Kelley Hunt

Kelley Hunt is an American blues pianist, singer, and songwriter. Her 2004 album, New Shade of Blue, peaked at number 9 in the Billboard Top Blues Albums chart.[2]

Kelley Hunt
Birth nameKelley Wade
BornKansas City, Missouri, United States
GenresBlues, R&B[1]
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, actress
InstrumentsPiano, vocals
Years active1990s–present
Labels88 Records
WebsiteOfficial website

In 2006, Hunt was inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame.[3] Her most recent album and sixth to date, The Beautiful Bones, was released on 88 Records in May 2014.[4] She is based in Lawrence, Kansas.[5]

Life and career

She was born Kelley Wade in Kansas City, Missouri, United States, and was initially musically inspired by her mother's jazz and blues styled singing.[6] She attended Lowther Junior High School in Emporia, Kansas, in 1970/71, and the University of Kansas in 1977.

Hunt's own musical influences came from a diverse range, including the work of Ruth Brown, Ann Peebles, Wanda Jackson, Jay McShann and Mary Lou Williams amongst others.[7] Her self-titled debut album, which was released in 1995, featured the bassist Reggie McBride and saxophonist Wilton Felder.[8] In 1998, Hunt's song "If I Don't Dance" from her debut album, was used in the film, Dance with Me.[9] The album Inspiration, followed in October 2000.[10] Her 2004 album, New Shade of Blue, which was produced by Garth Fundis and Gary Nicholson, peaked at number 9 in the Billboard Top Blues Albums chart.[2] Her fourth album, Mercy was issued in 2009, and the Star Tribune noted "Surprises don't often crop up on the well-trodden blues circuit. This Kansan is a full-blown phenomenon: powerhouse singer, hardboogieing pianist, polished songwriter…"[7]

In 2011, Gravity Loves You was released which included twelve new songs.[11] As well as her own tracks, several were co-written with Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg. The St. Louis Beacon stated "Hunt's songwriting shines on powerful, moving compositions like 'Deep Old Love', 'This Fall', 'In the End' and the title cut. And she proves she can shine on the keyboard as well - with dynamic inspired playing throughout". She also released the single "Heartland", with Hunt on piano and vocals, plus the mandolin player Sam Bush.[7] The same year she performed a piano/vocal duet with Sista Monica Parker on the latter's album, Living in the Danger Zone.[12]

Hunt made her debut as an actress in Bunker Hill (2008), where she also contributed music to the film's soundtrack.[9]

She has variously performed at the Omaha Blues, Jazz, & Gospel Festival,[13] Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival (2013),[14] Memphis in May,[15] Austin City Limits Music Festival, and Thursday at the Square.[16] In addition, she has appeared six times on A Prairie Home Companion.[7]

Hunt's sixth album, The Beautiful Bones, was released in May 2014.[4]

Discography
YearTitleRecord label
1995Kelley Hunt88 Records
2000Inspiration88 Records
2004New Shade of BlueCoda Terra
2009Mercy88 Records
2011Gravity Loves You88 Records
2014The Beautiful Bones88 Records

[17][18]

Publication
  • Landed: New Poetry (Lawrence, Kansas: Mammoth Publications), 2009. ISBN 0-9800102-3-3 (a book of poetry and CD with Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg presenting her poetry, as well as songs co-written and performed by Hunt)[19]

See also

References
  1. "New Shade of Blue - Kelley Hunt | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. 2004-06-29. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
  2. "Kelley Hunt | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
  3. "Kansas Music Hall of Fame: Inductees". Ksmusichalloffame.org. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
  4. "The Beautiful Bones: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
  5. "News Archives for 11/9/2001". CJOnline.com. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
  6. "Kelley Hunt – Born To Be A Musician". Rhythmandgrooves.net. 2011-12-12. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
  7. "Kelley Hunt". Kelley Hunt. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
  8. "Kelley Hunt - Kelley Hunt | Credits". AllMusic. 1995-08-01. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
  9. "Kelley Hunt". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
  10. "Inspiration - Kelley Hunt | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
  11. "Gravity Loves You - Kelley Hunt | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
  12. "Living in the Danger Zone - Sista Monica Parker | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
  13. Cooke, Chris (2006-08-09). "Omaha Jazz Blues and Gospel Festival returns this Weekend | 91.5 KIOS-FM". Kios.org. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
  14. "Kelley Hunt : Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival / Music / Canadian / International / World / Family Event". Rootsandblues.ca. 2013-04-03. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
  15. "Memphis in May / Beale Street Music Festival Lineup". Alt-country.org. Archived from the original on 2015-02-22. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
  16. "Thursday at the Square schedule". Niagara Gazette. 2006-05-12. Archived from the original on 2014-08-14. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
  17. "Kelley Hunt | Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
  18. "Kelley Hunt - The Beautiful Bones". Thealternateroot.com. Archived from the original on 2014-08-01. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
  19. "Landed: New Poetry & the Road Is Just a River CD: Amazon.co.uk: Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg, Kelley Hunt: Books". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-07-24.
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