blackhillsheritagefestival@yahoo.com

Phone: (605) 209-4339
PO Box 9771
Rapid City, SD 57709-9771

Kelley Hunt

These days it's rare when a blues-based artist shows up with both tradition and true originality on their side. Roots R&B singer/songwriter/piano player KELLEY HUNT is just such an artist-a woman who has muscled her way onto the scene with a combination of passion, soul and superior skills as a vocalist, piano player and writer. She's an artist who has achieved everything to date not on hype or artificial positioning, but strictly on the merit of her live and recorded performances. Each and every time out Hunt relies exclusively on the strength of her own exceptional material while showcasing a style that honors a list of influences including among others Ruth Brown, Billie Holiday, Ray Charles, Professor Longhair, Ann Peebles, Aretha Franklin and Johnnie Johnson and... her mother who she grew up hearing sing around the house and on a weekly radio broadcast in Kansas City. The traditions of Kelley's music are right up front but the words, delivery, experiences and passion are uniquely hers. It's a fresh combination that is winning legions of fans and gathering truly impressive critical acclaim.

Hunt's debut 88 Records release titled "Kelley Hunt" (EER9401) has been heard in 800+ radio markets in the USA and a growing list of markets in Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Hunt began building a national reputation several years ago playing a long list of important blues festivals all over the country including the Kansas City Blues and Jazz Festival, Eureka Springs Blues Festival, New York State Blues Festival, Monterey Bay Blues Festival, Chenango County New York Blues Festival, Portland Waterfront Blues Festival, St. Louis Blues Heritage and Big Muddy Festivals, Dallas Bedford Blues Festival, Boulder Blues Festival, Iron Range Blues Festival, Silver City NM Blues Festival, Mississippi Valley Blues Festival, Telluride Blues Festival and many more. 14 times at competitive national festival events she has led all other artists in product sales - results motivated instantly on site by her tremendous live performances. She has been heard three times on The Blues Foundation's internationally distributed radio show "Beale Street Caravan" which has featured her performances at Mississippi Valley, Telluride and at B.B. King's in Memphis. She has also been heard four times (including rebroadcasts) on "A Prairie Home Companion" with Garrison Keillor, twice on "House of Blues Radio Hour" and numerous other nationally syndicated blues radio shows. In fall 1998 Hunt's title "If I Don't Dance" from her debut CD "Kelley Hunt" was released in the Sony/Mandalay motion picture "Dance With Me" starring Vanessa Williams, Kris Kristofferson and Chayanne.