Hartselle High band director lives two lives full of music 

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Randall Key’s musical talent has taken him many places. From the stage with the supergroup Alabama to the marching field with thousands of students during a career that has spanned more than two decades, Key is going strong and said he looks forward to continuing to do what he loves for years to come.  

“I have had two different lives almost – the performance side and then the education side – and I try not to cross them over,” Key said. “I try to take things and learn from performance and incorporate into my teaching, but I don’t want to use the kids for my own glory.” 

Key credits his passion for music to the talent of both of his parents. His mother plays gospel piano, while his father sings tenor. He said growing up around music helped develop his ear for it. 

“My mom is a really good gospel piano player, and my dad had a really good tenor voice. It was just crystal clear. When you are exposed to that, and I was exposed to a lot of gospel singing as a child, and when you hear those parts and people singing, it is kind of embedded in your brain,” Key said.  

A Hartselle native, Key began participating in band in junior high and high school. Following graduation, he first studied at Wallace State on a scholarship through the jazz band; transferred to the University of Montevallo; then earned his master’s degree in education from the University of North Alabama. 

Key said he maintained a busy schedule when he first graduated, teaching by day and traveling to Nashville to perform by night. It was during this time of teaching and traveling that he first met Jeff Cook, one of the founding members of the country band Alabama.  

“You know when you are younger, you can run on less sleep,” Key said. “I would teach school during the day, and then I would go play – and I played an awful lot. I went to Nashville a good bit during the week, and I would play with my Motown group Soul Society, where we would stay pretty busy. We had about 40 events each year. In ’97 or so, our saxophone player Jim Nelson and I went to Nashville for a show, and that was when I was introduced to Jeff Cook of Alabama,” Key said.  

Following the introduction, Key became a utility player in Jeff Cook and the Allstar Goodtime Band. Being able to play at least 17 instruments, Key would play wherever he was needed during shows. It was through this continued friendship and partnership that Key was able to accomplish one of his childhood dreams: getting to play on an album. He was able to record on Alabama’s “Southern Drawl” album.  

“I try to think back on my personal goals, and getting to play on that Alabama album – that was a personal accomplishment,” Key said. “That is one of those things that, as a small child, I knew I wanted to play on one of those one day.” 

Key has also found purpose in investing in the futures of the students in the band program. He has worked with the Hartselle program for 16 years, building it up to more than 130 students.  

Key said his main goal is to prepare his students for life after high school. He said one way band is beneficial to students is in having regular responsibility.  

“I tell the kids, I can’t really grade you on talent, but I can grade you on responsibility and accountability and the work ethic,” he said. Students have to “pass off” music with Key, playing parts of music individually for critique. “When you have 100 students, and you have a deadline, that can be really time consuming, and I will be here really late sometimes. That’s something I don’t have to do; a lot of people will send a recording and give comments, but I feel the one–on–one time here is important. I feel better about myself and that I have done what I can do to help them be successful. I feel that students deserve the individual attention.” 

He said the pass–offs and performances can also help challenge students go beyond their comfort zones. 

“Students come in here a nervous wreck, but that is a learning experience,” he said. “You are going to have to interview for a job one day, and you are going to have to put yourself in stressful situations so you can figure out how your body is going to react and how you are going to handle that. Usually the kids grow and become stronger for having that experience. When they figure out that I am not grading them on their talent – rather grading them on improvement – they have a better outlook.” 

After 16 years of heading up the program, Key said he sees himself continuing to live his passion for years to come, and he loves when he gets to see a student’s passion begin to blossom. 

“There is a lot of investment here, and I hope to complete my calling at Hartselle,” he said. “This is my 27th year in education. I want to do more, and I still think there is more I can do. I feel like there is still good instruction in me, and I am still learning as a musician.  

“I am very happy here. This is where I want to be. These kids, when they come in every day, they know what to expect. It’s a comfortable environment, and I look forward to seeing them every day.”