is that captures our attention - musicianship, charisma or maybe confidence - whatever it is, Eleanor Keenan had it by the bag full.
The first time I met Ellie was at one of those big outdoor picnic concerts with the Syd Lawrence Orchestra. We were sharing the bill: me, a young upstart, all wide-eyed with lots of confidence but little experience, and Eleanor, already a veteran of the big band scene with an incredible career under her belt and still at the top of her game.
I remember watching her sing Route 66 and being wowed by how she got the huge crowd to sing and clap along within seconds. She was in control of the whole thing in a way that I could only dream of being.
After the concert we had time to hang out and get to know each other. As I gushed on about how wonderful she was, I learned what else makes a great artist: humility and kindness. From day one Ellie was nothing but humble and generous with her time. She was always there to offer a guiding hand and share the benefit of her experience. She taught me not only how to sing with a big band but the value of being kind to other people, helping new singers and paying it forward.
I was so very sorry to hear of her passing after a mercifully relatively short battle with motor neurone disease. Our mutual friend and colleague, Joe Pettitt found a clip of Ellie and I singing ‘Side by Side’ in 2018. That was the last time we sang together and it’s striking to see how full of life she was then, with her cheeky sense of fun and her voice sounding on top form.
Like everyone else I will miss her but she‘ll always be in my heart in the way she inspired me to be a better performer and a better human being.
RIP Ellie.