Musical Background

Kelso Kelly was born and raised in Virginia and attended high school and college there before moving to Boulder, Colorado where he finished his education. He became interested in music at age 10 and began taking piano lessons. He taught himself guitar beginning at age 12. Learning both instruments simultaneously provided a broad foundation to support the addition of vocals in the various bands that Kelso has played in through the years.

Kelso was originally a piano player in his early bands and switched permanently to guitar in his late teens. Kelso taught guitar lessons in college to assist with financing his education. He played at Kings Dominion in Virginia in the band Icewater as a guitar player and singer during summer break. He returned to Boulder after that summer gig and assembled a 9 piece show band (initially named Mystique and then changed to Just Us) that played many gigs in and around Boulder and Denver, Colorado, and also did a western U.S. road tour as well for American Music. Upon returning to Denver, Kelso took a real job as a banker. During his banking career, Kelso continued his musical pursuits by finding time to perform with TC & the Destroyers, the Rainmakers, the Flashbacks (Laramie, Wyoming), 6 Pins Dolores and Trainwreck. Kelso still performs with Trainwreck during the summer months as their lead guitarist. He has also performed solo, and with his two children, at the Art in the Park outdoor bronze sculpture event held every summer in Loveland.

Kelso is now retired from a career in banking and is focused on playing solo gigs as a singer/guitar player. His material is largely comprised of his key musical interests during his lifetime: pop, old-school R&B and modern country. From time to time, Kelso also performs in a duo, Cattywampus, with long-time friend and musician Pat Dougherty.

For performance opportunities, Kelso can be reached at kelsokelly013@gmail.com. References available upon request.