Keith Barrow
Early Career
Keith Barrow is mostly known for his songs "You Know You Wanna Be Loved” and "Turn It Up". This Chicago native, was the son of Rev. Willie Barrow (Read Interview), an active member of Rev. Jesse Jackson's Push Organization In his teens, Barrow was a member of a gospel group called the “Soul Shakers.” Produced by MFSB guitarist/songwriter Bobby Eli, Barrow released his first eponym album in the summer of 1977. Only one track, "Mr. Magic Man," was a commercial success.[1]
Listen to "You Want to be Loved"
"Physical Attraction"
His career took off in the late 1970s. "You Know You Wanna Be Loved," produced by Michael Stokes, reached to #26 in summer 1978. The album Physical Attraction featured two disco hits, "Physical Attraction" and "Turn It Up.” After switching to Capitol Records, Barrow recorded the album “Just As I Am” in 1980.[2]
Listen to "Physical Attraction'
An Early AIDS Victim
In the summer of 1983, Keith Barrow called his mother from Paris: he was too ill to perform. As he came back to Chicago, Keith Barrow was admitted to Michael Reese hospital. He had AIDS. At the age of 29, Keith Barrow died of complications from and AIDS-related illness. African American newspapers, among them the Chicago Defender, never mentioned the cause of his death.[3]
