My Daughter Kelly Black

Its hard to be impartial when your daughter is Kelly Black. I don't know if my review will count, since I am closely involved with the Tony Roi Elvis Experience-and More show. I've seen many shows in Branson and talked with several musicians Kelly has worked with in the past. They all have very nice things to say about her. I've told her several times that she is a GREAT player. Her response is always, "You have to say that because you're my mother." Just for instance, she took us to see Mike Nichols and Friends on our last visit to Branson.

We happened to run into Moe Bandy. Kelly introduced us. Moe said what a lovely person Kelly was and that she was quite a musician. She blushed as I agreed with him. As I'm standing there in a conversation with Mr. Moe Bandy, I look over at Kelly and thought, "this kid would rather play music than eat!"

Her versatility astounds me. She loves a challenge. I was so happy she was nominated for the best musician award from the Branson Critic. I'm so proud she has been recognized for her efforts.

This year has been especially busy for her. She worked in a morning show for a while playing classic country music. Then she would rush over to Music City Center to play for Tony Roi, then after that, she would go across the street to the Nova theater to play for Rob Caudill in the Rod Stewart tribute show. She only kept this schedule for a little over a month, but she loved every minute of it.

She also plays in a blues/rock band on some weekends. Its not uncommon for her to get a call from the Mickey Gilley show. She occasionally fills in for his bass player. I've attended some shows that she's done with Gilley. When Kelly took me back stage Mickey Gilley hugged my neck and told me how much he loves my daughter. I tried keeping up with her for one day and realized why she is exhausted by 7 PM.

It would be difficult to list all of the artists she's worked with, but here it goes; Johnny Lee, for three years and also played with Johnny twice in Nashville on the Grand Ole Opry. I got go once to the Opry, and it was awesome. Others are, Mickey Gilley, Doug Kershaw, Leona Williams, Crystal Gayle, David Frizzell, Jason D. Williams, Steve Cropper, Rex Allen, Charlie Louvin, plus countless others on the Gene Williams Country Music Show, and now Tony Roi.

As a child, I think she knew where her path was leading her. My mother, her grandmother, played piano. She never read music, but taught Kelly how to play by "ear." Kelly grew up in a neighborhood that knew her as "the little girl who plays piano." Our piano was out in the garage, so it reverberated all over the neighborhood. From there, she started on guitar. We bought her a chord book. She taught herself some chords, and off she went.

We had everything under control until she started dating a boy in high school that played the bass guitar. We lost all control over her. She loved being sent to her room because she'd sit in there and either play her guitar, or bass guitar. I took her to see Elvis twice. She was quite young, but still recalls the experience. I took her to see Hank Williams Jr. when she was 16 years old. She said, "If that's country music, I love it." She started playing country music professionally when she was 19 years old.

As you can see, I've thought Kelly has been musician of the year many times over. I'm just glad some other people share my opinion, albeit a very biased opinion.

A proud mother
Carole Young

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