Verbon Kelley, Sr. started singing at the early age of six, performing at school talent shows and family gatherings in Dallas, Texas. He would listen to his father sing the blues and play guitar with a knife much like a slide player uses a bottle neck; this firmly embedded those southern sounds of the blues in his heart. At the age of ten Verbon's grandmother seemed to be the source of igniting a deeper aspiration in him. She simply said, "Boy, you sure can sing!" From then on he knew that he would have a life long career in music.
As Kelley grew older, he began pursuing his musical career by learning a variety of instruments. First guitar, then trumpet and finally he picked up the cornet while in middle school. Upon graduation, Kelley joined the U.S. Navy and started singing in night clubs with local bands in the Philippines and Japan. During his stay overseas he really started to develop as an artist. He sang what was then considered contemporary R&B and down home blues. He had the ability to capture an audience while on stage and helped sailors forget, at least for the moment, that they were thousands of miles away from home.
In the late 60's Kelley moved to Los Angeles, CA when he returned from the Navy and immediately hit the ground running. He began his career in the States as the lead singer for a group known as the Autographs. They performed all over Los Angeles and played venues such as the Parisian Room, Mavericks Flat, The Checkmate Club, The It Club, The Caribbean and the Pied Piper. The Autographs electrified the audience early in their set and captivated them until the last song.
Kelley has also recorded and performed with greats such as Lommie Fawler, George Bohannon, Clarence Paul, Ricky Minor, Author Adams, Wilton Felder, Keb’ Mo' and Red Holloway just to name a few. He has recorded five solo projects which include, “Two Arms Around You” (now a rare collector’s item), “Verbon Sings”, “The Things You Do”, “The Verbon Kelley Blues Band – Live at B.B. Kings”, and his most recent project “Little Red Rooster – The Blues Sessions”.
When you listen to a Verbon Kelley recording you will hear true vocal artistry with influences from some of the late greats like Brook Benton, Sam Cooke, David Ruffin and B.B. King. His son Verbon “Skip” Kelley, Jr. who helped produce “Little Red Rooster – The Blues Sessions" said, "My dad is from the old school. He doesn’t believe in all of the studio trickery. You play the track, he steps up to the mic and sings the song down once or twice and that’s it. That’s your song. That’s the old school way. Track 4, “I’ll Come Running Back to You” was a second take on the vocals. He sang it straight down. When that song plays on the radio people have stopped what they’re doing and called me to ask who that was. I just say, that’s my dad!”
As Kelley grew older, he began pursuing his musical career by learning a variety of instruments. First guitar, then trumpet and finally he picked up the cornet while in middle school. Upon graduation, Kelley joined the U.S. Navy and started singing in night clubs with local bands in the Philippines and Japan. During his stay overseas he really started to develop as an artist. He sang what was then considered contemporary R&B and down home blues. He had the ability to capture an audience while on stage and helped sailors forget, at least for the moment, that they were thousands of miles away from home.
In the late 60's Kelley moved to Los Angeles, CA when he returned from the Navy and immediately hit the ground running. He began his career in the States as the lead singer for a group known as the Autographs. They performed all over Los Angeles and played venues such as the Parisian Room, Mavericks Flat, The Checkmate Club, The It Club, The Caribbean and the Pied Piper. The Autographs electrified the audience early in their set and captivated them until the last song.
Kelley has also recorded and performed with greats such as Lommie Fawler, George Bohannon, Clarence Paul, Ricky Minor, Author Adams, Wilton Felder, Keb’ Mo' and Red Holloway just to name a few. He has recorded five solo projects which include, “Two Arms Around You” (now a rare collector’s item), “Verbon Sings”, “The Things You Do”, “The Verbon Kelley Blues Band – Live at B.B. Kings”, and his most recent project “Little Red Rooster – The Blues Sessions”.
When you listen to a Verbon Kelley recording you will hear true vocal artistry with influences from some of the late greats like Brook Benton, Sam Cooke, David Ruffin and B.B. King. His son Verbon “Skip” Kelley, Jr. who helped produce “Little Red Rooster – The Blues Sessions" said, "My dad is from the old school. He doesn’t believe in all of the studio trickery. You play the track, he steps up to the mic and sings the song down once or twice and that’s it. That’s your song. That’s the old school way. Track 4, “I’ll Come Running Back to You” was a second take on the vocals. He sang it straight down. When that song plays on the radio people have stopped what they’re doing and called me to ask who that was. I just say, that’s my dad!”
