Meet the Asthma Blues Man With a Plan

Al Keith is a man of many passions – respiratory health, education and music, to name just a few. Why not merge all his passions together?

Keith put his creative energy to work. A Chicago respiratory therapist by day and a jazz and blues performer by night, he produced a 7-song CD titled “Asthma Blues” in 2014 to help parents and families better manage their asthma symptoms. Keith played bass guitar and provided vocals.

“Music is the universal communicator and it has the power to color emotions and influence behavior,” he says.

Lyrics are based on National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) guidelines. Songs include “Get Your Peak Flow On,” about using a peak flow meter to measure lung function, and “You Need An Action Plan.”

“I have so many people say to me, ‘Asthma Action Plan? What’s that? How do I get one?’” he says. “Hopefully this will encourage them to open a dialogue with their doctor.”

Keith has partnered with Allergy & Asthma Network and performed at their exhibit booth at various conferences and advocacy events, including the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI), American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) and Allergy & Asthma Day Capitol Hill (AADCH).

In 2018, Keith released another CD “Asthma Blues II,” a follow-up to his first CD. Songs include “A Good Set of Lungs,” “What’s Your Plan?” and “Don’t Want No Ana” and address the effects of secondhand smoke, anaphylaxis risks and pulmonary lung function tests.

Learn more and order Al Keith’s CDs at AsthmaBlues.com.