Jo Ann Kelly

Jo Ann Kelly (born January 5, 1944 in Streatham , London , England , † October 21, 1990 ) was a British blues singer and guitarist. She has been referred to as "the undisputed queen of British country blues singers ".

Life

Jo Ann Kelly's musical career began in the British blues scene in the early 1960s. With her extraordinary voice and guitar style influenced by Memphis Minnie and Charley Patton , she impressed audiences in London clubs in 1964. She made her first recordings with Tony McPhee .

Most of the time she performed alone, but occasionally with other musicians like the John Dummer Blues Band . Their first album was released in 1969. She performed with Canned Heat , who offered her a long-term collaboration, as did Johnny Winter later . Jo Ann Kelly declined both offers.

In the 1970s she continued to perform solo, occasionally with bands she was friends with, such as Tramp . In 1979 she helped found the blues band , with which she performed the show "Ladies and the Blues" in the early 1980s, a tribute to the great singers of the blues.

In 1988 she was diagnosed with a brain tumor and removed. Jo Ann Kelly died as a result on October 21, 1990.

Discography

Albums

• 1969 Jo-Ann Kelly [1969] BGO
• 1969 Same Thing on Their Minds Sunset Records
• 1972 Jo Ann Kelly with J. Fahey, W. Mann & Seidler Air Mail Music
• 1976 Do It Red Rag
• 1978 It's Whoopie Columbia (with Martin Pyrker piano, Torsten Zwingenberger drums)
• 1984 Just Restless Appaloosa
• 1988 Jo Ann Kelly [1988] Open
• (?) Do It and More Manhaton

Guest appearances

• John Dummer Cabal / John Dummer Band (?)
• Slide Guitar: Streamline Special (1998)
• Dello Thedford Dello Theford & The Gospel Symphonic Choir (2000)
• Blues Guitar Women (2005)
• Goodbye Nashville, Hello Camden Town: A Pub Rock Anthology (2007)
• Mississippi Fred Mcdowell London Calling (2006), Matchbox Days (1997), Shake 'Em On Down (1998)

Web links

• Biography at Allmusic Guide (engl.)