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Short Biography on
Keith Manley, host of
Fresh Oil
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| KEITH MANLEY BIOGRAPHY |
 Keith
Manley grew up in northern Illinois in a small Assembly of God church
and was born again at the age of 9. As a small child Keith had a
tremendous love for music and began playing the guitar, piano and a
variety of instruments. At the age of 13 Keith played on his first album
project, playing piano and guitar. Keith began singing and playing the
piano with "The Soul Searchers" a local group from his church at age 16.
When he was 17 years old Keith formed his own singing group, The
Keith Manley Trio, along with two of his friends and recorded his first
singing project using his own original tunes. Later Keith's songs were
picked up by gospel artists such as Laverne Tripp and The Blue Ridge
Quartet. QCA Records asked Keith to come out and record some of his
music for their publishing company. While in the studio, Chuck Sietz,
the former chief engineer of RCA Records, called Keith into his office
and asked him if he had ever considered a recording contract. Later that
year at the age of 17 Keith signed his first recording contract with a
new gospel label from Cincinnati called
New Day and was produced by veteran producer and engineer Chuck Seitz.
Keith's first solo album did well and received airplay all over the
country. The following year Keith toured Europe and came back to the
states feeling a strong calling to pastoral ministry. 1977 Keith
performed at the Grand Ole Opry in  Nashville,
Tennessee on the Grand Ole Gospel Time program with his longtime friend
Jimmy Snow. In 1984 Keith started "Grace Family Church" in Belvidere,
Illinois. In 1987 Keith released his song "Spirit Eyes", a duet with
Scheree' from Nashville, Tennessee, and the song quickly rose to a
number one hit all around the country. Keith Manley has released
8 albums over the past few years. Two of Keith's recordings
feature duets with his favorite singer Rhonda Gunn. In 1997 Keith
began his daily radio program entitled "The Gospel Truth". The program
features a 5 minute message of hope and inspiration. In 2003, with the
prompting of long time friend Pastor Jimmy Snow, Keith began his
television ministry "Fresh Oil" on the Total Living Network. Keith
Manley and his wife Cathy reside in Rockford, Illinois, along with their
two daughters Sarah and Michelle. Keith also has a son, Ben, who is
currently in college and lives in Madison, Wisconsin.
In 2006 Grace Family Church moved to Rockford,
Illinois after purchasing
a large church building on 6 acres of land on Forest Hills Rd.
In 2007 Keith released his album Freedom which marked 30 years
since his first solo release "Most Wanted Man", on QCA's New Day label.
On June 10th of next year Grace Family Church will celebrate its
25th anniversary. Keith continues to sing and write music but he
always acknowledges that while music is his gift, pastoring is his call.
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