Cliff Keller, a retired corporate executive from La Mesa, has dedicated much of his retirement to providing music therapy to those in need across San Diego County. In a poignant moment, Keller visited an elderly woman in her hospital room and played her favorite song, "Ramona," on his guitar.
The woman, who was no longer able to speak, responded emotionally as she heard the tune from a 1928 silent film. Keller was moved that she could hear her favorite song before passing away.
Born in 1955 and raised in La Mesa, Keller's early passions were surfing and playing guitar in a rock band. After earning a business degree in 1978, he worked as a waiter in La Jolla, strategically taking the lunch shift to network with businesspeople.
His efforts paid off when he landed a job selling semiconductors to manufacturers during the rise of the computer age. Despite knowing little about computers initially, Keller learned on the job and quickly advanced.
In 1985, a European semiconductor distributor hired him to help launch a new U.S. division, which expanded rapidly to major centers across the U.S.
and Mexico. Keller became known for his resourcefulness and innovation.
In 1990, he was tasked with turning around a failing European distributor, which became profitable within two years. Over the next decade, he oversaw the creation of several new semiconductor companies and restructured existing ones to adapt to the rapidly changing industry.
Retiring at age 50 in 2005, Keller returned to his high school passion for music by installing a sound studio in his Cardiff home, writing songs, and playing in a rock band with his wife, Karina, as the singer. He also founded the Songwriters' Meetup Group, which grew to 1,500 members, and the Audio Engineers Collective for home recording enthusiasts.
Keller organized over 100 free concerts in his home and a music series at the Cardiff library.
His volunteer work began in 2009 with Resounding Joy, a San Diego nonprofit that provides music therapy to those who cannot afford it. After training with certified music therapists, Keller visited skilled nursing facilities and seniors' homes twice a week for 11 years.
He would play songs from their era, encouraging them to sing along or use percussion instruments. The sessions often brought smiles and vocal responses from normally quiet seniors, with emotional reactions from visiting family members.
Now in his 17th year with Resounding Joy, Keller works with veterans and active-duty military through jam sessions, workshops, and a band called Sounds of Service, which performs at public events such as one recently held on the USS Midway. Looking ahead, Keller plans to continue finding creative ways to use music therapy to help people.