Just Below the Hollywood Hills, Past the sea of Billboards and star lined streets of Sunset Blvd, you'll find Kelly Willyard; a Petite Texas blonde with a bubble of energy whose singing her way to the top in Los Angeles. In recent TV shows like CBS's "Touched By An Angel" to famous clubs like Ghengis Cohen, Highland Grounds, and Hallenbeck's, Kelly Willyard's sexy raspy voice, and wild " Don't Mess with Texas' attitude leaves you wanting more...... more....... and...... MORE of her country influenced songs.
It's no surprise her musical journey started when Kelly was just four years old. Kelly grew up just outside of Dallas, Texas in a town called Plano. If you were lucky enough, you may have heard her singing in Texas, perhaps at Texas Stadium, The Wylie Oprey, Texas State Fair, or for former President George Bush. If you haven't run across her path, you will.
The singer/songwriter's debut self titled album "Kelly Willyard" has edgy, unforgettable lyrics like "The Fighter Pilot" and powerful inspirational songs like "A Beautiful Woman."
"In order for me to sing a song it has to move me to tears, make me laugh, or make me wanna dance on the tables and shoot out the lights," Kelly exclaims.
By the time she was six, she started writing songs. "I will never forget the first song I ever wrote. It was about our family dog, 'Waco'. I actually changed the lyrics of the Kenny Rogers song, 'Looking for Love in all the wrong places.' It was really silly, but hey, everyone has to start somewhere." She laughs with a roar.
Shortly thereafter, she landed a spot in the highly sought after singing group called 'The Younger Generation.' It wasn't until Kelly sang her first solo, 'Where is Love,' where she would bring the house down in tears. "I will never forget, the first time I sang this song. I was terrified, but my brother Jim, dared me too, so I did it." Kelly grasps for a breath of air as if she just relived the moment.
Kelly would continue landing solo spots in almost every show the select group would perform, while she continued singing in school musicals, church choir, and began playing the piano. Her devotion and love for music would continue through high school. Upon graduation, she received a myriad of music scholarships from various universities around Texas and the United States.
Kelly, however, decided to leave the LONE Star State to receive a vocal Performance degree at the University Of Colorado- Boulder, one of the top vocal performance schools in the country. Kelly studied all genres of music including Opera, Musical Theater, Country, Jazz, and Rock n Roll.
Shortly after receiving her degree, she moved further West to Los Angeles. "After college, I really wanted to move to Los Angeles. There is something for everyone here. And everyone is somehow connected to the business. It's crazy...sometimes I wake up and think, I can't believe I am living here. This is so wild." Kelly, grins as she takes a sip of her AuguaFina.
After a couple of years of small roles on TV shows and competing in a beauty pageant, Kelly was crowned Ms. Petite California 2000.
Kelly then had a desire to get back to what put her on the map in the first place, her love for country music. She started performing in singer/songwriter venues in Hollywood and landed several spots on TV shows singing background vocals of County Music.
The musical influences run deep in her family history. Her great grandfather was a performer in the vaudeville shows and her brother Dave, is an accomplished drummer, guitarist, and songwriter. In fact, Kelly writes with both her brother Dave and her mother Barbara Ann, with whom she is extremely close with. "It's easy to write with my mom she says, because we are so close. We finish each others thoughts all the time." Kelly is also working with Rosemary Butler, who has worked with top acts like Dolly Pardon, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Charlie Daniels, Rosanne Cash, and Bette Midler to name a few.
Kelly Willyard's music is daring with ironic lyrics like, "I fly my own F-15". Then turn the corner and she'll belt out self acceptance for all women with ballads like "I'm a beautiful woman," and inspiring songs like "Chasing the Sun". And just when you think that's all, she'll throw a dash of humor in with songs like "So many Men, So little Time." There is something for everyone. She's Kelly Willyard!
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