Mr. Whitekeys: key obituary facts
Is Mr. Whitekeys dead? Yes. Mr. Whitekeys died on October 19, 2026, at age 79.
Cause of death: Mr. Whitekeys's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Mr. Whitekeys known for?
He was an American businessman and musician.
More about Mr. Whitekeys
Born: 1 January 1947.
Gender: male.
Occupation: businessperson.
Nationality: United States.
Also known as: W. Keys.
Mr.
Whitekeys, an American musician also known as W. Keys, died October 19, 2026, aged 79.
A musician, recording artist, entrepreneur, writer, media personality and ornithologist in Alaska, he became a prominent figure in the modern history and folklore of Anchorage’s Spenard neighborhood. His public identity was shaped by an exuberant persona and humor, which he brought to performances and his work as a nightclub owner. From 1980 to 2006, he owned and operated the Fly By Night Club in Spenard. Whitekeys spent his early years in South Dakota, Iowa and Arizona, graduated from Duke University and arrived in Alaska in 1970 with a friend. He then worked as a bar-band musician, notably for Mike Gordon at Chilkoot Charlie’s, a new Spenard establishment. Whitekeys coined the venue’s slogan, “We cheat the other guy and pass the savings on to you.” Beginning in 1972, he released recordings intermittently, most often under the band name The Fabulous Spamtones. His song titles included “Viva Spenard,” “The History of Cereal,” “I’m My Own Grandpa,” “Don’t Let Me Go to Costco” and “The Moose Nugget Blues.”