Robert Earl Keen will perform at the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center at 8 p.m. March 23. Tickets are available now.

One of the pioneers of the live music scene in Texas, Keen is the inaugural recipient of BMI’s Troubadour Award, which honors songwriters. The Houston native has been recording for more than three decades, beginning with 1984’s “No Kinda Dancer.”

His signature song, “The Road Goes on Forever,” was the title track for a 1995 album by The Highwaymen (Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson). He will tour with Nelson this spring.

Keen was recently awarded with The Distinguished Alumnus Award, which is the highest honor bestowed upon a former student of Texas A&M University, awarded since 1962 to only 276 of Texas A&M’s 477,000 former students.

Presented jointly by the university and The Association of Former Students, this award recognizes Aggies who have achieved excellence in their chosen professions and made meaningful contributions to Texas A&M University and their local communities.

A Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee and BMI Troubadour Award recipient, he works with Texas charities and returned to A&M to give fundraising concerts for Bonfire victims and Hurricane Harvey relief. Keen learned of the honor March 3 in a surprise announcement at a benefit concert in Helotes, Texas.

Keen recently told Forbes magazine that he enjoys his time on stage.

“My two hours on stage are the best part of my days on tour,” Keen said in the recent Forbes article. He got his start knocking around Texas, and worked hard to get his first album released. “I persevered to get that Philo album deal. It was more like a workshop, and the label liked it so much the album was moved to its better known Rounder imprint.”

If You Go
  • What: Robert Earl Keen in concert.
  • When: 8 p.m. March 23.
  • Where: Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center.
  • Tickets: wagnernoel.com