Born Robert Henry Keys on the 18th December 1943 in Slaton, Texas USA, he was a saxophone player, best known to the world for serving as the main saxophonist for the legendary rock band The Rolling Stones playing on numerous studio albums of the band and also toured with the group from 1970 until his death in 2014. Bobby also collaborated with such musical acts as Lynyrd Skynyrd, George Harrison, Delaney & Bonnie and Friends among others.
Have you ever wondered how rich Bobby Keys was, at the time of his death? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that Keys’ net worth was as high as $10 million, an amount earned through his successful career in the music industry, active from the mid- ‘50s until his passing.
Bobby Keys Net Worth $10 Million
Bobby is the first child born to US Army Air Corps officer Bill Keys and his wife Lucy, who was16 years of age when Bobby came into this world. His father left the military and became an employee of the Santa Fe Railroad, and was soon sent to Belen, New Mexico. Robert stayed in Slaton with his grandparents, while his mother moved in with his father in Belen. Bobby became an older brother to Gary and twins Daryl and Debbie.
Bobby liked living with his grandparents; on reaching teenage years he became interested in music. Once he turned 15, he became a tour member for Bobby Vee and Buddy Holly as well, improving his musical skills and learning new styles of play.
During one of the tours with Bobby Vee, Keys shared the backstage with The Rolling Stones and struck-up a friendship with Keith Richards. In no time, Bobby became a part of The Rolling Stones and was their session musician from 1969 until 1974, and later from 1980 until his death, which significantly increased his net worth.
Before The Rolling Stones, Bobby was also a part of Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, then Eric Clapton, and George Harrison as well, while in the early ‘70s he played with Joe Cocker. In the mid- ‘70s he joined Ringo Starr, Harry Nilsson and Keith Moon, and also played on solo albums by the legendary John Lennon, including “Walls and Bridges”, and “Rock ‘n’ Roll”.
During the ‘80s he became focused on working with The Rolling Stones, and then in 1989 started serving as musical director for Ronne Wood’s music club Woody’s On the Beach, opened in Miami. He brought some of the most famous musicians to the club, such as Jerry Lee Lewis, the Crickets, Fats Domino and others, all in the first week.
Before his death, Bobby played with The Rolling Stones at the Glastonbury Festival in 2013, which was the band’s debut appearance at the music festival, and played with them in the Roskilde Festival on the 3rd July 2014, which turned out to be his last appearance with the band.
He also recorded a couple albums as a bandleader, “Bobby Keys” (1972), released through the Warner Bros. Records, which featured the likes of Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton and George Harrison, and “Gimme the Key” three years later, released through Ring O’Records, the sales of which also added to his wealth.
Regarding his personal life, Bobby married Holly in 1999 and the two remained married until his death. The pair had two children together, while Bobby was also stepfather to Holly’s son from a previous relationship, named Randy Kaune. Bobby passed away on the 2nd December 2014 at his home in Franklin, Tennessee, after suffering from liver cancer.
