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Website Design \ Webmaster Lou Boehlein 11/30/08 |
| About Bobby |
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Bobby Keefe started dancing in the fall of 1961, taking a class with the Western Cutters Club, Jacksonville, FL taught by club caller Bob Reynolds. Classes at that time were only 10 weeks long. After for weeks he decided that he wanted to learn to call. Bobby started a class for teenagers and youth on Saturday mornings at the old feed store in Marietta on the west side of Jacksonville. He taught the class on Saturday mornings what he had learned on Friday night. Several months later the club caller was shipped out by the U.S. Navy and Bobby was hired to his first regular calling position by the Western Cutters Club. Over the years Bobby called for various open clubs in the Jacksonville area including the Friendly Frolics, Dixie Chain Gang, Red Fez Squares, Ancient City Squares (St. Augustine) and the Sunshine Twirlers (Gainesville, FL). In 1971 he started the first higher level clubs in the ares, the Quartermore Advanced Club and the Sanddollars C-1 Club. It was during this time that Bobby spent a lot of time on the phone with Jack Lasry of Miami, who was the only Challenge level caller in FLorida, learning the techniques of Challenge level calling. Bobby called Advanced, C-1, C-2, and C-3 for a club he formed in Daytona with the help of Hugh and Linda Gardner. He also called C-1 and C-2 for a club in Savannah, Georgia. He was fortunate to have been a permanent staff for the Rebel Roundup, one of the original weeks at Fontana Village Resort. For eleven years he did an advanced week at the Rainbow Lake Lodge in Brevard, North Carolina as well as being staff on numerous weekend festivals through the years. |
| In 1985 Bobby retired from JEA as Supervisor of Mechanical Maintenance and started calling and traveling full time. 1997 brought Bobby's retirement from square dancing so that he could build his new home. He and his wife June were just worn out after so many years of traveling that they never thought they would return to square dancing. But the itch became too strong and in 2007 they started dancing with the Grand Squares Club in Gainesville, FL. With the encouragement of club caller Lon Ligon, Bobby is now starting to call again much to the delight of many of his old friends. The FCA graciously restored his White Badge status and he again is licensed by Callerlab and is also a member of the Rural Callers Association. Bobby and his wife, June, of 23 years are currently residing in Starke, Florida. Their son and two daughters live out of state. Bobby said it best when he recently wrote, "I know that I will never be heavily involved in challenge dancing as before, but June and I are very much enjoying being back in the movement and look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones." |
| Recordings by Bobby Keefe |
Count on Me, Singing Call -- Bobby Keefe, on Cloverleaf Records  City of New Orleans, Singing Call -- Bobby Keefe, on Cloverleaf Records Sophronie, Singing Call -- Bobby Keefe, on Cloverleaf Records Alabama Jubilee, Singing Call -- Bobby Keefe, on Cloverleaf Records Long Lonesome Highway, Singing Call -- Bobby Keefe, on Square Tunes Records Flowers On The Wall, Singing Call -- Bobby Keefe, Brahma Records 401 I Wonder Could I Live There Any More, Singing Call -- Bobby Keefe, Brahma Records 403 You Were On My Mind, Singing Call -- Bobby Keefe, Brahma 402 That Certain One, Singing Call -- Bobby Keefe, Lore Records 1136 Your Other Love, Singing Call -- Bobby Keefe, Lore Records 1134 Before The Last Teardrop Falls, Singing Call -- Bobby Keefe, Thunderbird Records 149 Carolina Country Morning, Singing Call -- Bobby Keefe, Thunderbird Records 143 Here Comes The Freedom Train, Singing Call -- Bobby Keefe, Thunderbird Records 159 Riding On A Rainbow, Singing Call -- Bobby Keefe, Thunderbird Records 158 Save Your Kisses For Me, Singing Call -- Bobby Keefe, Thunderbird Records 170 Susan When She Tried, Singing Call -- Bobby Keefe, Thunderbird Records 144 Whole Lotta Difference In Love, Singing Call -- Bobby Keefe, Thunderbird Records 173 |