Kelley Hunt
Kelley Hunt’s love for her craft was fine tuned listening to early blues, R… Read Full Bio ↴Kelley Hunt’s love for her craft was fine tuned listening to early blues, R&B, roots rock, jazz and gospel influences including Ruth Brown, Mahalia Jackson, Billie Holiday, Ann Peebles, Ray Charles, Dinah Washington, Aretha Franklin, Charles Brown, Wanda Jackson and a crossection of the New Orleans/St. Louis/KC piano traditions of Professor Longhair, Toots Washington, Johnnie Johnson and Kansas City masters Jay McShann and Mary Lou Williams among others. While subtle reminders of those very traditional influences can be heard in Kelley’s live performances and recordings, her lyrics, soul and passion are all her own.
The result has been critical praise, "surprises don't often crop up on the well-trodden blues circuit. So welcome Kelley Hunt. This Kansan is a full-blown phenomenon: Powerhouse singer, hardboogieing pianist, polished songwriter…” - Minneapolis Star Tribune. “…the freshest slant on classic R&B you're likely to hear these days. She's a tough woman who makes a hip and burly sound." - Westword Denver.
Along with critical acclaim Kelley’s blistering live performances over the last several years have won over legions of blues and roots music fans making her a crowd favorite at over 100 blues and music festivals across North America.
On a trip to Nashville in 2001 Hunt took a meeting with one of the most respected producers in town, Garth Fundis, (Trisha Yearwood, Keith Whitley, New Grass Revival). Her intent was simply to pitch him a few songs for Trisha Yearwood. Fortunately, one of those songs was not yet on CD so Kelley sat down at the grand piano in Sound Emporium’s Studio B and performed it live for Garth. After requesting her to play several more Fundis (taken with her talent) wanted to do more than cut one of her songs, he decided he wanted to take her on as an artist. "When I first heard Kelley Hunt sit down at a piano and sing my reaction was immediate; this was not only a great musician but an artist who is a 'natural'. Like a great athlete, painter, or writer, I believe she was born with a musical gift (soul) that she couldn't escape from if she wanted to" said Fundis.
Garth then decided to call his friend Gary Nicholson, Grammy Award winning producer (Delbert McClinton), who was also an accomplished musician and songwriter. Thinking they would be a natural creative fit, Garth promoted a meeting between Hunt and Nicholson just to see what would happen. From the start the chemistry was right and great song collaborations immediately blossomed. Shortly thereafter Garth asked Gary to co-produce the new project with him. Also taken with Kelley’s talent and passion he gladly accepted. When asked about her ability as a singer Nicholson said, “Kelley has found that soul space that all singers really want to be coming from and she lives there. She's a song's best friend.”
While taking her time writing and recording material for the album, Kelley continued to tour across North America, building up a fan base (her previous two releases on 88 Records have sold a combined 80,000 copies). Her growing grass-roots popularity built a buzz prompting invites to perform on NPR/PRI’s “A Prairie Home Companion,” (seven times) and "Beale Street Caravan" The Blues Foundation's syndicated radio show (six times). Other appearances include "House of Blues Radio Hour", a 2001 appearance on the PBS-TV music series "Backstage Pass" and numerous other syndicated blues radio vehicles. While in Los Angeles on business Fundis met with friend and former co-worker Pam Hughes and played her some rough tracks from Kelley’s sessions. Pam was impressed and immediately suggested that Kelley’s new project land on her newly formed label Coda Terra.
Over the period of the next year Kelley finished recording New Shade of Blue at Sound Emporium with Garth and Gary by her side. They chose to start the album off with mid-tempo “Waking Up Slow.” “ I wanted that to be the first track on the album because I felt it embodied the spirit of the rest of the record,” said Fundis. Although the project boasts 12 strong tracks standouts include a gospel-feel take on Jesse Winchester’s “That’s What Makes You Strong,” her own intense reading of Jim Lauderdale’s alt-country “Why Do I Love You”, “Darkness,” a haunting introspection from Hunt’s pen written well before the recording process began and “Deal With It”, a raucous up-tempo duet with Delbert McClinton that deals with the challenges of making a relationship work.
Their labor of love New Shade of Blue debuted at #9 on the Billboard Blues chart late this summer and was met with critical acclaim from writers across the country. Kelley is currently on North American tour doing live dates and press in support of the project including a recent joint performance in NY City with John Mayer at the Housing Works Benefit in Soho.
Discography
1995 - Kelley Hunt
2000 - Inspiration
2004 - New Shade of Blue
2008 - Mercy
The result has been critical praise, "surprises don't often crop up on the well-trodden blues circuit. So welcome Kelley Hunt. This Kansan is a full-blown phenomenon: Powerhouse singer, hardboogieing pianist, polished songwriter…” - Minneapolis Star Tribune. “…the freshest slant on classic R&B you're likely to hear these days. She's a tough woman who makes a hip and burly sound." - Westword Denver.
Along with critical acclaim Kelley’s blistering live performances over the last several years have won over legions of blues and roots music fans making her a crowd favorite at over 100 blues and music festivals across North America.
On a trip to Nashville in 2001 Hunt took a meeting with one of the most respected producers in town, Garth Fundis, (Trisha Yearwood, Keith Whitley, New Grass Revival). Her intent was simply to pitch him a few songs for Trisha Yearwood. Fortunately, one of those songs was not yet on CD so Kelley sat down at the grand piano in Sound Emporium’s Studio B and performed it live for Garth. After requesting her to play several more Fundis (taken with her talent) wanted to do more than cut one of her songs, he decided he wanted to take her on as an artist. "When I first heard Kelley Hunt sit down at a piano and sing my reaction was immediate; this was not only a great musician but an artist who is a 'natural'. Like a great athlete, painter, or writer, I believe she was born with a musical gift (soul) that she couldn't escape from if she wanted to" said Fundis.
Garth then decided to call his friend Gary Nicholson, Grammy Award winning producer (Delbert McClinton), who was also an accomplished musician and songwriter. Thinking they would be a natural creative fit, Garth promoted a meeting between Hunt and Nicholson just to see what would happen. From the start the chemistry was right and great song collaborations immediately blossomed. Shortly thereafter Garth asked Gary to co-produce the new project with him. Also taken with Kelley’s talent and passion he gladly accepted. When asked about her ability as a singer Nicholson said, “Kelley has found that soul space that all singers really want to be coming from and she lives there. She's a song's best friend.”
While taking her time writing and recording material for the album, Kelley continued to tour across North America, building up a fan base (her previous two releases on 88 Records have sold a combined 80,000 copies). Her growing grass-roots popularity built a buzz prompting invites to perform on NPR/PRI’s “A Prairie Home Companion,” (seven times) and "Beale Street Caravan" The Blues Foundation's syndicated radio show (six times). Other appearances include "House of Blues Radio Hour", a 2001 appearance on the PBS-TV music series "Backstage Pass" and numerous other syndicated blues radio vehicles. While in Los Angeles on business Fundis met with friend and former co-worker Pam Hughes and played her some rough tracks from Kelley’s sessions. Pam was impressed and immediately suggested that Kelley’s new project land on her newly formed label Coda Terra.
Over the period of the next year Kelley finished recording New Shade of Blue at Sound Emporium with Garth and Gary by her side. They chose to start the album off with mid-tempo “Waking Up Slow.” “ I wanted that to be the first track on the album because I felt it embodied the spirit of the rest of the record,” said Fundis. Although the project boasts 12 strong tracks standouts include a gospel-feel take on Jesse Winchester’s “That’s What Makes You Strong,” her own intense reading of Jim Lauderdale’s alt-country “Why Do I Love You”, “Darkness,” a haunting introspection from Hunt’s pen written well before the recording process began and “Deal With It”, a raucous up-tempo duet with Delbert McClinton that deals with the challenges of making a relationship work.
Their labor of love New Shade of Blue debuted at #9 on the Billboard Blues chart late this summer and was met with critical acclaim from writers across the country. Kelley is currently on North American tour doing live dates and press in support of the project including a recent joint performance in NY City with John Mayer at the Housing Works Benefit in Soho.
Discography
1995 - Kelley Hunt
2000 - Inspiration
2004 - New Shade of Blue
2008 - Mercy
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Kelley Hunt Lyrics
Ancient Bell Ancient Bell © Kelley Hunt, With EEs Music, BMI I hear the…
Auld Lang Syne Auld Lang Syne Should old acquaintance be forgot And never b…
Bright Lights Bright Lights © Kelley Hunt, Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg, Al Berm…
Children Go Where I Send Thee Children Go Where I Send Thee Spiritual Children go where I …
Crawl Through Kansas When I walked through that door yesterday, oh my Brushed my…
Deal With It The only way you've got a good thing going Shown up…
Go Tell It on the Mountain Go Tell It On The Mountain Spiritual Chorus Go tell it on th…
I've Got A Good Feeling I′ve got a good feeling about today Don't know what′s gonna…
If I Don't Dance Now I was ten years old in my sister′s room We…
It Ain't Over When It's Over Well everybody′s feeling so somber and sad With their heads …
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear It Came Upon A Midnight Clear Lyrics by Edmund Sears, Compos…
Love Never Dies I′ll be calling you when the meadowlark sings I'll be touchi…
Miracle You′ve been standing in the rain for such a long…
Music Was the Thread Music was the thread keeping him here Music was the call…
Queen Of The 88's Now we are gonna tell you all a true story About…
Release and Be Free I believe I have carried This burden long-ng enough My heart…
Sad Cafe Sad Cafe If you're feelin' lonely, so downhearted tonight I…
Silent Night Silent Night Lyrics by Joseph Mohr, Composer Franz Xaver Gru…
Still Still Still Still Still Still Traditional Austrian Folk Song Still, stil…
Talk To Me If you don′t love me why don't you let me…
That's What Makes You Strong Mhmm If you love somebody Then that means you need somebody …
The Sweet Goodbye Little? worry? that it's all gone wrong The truth I wanted i…
Waking Up Slow Now there′s a new day dawning The sun's rising in the…
You You You You You You © Kelley Hunt, With Ees Music, BMI Well, it's…
Meg Foy
on Temptation
No lyrics to my song.....Waking Up Slow....????