D. Keith Stiver was raised in Youngstown, Ohio, and attended Youngstown State University where he earned his BFA in Musical Theatre Performance. He later earned two Master of Music degrees from YSU in Music History and Conducting.

He has sung in church since he was about 10 but began his work as an organist and choir director in 1985 at Struthers Presbyterian Church. Since then Keith has served congregations of several denominations, which broadened his knowledge of the various traditions of hymnody and church music. In addition to singing and playing piano and organ, Keith is a published composer with several commissions to his credit.

Outside of his church work and composing, Keith is an adjunct professor of music at Cuyahoga Community College, Western Campus, and runs the Stiver Voice Studio in South Euclid.
He lives in Parma with his husband Marc and their chihuahuas Sebastian and Junior.