Cliff Keller visited the elderly woman in her hospital room. He had previously visited her home and played on his guitar her favorite song, Ramona, created for a 1928 silent film. Now, with her health failing, Keller played it once more.
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“She was not verbal,” he recalled, “but she was emotional. … I was happy she could hear her favorite song before she passed away.”
Keller has devoted part of his retirement to helping bring music therapy to those in need following an extraordinary career in the corporate world.
Born in 1955 and raised in La Mesa, Keller’s main interests in high school were surfing and playing guitar in a rock band.
He graduated college in 1978 with a business degree and looked for job opportunities. While waiting tables in La Jolla, he took the less lucrative lunch shift hoping to meet people in business.
“I took good care of them and asked about their businesses,” he said. “When they replied they were doing well, I sought job interviews.”
He was able to get a position selling semiconductors to manufacturers at a time when the computer age was accelerating. Although Keller knew little about computers, he learned through training and experience.
In 1985, he was hired by a European semiconductor distributor to help lead a new U.S. division. The division rapidly expanded to all major centers in the U.S. and Mexico.
Keller became known in the budding semiconductor industry for his resourcefulness and ability to make things happen.
“I tried to be innovative,” he explained. “But a great idea without action doesn’t amount to anything.”
In 1990, he was asked to turn around a failing European semiconductor distributor. Within two years the company was profitable. During the next decade, he oversaw creation of several new semiconductor companies and restructuring of existing ones.
“Restructuring these companies was needed due to a rapidly changing computer industry,” he said. “My programs weren’t initially popular, but eventually became the norm.”
In 2005, Keller’s success allowed him to retire at age 50.
Although he could have just enjoyed a life of leisure, he chose to continue making things happen, just different things.
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He returned to his high school passion, installing a sound studio in his Cardiff home, writing songs and playing in a rock band. The band included his wife, Karina, as singer.
Similar to creating companies in the business world, he created new organizations in the music world.
“I didn’t see any place where songwriters could meet up and share their songs. So, I formed the Songwriters’ Meetup Group.,” Keller said, adding that the group eventually grew to 1,500 members.
He formed the Audio Engineers Collective for people interested in home music recording. He organized over 100 free concerts in his home and a music series in the Cardiff library.
And he performed music for more than entertainment. He began volunteering in 2009 with Resounding Joy, a San Diego nonprofit that provides music therapy to people who cannot otherwise afford it.
After receiving training from Resounding Joy’s certified music therapists, Keller visited skilled nursing facilities and seniors in their homes twice weekly for 11 years.
“I would play on my guitar songs from their generation,” he said. “They would sing along. I would also bring percussion instruments so they could bang along.”
Keller said the experiences were stirring, as seniors who were normally quiet became all smiles and vocal when the music started.
“Often, the most emotional responses came from their children who were visiting and saw the reactions,” he said. “I developed close relationships with some of the seniors and their children.”
Keller is now in his 17th year as a volunteer with Resounding Joy helping people with music therapy. He is currently working with veterans and active-duty military through jam sessions, workshops and a band, Sounds of Service, that performs at public events, such as one recently on the Midway.
As for the future, Keller said he will continue looking for more creative ways to help people with music therapy — and then make them happen.
About this series
Goldsmith is a Union-Tribune contributing columnist.
We welcome reader suggestions of people who have done something extraordinary or otherwise educational, inspiring or interesting and who have not received much previous media. Please send suggestions to Jan Goldsmith at [email protected]
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