Keen announces retirement from the road

Keen, best known for "The Road Goes on Forever" and "Merry Christmas From the Family," said he would stop touring as of Sept. 4. He intends to continue with his podcast and write songs. There was no word on whether he would continue releasing music. He has put out 12 studio albums and seven live albums. His last studio album was 2015's "Happy Prisoner: The Bluegrass Sessions."

"You've heard people say "Time flies," said Keen. 66, on his website. "It's a cliché. Funny thing about clichés and what makes them ubiquitous, is they ring true. Jackson Browne has a line in a song that encapsulates a lifetime in the blink of an eye. It's difficult for me to absorb the concept but, I understand it as a feeling because I feel it more and more with each passing day. BUT, it is easier to say, "time flies". We all know what that means."

"There is no way to inventory the fantastic amount of incredible people that have touched my life. My family, friends, band members, fans, co-workers, teachers, advisors, confidants, and peers only begin to tell the story. I feel connected to everyone of them. If I can picture them in "the blink of an eye" like a snapping a photograph, I'm connected. And I do believe it's the people that come in and out of your life that make life worth living or, in unfortunate cases, a living Hell."

"Fortunately, I been blessed with a lifetime of brilliant, talented, colorful, electric and magical folks throughout my life. This chorus of joy, this parade of passion, this bullrush of creativity, this colony of kindness and generosity are foremost in my thoughts TODAY. It's with a mysterious concoction of joy and sadness that I want to tell you as of September 4th, 2022, I will no longer tour and perform publicly. I plan to continue to write songs, interview a wide variety of celebrities and contributors for our Americana Podcast. I also embrace this as an opportunity to further support the musical community and the ever expanding body of young talent on our horizon."

"I'm a strong believer in clarity and truth. As much as I love what I do, it's more important that I do it well or not at all. I'm not sick or experiencing any existential crisis. I feel that making a decision and quitting the road while I still love it, is the way I want to leave it. I've witnessed first hand the alternative and promised myself I would go out feeling all the love for music and performing the same way I entered - with passion and enthusiasm."

Keen is about to hit the road again with shows in the south and west.

The final shows will be at Flores Country Store in Helotes, Texas and a fan-appreciation party on Labor Day, Sept. 5 with details to be announced.

"Thank you for all the wonderful shows throughout the years and, although it might not be apparent here, I promise, The Road Goes on Forever and the Party Never Ends."