Darrell Keith Faison Obituary
Mr. Darrell Keith Faison, 62, died Friday, July 20, 2018. He was born in Clinton, N.C., on July 13, 1956 to James M. Faison Jr. and Minnie Freida Faison.
Keith, as most people called him, attended College Street Elementary School and Clinton High School in Clinton, N.C.
At age 8, Keith played the trumpet. At age 13, Keith began playing in bands as well as school bands and quickly became known as one of the best trumpet players in the South. After graduation Keith received a music scholarship and attended Appalachian State University. Soon after, Keith received a BA degree in criminal justice from Shaw University.
While earning his degree, Keith metamorphosed into trumpet/lead and background vocals and keyboards for bands touring to Panama City, Fla., to New York City, N.Y. In 1986, Keith left bands to pursue a solo career. He wrote, performed and produced his first single 'You Turn Me On' on his on Heather Records label. 'You Turn Me On' was your typical '70s ballad. The B Side was an instrumental version called 'You Turn Me On (Country Girl)' a move reminiscent of the '80s.
Keith served in the United States Air Force. Keith later relocated to New York City, where he switched from trumpet player/recording artist and became an American performer and television talk show host personality. In 2000, Keith Faison became New York City's first black late night television talk show host on MNN Network. Nat King Cole was NYC's first television host, but the major networks had never attempted to air a person of color past 11 p.m. NYC cable took that chance. Some of Faison's guests have included Jean Claude Baker, soul singers Blue Magic, Ray Goodman and Brown and Soul generation and Wil Hart of the Delphonics.
In 2014 Keith promoted, produced and opened up at a pre-Easter Autism concert at the renowned Apollo Theater featuring vocalist Rhodina Moore, Isaac Floyd of BB&Q band, The Drifters and Wil Hart of the Delfonics.
After suffering a from brief illness, on July 20, 2018, Darrell Keith Faison exhaled and left.
All services will be private. A service of Dafford Funeral Home of Dunn.
