Brian Burnett

KEITH MATTISON

I have such vivid memories of fun times with Keith, mostly in a musical setting. 

It started in the Round Table No 9 Melodrama band in the 70’s.   The core of the band was Keith on the piano, with firstly Dexter Raubenheimer and later Bill Holland on the drums, and myself on the banjo and guitar.  The rest of the band was made up of anyone Keith thought of during the day and invited to perform that night.  It was hilarious, you never knew who you were going to meet on the bandstand!  Not only did Keith demonstrate his musical versatility by rewriting music in a different key to suit a specific requirement, he also demonstrated his dexterity by playing the piano in his usual superb fashion with a Melodrama waitress sitting on his knee!

 As the Melodrama evening went on Keith would call out to the crowd, “The band drinks BEER!” This was normally followed by several beers arriving in quick succession, thanks to the generosity of the patrons.  In fact, such was the flow of beers that Keith often redirected many of them to the cast backstage.

On one occasion the ‘Melodrama Band’ performed at the Community Carnival and Keith noticed a fellow staring at the band.  He asked him, “You show a lot of interest, do you play an instrument?”  The fellow replied, “Yes, I play the saxophone”.  Keith said, “Where is your saxophone?”, to which the fellow replied, “At home.”  Keith said, “Well go and fetch it!”  Half an hour later we had a saxophonist sitting in the band, joining in the action.

Over the years I have seen Keith frequently in the members’ stand at WPCC, enjoying the cricket.  He is clearly devoted to the game.

We both have grandsons at the same school and we have often met up at the concerts at which our grandsons were performing.  I know Keith takes a great interest in Matthew’s progress on the piano.

Keith has brightened up the lives of so many people over many years, with his infectious personality and with his outstanding musical ability. 

Brian Burnett