Album Notes

Will Rogers Award - Female Vocalist of the Year '09
TEXAS STATE MUSICIAN NOMINEE
Piano Poundin', Rhythm Rockin', Bass Kickin'
the Queen of Swing™
Kelli Grant

PRESS RELEASE

Kelli and Roy first met on a show out of Nashville. Shortly after that, Roy was approached by Warner Bros. German affiliate, Eagle Records to record a new CD that would also include his hit Rock-a-Billy Mercury recordings. He requested that Kelli and longtime friend and legendary guitarist, Johnny Patterson to play on it. The CD, “Rockin’ Roy Moss” consisted of 18 cuts total with Kelli playing on 11 of the cuts. Roy called Kelli after the CD’s release fussing with a smile, “all they want to know is who is playing piano.” He was very pleased to tell everyone it was his new discovery, Kelli Grant.

In the album liner, Roy refers to Kelli as the beautiful star of Texas. But the more they worked together, Roy noticed how exciting her music was and it was … “swinging”. He was the first to tag her, “the Queen of Swing.”

Sometime in late ‘97, Roy once again came to the studio for a new project. The session was short with only 4 songs basically done.
Roy said he was having trouble breathing and left saying he would come back soon. He was diagnosed with lung cancer in April of ‘98, never to return to the studio. He passed away in September of 1998.

In an interview in April of ‘08 with Lillies Ohlsson for Kountry Korral magazine, Sweden, Kelli spoke of Roy and realized it would be 10 years in September since he passed. Kelli decided after that interview to produce a 10 year commemorative CD. We had actually forgot about these 4 songs, so it took awhile to find the ADAT and with a little more digging we found 4 to 5 minutes of video footage of that session. Kelli recorded 6 new songs to complete the CD plus she included a LIVE cut of “Honky Tonk” with her band, “the Swing Kings” featuring Johnny Patterson. This is truly a collectors item. There is no other video or recordings of Roy anywhere in the world.

COMMENTS / REVIEWS:
Bernard Boyat Review - Le Cri du Coyote magazine, FRANCE      5 STARS! Cri du Couer! GREAT!
Roy is superb and Kelli growls and “bites” into a song like a young Wanda Jackson, simply GREAT.

Kelli has been recognized, charted and listed in a variety of genre’s: Blues, Pop, Rock-a-Billy, R&B, Jazz and Western Swing. She received an “Honorable Mention” from Billboard for her R&B original, “The Way Love Use to Be” from her “Honky Tonk Swing” CD.

Kelli plays piano. Not guitar, not fiddle/violin. Her piano style “SWINGS” in the truest definition of the word but features a gyrating, piano poundin‘ lead, reminiscent to Jerry Lee that fluctuates to a pulse driving, rockin‘ rhythm with both coupled to her magnificent left-hand bassline that is unsurpassed & kickin‘, Not many artist are credited with creating their own musical style but she has and she calls it …
Swing-a-Billy™
And that pretty well nails it. ;o)

Swing-a-Billy Definition:
"Swing" featuring the gyrating, piano poundin’, rock-a-billy leads as only the Queen of Swing™ can bring.

Roy was not the only one to tag her the Queen of Swing™. On a tribute show to Roy Orbison in Wink, Tx., R&B legend, Carl Perkins took notice and agreed. Now a registered trademark, Kelli has long been associated with Rock-a-Billy not only playing on Roy’s CD but also on a couple of England cuts by the legendary, “Groovy” Joe Poovey.