JEFF KREBS Songwriter/Performer
When I was four, we moved to Escanaba, MI, and my folks opened the first fast-food joint in town. I got my first instrument then, a red Harmony ukelele, from my grandpa, Bill LaVallie. Grandpa taught me how to play, and I remember singing Hank Williams' "Your Cheatin' Heart" for my first grade class. Grandpa was my first and greatest musical influence; he was an amazing songwriter and storyteller, and he had a vast knowledge of folk, country, bluegrass, polka and standards, all of which he was eager to share. He gave me a guitar on my tenth birthday; it quickly became what I loved most.
Went to four colleges in five years, studied broadcasting for awhile but tired of that quickly, switching to work on painting, photography and writing. Learned to travel then too--hitchhiking around the state often, and off for quality time in Central and South America, Europe, Africa and The Middle East. Spent the last of my school time in Kalamazoo, where I started writing seriously and performing solo at clubs. The travel bug had me again, and I barely graduated before I took to the road.
I decided to pick the place I liked most and stay there, and that was San Francisco. I lived there for many years, but now live in my home area of northern Michigan.
I played with a few rootsy bands, toured the states a bit, and went solo full-time in '94. My latest CD is called "Keep an Eye Out". It's a good one, you betcha.