“Kelly, your songs touch the heart. You made me cry and I haven’t cried in 40 years.” So said a Vietnam vet to Kelly after she had performed her songs “cold sweat, little guy, and daddy’s footsteps and other songs at the V.A. Medical Center in Chicago Ill. “I just write what God puts on my heart. I write what I know, what I experience, what I go through, what I see others go through in life.”
Kelly Trudell has experienced a lot and it shows when you listen to her music.
Kelly was born at Ft. Jackson Army Hospital in Columbia, S.C. “Dad was in the service, so we moved around a lot. My brothers Scott and Randy were born in France, my brother Chris was born in Richland,Va. and my two sisters Cathy and Angie were born in Jackson, Michigan. I am the oldest of six kids so I learned early on about responsibility. Being raised up on a farm helped with that. That is where I learned the value of hard work. I learned nothing is given to you unless you earn it. Laziness will get you no where. When I was 10 years old, I made the mistake of telling my dad that I was bored. My dad said “so you are bored huh? Okay, come with me.” I walked with my dad down to the barn. He gave me a shovel that was almost as big as I was. He told me to muck out the horse stalls. We had 5 horses at the time, so needless to say I was shoveling manure till dark. But after I was done, I was pretty proud of myself and I made a deal with dad; I would muck out the stalls if I could have my own horse. He said he would think about since I did such a good job.”
Hard work and perseverance are just two facets of Kelly’s persona which she has applied to her music career. Kelly has traveled down some interesting roads where hard knocks and hard choices have offered her great lessons. “I was living in Nashville, Tennessee in 1989. I was married and my daughter Danielle was born in 1990 at Jackson Baptist Hospital. Life was good. I was writing with other songwriters, performing at the bluebird, and meeting with publishers who liked my songs. As my music career flourished, my marriage did not. I had to make a choice. I could stay in Nashville and raise Danielle on my own, or I could come home to Michigan, go back to college to better support my daughter. I decided to go home to Michigan.
I left Nashville driving a u-haul with my little girl in the front seat. My heart was broken and I was so distraught that when I stopped for gas…I locked Danielle in the u-haul. I tried not to panic as Danielle started to cry. The lady at the gas station said “it’s going to be all right. I will pray for you darling.” Soon a police officer came and jimmied the lock. He asked me where I was headed. I told him Michigan. He then asked “are you driving by yourself?” I said “yes, it’s just me and my daughter.” He then said “take care and have a safe trip.”
When I got into Indiana, I pulled into a truck stop to feed Danielle. She was fussing because she was so hungry. I must have looked a wreck because a trucker came up to ask me if I was okay. This strangers care and concern for me and my daughter almost made me cry. I thanked him and I assured him that I was all right. So whenever I see a mother, her baby and a u-haul…I pray that God sends his angels to watch over and protect them like he did for me.”
Kelly puts her experiences into her songs.” I think my songs really do touch people because the stories are real. I draw a lot of influence from artists/songwriters like Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Hank Williams Sr. and too many other artists to mention.
Kelly‘s music ability is self taught. “I never had formal vocal training or music lessons. I think I took piano for a day…I lacked the discipline to practice. I learned “on the road” I joined show bands touring throughout United States performing 4, 5 sometimes 6 nights a week. At times it was rewarding to play at Trump’s Castle for 6 weeks, MGM Grand Hotel in Reno, Nevada for two weeks then turn around and fly off to Helsinki, Finland to play at the Hotel Presidentii.
Kelly has opened for national acts such as, The Bellamy Brothers, McBride and The Ride, Mitch Rider, Three Dog Night, and Mickey Dolans (formally of The Monkees).“It was a great experience meeting these great artists and learning from them.”
Though Kelly has been writing and performing her songs for over 20 years, it is only been in the last 3 years that she feels she has truly matured as an artist. “I am a late bloomer. The turning point was when I met Daniel Creach in Nashville. He is truly a gifted producer, musician, songwriter, and a great friend. Together we worked on my fourth album, vigilant. It took 3 years but all the driving back and forth from Michigan to Nashville every month paid off. The musicians that performed on this album captured the heart and passion of my songs.
I am looking forward to the future. I am taking my music through some amazing doors….from prison cells to V.A. hospitals, touching hearts, changing lives. I am trying to make a difference with my music. Praise God.
Discography:
1987 Nashville Bound
1990 Worthy of Love
2001 Kelly Trudell
2009 Vigilant
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