Father-and-son singing duo to delight at Starbright

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Maybe you have seen and heard the Keatings sing on stage. This father-and-son team of golden-voiced entertainers has appeared several times in the weekly "Hit Parade" show at the Suncoast. Or maybe you caught them in Sun City Summerlin, at either the Starbright Theatre or the Desert Vista Community Center, or at any other number of venues around town.

If you haven't seen them perform and heard their magical voices, then Sunday, when the Keatings return to the Starbright Theatre at 3 p.m., may be your last chance for a while. That's because Ken Keating and his son Josh will be heading back to Branson, Mo., the following day for the remainder of 2010, when they're billed as headline performers at the Hamner Barber Theater.

What makes this twosome special? For one thing, the velvety baritone-tenor voices with which they've been blessed. For another thing, their repertoire. And finally, they are part of a growing act of Keating family performers who are true products of Summerlin.

As Ken explains it, the Keatings take their audiences on "a musical journey that spans numerous genres" with a range of songs that includes pop, standards, oldies, rock, Broadway and even opera. Last September, they received strong plaudits for their performance on the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon.

"We've been residents of Summerlin for quite some time," said Ken, 46. He grew up in Las Vegas, lived in the vicinity of UNLV in his early years and graduated from Valley High School. He remembers when Summerlin was just a stretch of desert with an undeveloped road that took him to Spring Mountain Ranch and Red Rock Canyon.

But Josh, 18, has been a Summerlin resident almost all his life.

"I went to Bonner Elementary School, Sig Rogich Middle School, and I graduated last year from Palo Verde High School," he said.

The Keatings hit one of their high spots a year ago when they put on two shows at the Starbright Theatre to raise funds for the music program at Palo Verde.

"I was president of the high school choir during my senior year, and there had been fire damage to the theater at the school," Josh said. "Our two performances at Starbright raised $2,800 to help repair the damage."

Of particular interest is the fact that the twosome may some day soon become a threesome. That's because Alex, 16, the only other child of Ken and Laura Keating, was born with similar musical talents. He also plays a mean drum. Alex already is part of the show during the summer when he's off from school.

But talent and their present ability to perform as a "father and son musical experience" is in keeping with a family tradition. Ken and Laura were married 24 years ago, after which they formed a small band built around their voices and Ken's piano. The group played lounges along the Strip until Josh was born.

"We're at the point where our show has become a full-time job for both of us," Ken said. "We are career entertainers."

Still, Josh continues to take courses aimed at earning a general studies degree.

"I study as much as possible, although performing with my dad is my first responsibility," he said. "But I would like to have that college degree someday."

Ken began performing at a young age and was playing lounges on the Strip by the time he was 18. Like father, like son, Josh first performed professionally at 14.

One thing Josh will never forget was an invitation to appear at a charity event, "An Evening with Tony Bennett and the Stars." The best part was when he received a standing ovation from many of the celebrities after his performance -- an ovation that was led by Tony Bennett.

Herb Jaffe was an op-ed columnist and investigative reporter for most of his 39 years at The Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J. He is the author of the novels "Falling Dominoes" and "One At A Time." Contact him at hjaffe@cox.net.