By Robert Hicks
Daily Record
August 10, 2007
http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070810/ENT01/708100304/1083/ENT
BILL KELLY
CD release party
Aug. 11, 9:30 p.m.
Stanhope House
45 Main St., Stanhope
Tickets are $10;
$25 for party-dinner package
Call (973) 347-0458
www.stanhopehouse.com
Bill Kelly's songs have appeared in documentaries, in films and in the NBC show Ed and the TV series Northern Exposure. With his songs about troubled relationships and reconciliation, redemption and abuses of power, the Morris County native has sparked emotions and helped redefine Americana.
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| 'The goal is to make some art that will mean something tomorrow and not just feel good for the moment,' Bill Kelly said of his latest songs featured on the new CD, 'Bread on the Waters.' |
His five-piece band will perform at Stanhope House in Stanhope on Aug. 11.
Kelly plays guitar and sings in the group, which includes multi-instrumentalist Andy Goessling, bassist Lincoln Schleifer, guitarist Chris Tarrow and drummer Denny McDermott.
Kelly, who now lives in Manhattan, is touring in support of his new CD, "Bread on the Waters." He wrote seven of the 11 tracks and co-wrote "Daddy Wouldn't Know," "Knock Knock Joke," "Steady as She Goes" and "Dream."
"I hadn't done a record of my own for a couple of years and I had been writing some songs that are important to me. The goal is to make some art that will mean something tomorrow and not just feel good for the moment," he said.
The critically acclaimed song, "Seraphima," addresses a priest's sexual misconduct and abuse of power. The title track concerns wildlife preservation and a call to action. The topics for other songs range from difficulty and reconciliation in relationships to funny songs about the frustrations in everyday life.
"I wanted this record to be about the songs. This record is darker in its content, but more beautiful, too. Sometimes I've made records that were more about the playing and the singing and the production. They've all had their measures of success," he said.
Kelly, 48, grew up in Mendham. In eighth grade, he formed a band with Tom Gimbal, who later played keyboards with Aerosmith and Foreigner. Both collaborated on writing their own songs. Hearing John Prine's songs a few years later set the course for Kelly's music career.
"Prine's songs spoke to me. I just heard these stories and I wanted to do that. I wanted to express myself and the things I felt," he said.
After graduating from Mendham High School in 1977, Kelly headed for San Francisco, where he began playing bass in a band supporting the Magana Baptiste Royal Academy of Belly Dance. He later became a resident musician for the comedy improv troupe, The National Theater of the Deranged whose guests included Whoopi Goldberg and Robin Williams. He also fronted the bluegrass/folk group Spare Parts.
He returned to New Jersey and worked with the band House of Cards for 10 years. Songs from the group's CD, "Luck of the Irish," were featured in the TV series Northern Exposure and in the Ken Russell film, "Whore."
"It was something we called alternative, country pop. It was a very original sound. Andy Goessling was in the band. It also had a jazz element to it. It was roots-based singer songwriter with elements of country, blues and jazz," he said.
Kelly started working with a variety of musicians and released his roots rock CD, "Jumbo," in 1999. Three years later, he teamed with Michael Parrish in the urban folk duo Folkfoot. The duo released "Dos Hombres," which included the song, "It Must Stink to be Pink." That song later appeared in the Academy Award-nominated documentary, "Super Size Me.
For the past five years, Kelly has continued to tour as a solo artist. He and his wife live in Manhattan, where he continues to write new songs.
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