Long Form

Willy Kelly (WK) started playing clubs in New York state at about sixteen years old. He was a “hired hand” in pickup bands and a solo performer on the coffee house circuit. In 1975 he moved to Islesboro Maine and began his love for the coast of Maine which has influenced his life and his music since.

It was on Islesboro that he met Jud Strunk who penned the hit song “A Daisy a Day”. Stunk invited Willy to join him for his next tour in the spring of 1978. For the next few years WK traveled the US and Canada playing everywhere from the Top Hat Lounge in Missoula, MT. to the Palm Bay Club on the east coast of Florida to the WWVA radio show, (get that “wheelin' feelin”...)

After a stint with “Uncle Al” Scheeren playing the greater New England region, Willy played with the “Searsmont Street Band” (SSB) a country-rock / R&B band that enjoyed great success throughout the state of Maine. The Searsmont St. Band appeared on the double-LP entitled “Benjamin's After Dark” which was a compilation featuring SSB and three other Maine-based bands. The off-shoot of SSB “Street III” which included Willy along with Joe Allard and Jeff Densmore (bass and drums) produced a contemporary sound and approach that exemplified musical life in the '80's.

In 1986, WK recorded the album “How Did I Ever Get Like This?” and published it through Wondrous Music. In the decade following Willy worked with several artists in Maine as a player/co-producer including: Elizabeth Wolfe, Robin Lawlor, and Ruby Gensheimer. He has worked as a sideman in such diverse acts as Chuck Kruger, The Rare Birds, The Boneheads, Chord On Blue and Mr. Whoopie.

Willy Kelly has been featured on The New Vaudeville Review, Maine Public Radio and with “Uncle” Al Scheeren performed the sound track to the indie film “Deep Trout” by film makers Abbott Meader and Walter Easton. Deep Trout was a prize winner at Ann Arbor Film Festival, (AAF) 1982, and was part of AAF's national tour.

The Willy Kelly Band (WKB), has been an ongoing project since the late '80's. It's members reads like a “Who's Who” of Maine musician's and has included: Jeff Densmore, Adam Smith (RIP), Michael Bennett, Lance Burpee, Jim Reardon, Dave Lemay, Bob Evans, Jason Dean, David Kelly, Joe Allard, Glen Dubose, Mike Burd, Mike MacFarlin, Andy Johnson, Scott Markee, Dwayne Nickerson, Katie Webber, Ando Anderson, David Clarke, Dan Kelly, Phil Divinsky, Bruce Boege, and Ed Entwistle.

Wondrous Music released the CD “Another Day” in 2006. All the songs were written by WK and performed with help from the present lineup of The Willy Kelly Band including Jeff Densmore, Joe Allard, and Ando Anderson. It also features a cameo by Dan and David Kelly.

Willy Kelly continues to write and perform his brand of contemporary folk, blues and reggae-rock and roll music. He presently performs with Willy Inc. which includes Dan Kelly and David Kelly, The Willy Kelly Band, and the acoustic trio called Cafe Daze.

For bookings email: willy@willykelly.com or call: 207-469-0953.