Friends and colleagues remember Tom Keith

Posted at 10:21 AM on November 2, 2011 by Marianne Combs (1 Comments)
Filed under: People

Over the past 48 hours remembrances and tributes to the beloved sound effects man of Prairie Home Companion have flooded the media, especially here at MPR. Simply put, the loss of Tom Keith (a.k.a. Jim Ed Poole) is beginning to really sink in.

Tom Keith
Image courtesy Prairie Home Productions

This morning it was announced Garrison Keillor and the folks at PHC will host a Tom Keith Tribute Performance on Saturday night, November 12 at the Fitzgerald Theater. Tickets will be free and available the night of show, with some space reserved for family and friends. The majority of the 1,000 seat theater will be available to the public at no charge. Doors will open at 4pm.

In the meantime, here are links to some of the most compelling remembrances:

Midday Broadcast: Gary Eichten talks with Keith's colleagues at PHC, including Garrison Keillor, and his longtime Morning Show co-host Dale Connelly. Among other things, they discuss the story behind the name "Jim Ed Poole."

Prairie Home Companion's tribute site has collected a wealth of information, tributes, interviews, images and more.

Dale Connelly's website includes a very loving remembrance to Tom, and lots of sweet comments from adoring fans.

Washington Post's obituary interviews his sister and writes a great deal about he found/created sounds.

News Cut: The Passing of Tom Keith includes a beautiful clip of Peter Ostroushko and audience singing "You Are My Sunshine" to Tom Keith and Dale Connelly on the last Morning Show broadcast.

Over the past 48 hours remembrances and tributes to the beloved sound effects man of Prairie Home Companion have flooded the media, especially here at MPR. Simply put, the loss of Tom Keith (a.k.a. Jim Ed Poole) is beginning to really sink in.

Tom Keith
Image courtesy Prairie Home Productions

This morning it was announced Garrison Keillor and the folks at PHC will host a Tom Keith Tribute Performance on Saturday night, November 12 at the Fitzgerald Theater. Tickets will be free and available the night of show, with some space reserved for family and friends. The majority of the 1,000 seat theater will be available to the public at no charge. Doors will open at 4pm.

In the meantime, here are links to some of the most compelling remembrances:

Midday Broadcast: Gary Eichten talks with Keith's colleagues at PHC, including Garrison Keillor, and his longtime Morning Show co-host Dale Connelly. Among other things, they discuss the story behind the name "Jim Ed Poole."

Prairie Home Companion's tribute site has collected a wealth of information, tributes, interviews, images and more.

Dale Connelly's website includes a very loving remembrance to Tom, and lots of sweet comments from adoring fans.

Washington Post's obituary interviews his sister and writes a great deal about he found/created sounds.

News Cut: The Passing of Tom Keith includes a beautiful clip of Peter Ostroushko and audience singing "You Are My Sunshine" to Tom Keith and Dale Connelly on the last Morning Show broadcast.

New York Times' obituary

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Comments (1)

I grew up as an across-the-street neighbor to Tommy and his family in West St. Paul Minnesota. He was a member of the neighborhood "kids gang" that included this two older brothers and his twin sister Terry. That entire family was a pleasure and honor to know.

We all played the typical kids games of the time - Kick The Can; Annie Annie Over, Captain May I, Hide And Seek, etc. - But the one characteristic I most remember was his frequent practice to continually make odd "noises" - vocal and otherwise. Us kids enjoyed these but I well remember the admonitions from his mom, Betty, to "stop that!" LOOK WHERE THAT TOOK HIM!!

Whenever hearing the PHC programs, I focused on hearing his unique and superb contributions. I've talked with him only once in the last 43 years - and I'll always remember him with joy. CARY

Posted by Cary Halverson | November 3, 2011 11:29 AM

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