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Solomon John Keal was born in 1977 near Philadelphia Pennsylvania, in a little town called Bryn Athyn. He spent most of his early childhood across the state in Pittsburgh. He was the first in a family of three kids who all grew up listening to, and loving music. His mom is a pianist; both of his parents play the guitar; and they all love to sing.
Solomon started taking piano lessons in 1983, in first grade, from a lady named Polly Schoenberger. He didn’t enjoy taking lessons very much, and at the time he never would have guessed that he would eventually become a composer for the piano. In 1985 they moved back East to Kempton, Pennsylvania, which is near Allentown. There were no piano teachers available, so his mother taught Solomon and his sisters.
When he was 12 years old, he stopped taking formal piano lessons. But, after about a year he found himself coming back to the piano again. His love for music never disappeared and he enjoyed trying to learn to play his favorite songs. He began to teach himself to play the piano by ear. It was a challange that he still enjoys. He learned what made a song sound good. He learned the feel of music.
In 1993, when Solomon was 16, he composed his first piano piece entitled: “Thunderstorm.” Since that time, he has written, on average, about 5 or 6 pieces a year. His years in college were by far the most fruitful for composition. The intellectual and artistic stimulation brought about a surge of creativity. The process of “coming of age” gave him a need to express himself, which he did most effectively through the piano.
Influences:
His parents, Ian and Wellesley Keal, have been a large influence in Solomon’s musical background. His mother plays the piano and the guitar. She frequently plays for church services, and for many years she had her own small business as a piano teacher. It was through his mom that Solomon learned to love pianists like Scott Joplin, Hagood Hardy, David Lanz, and John Odhner. His father plays guitar, but his primary influence on Solomon was in the area of recorded music. Ian has excellent taste in everything from Classical to Rock. His dad was the one who introduced him to two music labels which greatly influenced Solomon: Windham Hill, and American Gramaphone. Specifically, the music of George Winston of Windham Hill, and Chip Davis of American Gramaphone. George Winston’s music especially inspired Solomon, and assured him of the simple and powerful beauty of solo piano.
“I remember one specific event in my life that was a huge influence on my love of playing the piano. I was probably in my early teens when one of my mom’s cousins, Tom Rose, taught me how to play “Linus and Lucy,” that famous Vince Guaraldi theme to the Charlie Brown cartoon. I played it over and over until I mastered it, I still love that piece.”
Solomon plays mostly solo piano. But, he has also co-written pieces for flute and piano with his sister, Roxanne. Solomon is a songwriter as well, writing mostly Country and Christian songs, as well as co-writing love songs with his wife Tirah. Recently he’s been teaching himself more about blues and jazz piano.
“Composing is both a powerful and humbling experience. When I play some of the pieces I’ve written, I can’t help but feel that I was not the only author. Talent of any kind is a God-given gift, and I thank the Lord for the privilege to compose music.”
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