Kelly O’Malley is a soulful songwriter and inspired musician. She was raised in Chicago by musical parents who stressed individuality and the importance of living a purposeful life. Chicago's rich music scene gave Kelly a diverse musical pallet, incorporating soul, folk, jazz, classical, pop and blues. At every opportunity, she would hijack her father’s album collection and lose herself in the music of artists like Sarah Vaughn, Carmen McCrae, Ray Charles, Dusty Springfield and Peggy Lee. Kelly spent hours each day at the piano, developing her ear from these recording greats.
Recognizing her budding talent, Kelly's mother enrolled her in piano lessons. It didn’t take the teacher long to learn that Kelly could play whatever he played, but could not read sheet music. With an ear and not an eye for music, Kelly was cast out of school. Again without instruction, Kelly spent every waking moment with the piano, guitar or flute, patiently working out the music that was coming together in her heart. Kelly’s High School years, the early 70’s, were ripe with emerging music that fueled her need to play and compose; Joni Mitchel, Keith Jarrett, Billy Joel, Aretha Franklin, Janice Ian, Roberta Flack, Yusef Lateef as well as classical from Bach provided new inspiration. It was this broad range of music styles that Kelly used to create beauty over technical structure in her early experiments, and is the basis for her unique sound today.
Kelly's desire to perform was driven underground by her early experience at music school; she kept her compositions and musical skills very private. Getting married at 22 and becoming a mother at 23, Kelly made a personal promise, to overcomer her fear of playing in public when her children went to college. Of course she never held back her desire to play with her own personal audience of 4; Kelly’s concerts for the children were a part of the harmony in her home.
As the children left to live their lives, Kelly kept her promise. With thousands of hours at the piano, it was time to bring her music to a public audience. Kelly felt her sound depended on a resonance, the interplay of piano, her voice and a cello. Through simple good fortune, Kelly found Nick Dinnerstein, an accomplished Baroque Cellist, Nick is a graduate of Mannes: College of Music in New York.0 Nick’s understated uniqueness, technical expertise and personal scoring highlight Kelly's original compositions as perfect accompaniment. For the fist time ever, Kelly’s music was written on staff paper.
Kelly’s first album, Wicked Alibi, produced by Milt Reader and recorded at Rear Window Studios in Boston, was a collaborative effort with session artists; Marty Ballou, David Sholl, David Mattacks, Bruce Katz and Nick Dinnerstein bringing a full rich sound to some of Kelly’s most rocking songs. Kelly’s second album, Carrying the Torch, is a self produced recording of Kelly and Nick. This album has a more personal sound that is reflective of the live performances that audiences cherish.
Kelly and Nick perform throughout New England in venues large and small. Kelly O'Malley soothes a fractured life with breathtaking vocals and inflective lyrics. You are welcome to delve into the world of Kelly O’malley.
Recognizing her budding talent, Kelly's mother enrolled her in piano lessons. It didn’t take the teacher long to learn that Kelly could play whatever he played, but could not read sheet music. With an ear and not an eye for music, Kelly was cast out of school. Again without instruction, Kelly spent every waking moment with the piano, guitar or flute, patiently working out the music that was coming together in her heart. Kelly’s High School years, the early 70’s, were ripe with emerging music that fueled her need to play and compose; Joni Mitchel, Keith Jarrett, Billy Joel, Aretha Franklin, Janice Ian, Roberta Flack, Yusef Lateef as well as classical from Bach provided new inspiration. It was this broad range of music styles that Kelly used to create beauty over technical structure in her early experiments, and is the basis for her unique sound today.
Kelly's desire to perform was driven underground by her early experience at music school; she kept her compositions and musical skills very private. Getting married at 22 and becoming a mother at 23, Kelly made a personal promise, to overcomer her fear of playing in public when her children went to college. Of course she never held back her desire to play with her own personal audience of 4; Kelly’s concerts for the children were a part of the harmony in her home.
As the children left to live their lives, Kelly kept her promise. With thousands of hours at the piano, it was time to bring her music to a public audience. Kelly felt her sound depended on a resonance, the interplay of piano, her voice and a cello. Through simple good fortune, Kelly found Nick Dinnerstein, an accomplished Baroque Cellist, Nick is a graduate of Mannes: College of Music in New York.0 Nick’s understated uniqueness, technical expertise and personal scoring highlight Kelly's original compositions as perfect accompaniment. For the fist time ever, Kelly’s music was written on staff paper.
Kelly’s first album, Wicked Alibi, produced by Milt Reader and recorded at Rear Window Studios in Boston, was a collaborative effort with session artists; Marty Ballou, David Sholl, David Mattacks, Bruce Katz and Nick Dinnerstein bringing a full rich sound to some of Kelly’s most rocking songs. Kelly’s second album, Carrying the Torch, is a self produced recording of Kelly and Nick. This album has a more personal sound that is reflective of the live performances that audiences cherish.
Kelly and Nick perform throughout New England in venues large and small. Kelly O'Malley soothes a fractured life with breathtaking vocals and inflective lyrics. You are welcome to delve into the world of Kelly O’malley.