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KELLY WILLIS


BIO:
Born: September 2, 1968 Although the work of new traditionalist singer/songwriter Kelly Willis earned widespread critical acclaim, she found little in the way of comparable commercial success; her sound, a smart hybrid of country and rock, simply assimilated both musical styles too well to gain acceptance in either camp. Born in Oklahoma and raised in the Washington, D.C., area, she began performing in her boyfriend (and future husband) Mas Palermo's band at the age of 16. Her powerhouse vocals were so popular with club audiences that soon the group was renamed Kelly & the Fireballs in her honor. After Willis graduated high school, the band moved to Austin, TX, only to break up six months later. As a result, Willis began learning to play guitar while drummer Palermo honed his songwriting chops. The duo started a new band, Radio Ranch, with guitarist David Murray, steel player Michael Hardwick, and bassist Michael Foreman. One of Radio Ranch's performances so impressed singer Nanci Griffith that she began lobbying her label, MCA, to sign to group, leading to Willis' 1990 debut, Well-Travelled Love. In an attempt to capitalize on Willis' stunning looks, she was marketed as a girl-next-door type, and despite the presence of the full band, only her name appeared on the album jacket. Despite the glowing reviews, the LP fared poorly; and so, for her 1991 sophomore effort, Bang Bang, she was depicted as a coquettish pinup. Again, however, the good publicity the record received did not translate to radio airplay, let alone chart sales. For her third album, comprised largely of her own songs, Willis joined forces with pop producer Don Was; the self-titled 1993 effort suffered the same fate as its predecessors, however, and she was dropped by MCA shortly after its release. Following a few years of relative inactivity, she resurfaced in 1995 duetting with Son Volt's Jay Farrar on the Red Hot & Bothered compilation, and after issuing a 1996 independent label EP, Fading Fast, announced plans for a 1997 LP on A&M. In late 1996, she married fellow Austin musician Bruce Robison. While the '90s drew to a close, Willis inked a deal with Rykodisc. Her fourth album, What I Deserve, appeared in 1999 and it was a breakthrough hit for Willis. Time Magazine hailed the album as "the smartest, most consistently worthwhile country CD" to have been released that year. Three years later, Willis returned to the scene with Easy, which included collaborative efforts with Vince Gill, Union Station's Dan Tyminski, and Nickel Creek's Chris Thile. Willis tossed her hat into the crowded yuletide scene in 2006 with the amiable Happy Holidays, followed by her seventh album, the Chuck Prophet-produced Translated from Love in 2007. Jason Ankeny, Rovi

Latest Articles


Reckless Kelly Releases New Album THE LAST FRONTIER Photo Reckless Kelly Releases New Album THE LAST FRONTIER
by Chloe Rabinowitz - September 13, 2024

Reckless Kelly released their new album, THE LAST FRONTIER, marking their first studio effort in four years. ...

Brennen Leigh Announces Opry Debut & Shares New Single 'I'm Still Looking for You' Photo Brennen Leigh Announces Opry Debut & Shares New Single 'I'm Still Looking for You'
by Michael Major - June 06, 2023

The album’s country roots run deep, with Chris Scruggs producing and contributing guitar, guests including Marty Stuart and Rodney Crowell, and a lineup of top-flight musicians. With thoughtful, incisive lyrics and vibrant melodies at the forefront, Leigh has successfully created a modern gem, while...

Sixthman Announces Cayamo 2024 Lineup Featuring Lyle Lovett, The Mavericks, Lucius, S Photo Sixthman Announces Cayamo 2024 Lineup Featuring Lyle Lovett, The Mavericks, Lucius, Sunny War & More
by Michael Major - February 21, 2023

The upcoming sailing will once more showcase a stacked lineup of diverse artists spanning multiple genres, including Lyle Lovett, The Mavericks, Billy Bragg, Shawn Colvin, Lucius, The Lone Bellow, KT Tunstall, Nikki Lane, Langhorne Slim, Brandy Clark, Kelly Willis, Susan Werner, Sunny War, and more ...

Paula Nelson to Release Pair of Duets with Dad Willie on The Next Waltz label Photo Paula Nelson to Release Pair of Duets with Dad Willie on The Next Waltz label
by Michael Major - January 26, 2023

When singer, songwriter and SiriusXM radio host Paula Nelson mentioned to her friend Bruce Robison that she wanted to record some of her dad’s songs, he invited her — and her dad, Willie — to the Bunker, his all-analog recording studio in Lockhart, Texas, where he wound up producing a pair of father...

Melissa Carper Shares New Single 'Ramblin' Soul' Photo Melissa Carper Shares New Single 'Ramblin' Soul'
by Michael Major - September 28, 2022

After the success of her critically-acclaimed 2021 release Daddy’s Country Gold, Carper was eager to get back in the studio. With co-producers Andrija Tokic (St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Hurray For The Riff Raff) and Dennis Crouch (The Time Jumpers) behind the boards again at Tokic’s analog paradise...

Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis' Holiday Shindig Set for Dec. 20 Photo Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis' Holiday Shindig Set for Dec. 20
by Sarah Jae Leiber - December 08, 2020

Singer-songwriters Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis’ annual Holiday Shindig this year has a twist.  ...

Adam Green Announces New LP ENGINE OF PARADISE Photo Adam Green Announces New LP ENGINE OF PARADISE
by Tori Hartshorn - June 11, 2019

Adam Green has announced his new LP Engine Of Paradise as well as a companion graphic novel War And Paradise. Along with the LP announcement Adam has shared the track/video 'Freeze My Love'....

Adam Green Announces New LP Ft. Florence Welch Photo Adam Green Announces New LP Ft. Florence Welch
by Kaitlin Milligan - May 31, 2019

Adam Green has announced his new LP Engine Of Paradise as well as a companion graphic novel War And Paradise. Along with the LP announcement Adam has shared the track/video 'Freeze My Love'. When talking about the track he says,...

Kelly Willis' DON'T STEP AWAY Premieres at Billboard Photo Kelly Willis' DON'T STEP AWAY Premieres at Billboard
by Tori Hartshorn - May 04, 2018

Kelly Willis' “Don't Step Away,” the new single from her forthcoming album Back Being Blue, premieres at Billboard. Read HERE and share the track HERE....

Kelly Willis' New Album BACK BEING BLUE Out May 18 + North American Tour Begins This Photo Kelly Willis' New Album BACK BEING BLUE Out May 18 + North American Tour Begins This April
by Macon Prickett - March 30, 2018

Kelly Willis' new album Back Being Blue is out May 18 on Premium Records/Thirty Tigers. The title track for the Americana standout's forthcoming album premieres withRolling Stone Country. Additionally, on April 19 Willis begins her much anticipated North American tour....












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