More Than Just
Rock-Star, Baby!
Kelly Richey is more than just a “Blues based rock
guitarist,” as she describes herself.
Her complexity and faceted lifestyle with years of refining through
thousands of hours of practice and hard work, has produced a diamond of a rock
star!
Legendary Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan have inspired
Richey as a young guitarist in the mid-70s.
“Tom Jones was the wildest thing in my parents record collection!” she chuckled,
“But I loved rock-n-roll from the moment I heard it. Then I discovered Jimi Hendrix, and I wanted
to play like him!” Now, many years
later, master guitarist, Richey, sounds like her idols of years past. In fact, if you close your eyes, and just
compare the sweet guitar riffs of the Hendrix, Vaughan and Richey, you would be
hard pressed to tell a difference.
Then, there’s her voice…reminiscent of Janis Joplin! Strong,
edgy yet passionate with a coarseness that instantly captivates her audience,
as if her guitar skills weren’t enough.
Lexington born, and a Cincinnati based, Richey’s love of the
blues started when the church her and her family attended burned to the
ground. Their church integrated with the
African-American church. “Our churches
would hold revivals together. So I saw
at an early age the differences in the gospel music. I attribute my love of Blues-Rock to my early
childhood.” Richey explained about her
dedication of those formative years, “I practiced 12 to 16 hours a day when I
first started out. You didn’t see me
without a guitar in my hand. Period! Then later, I still practiced 6 to 10
hours a day. You have to put the time in
to master something.” Richey has taught
guitar lessons for most of her career. Today
she has many video classes as well as skype classes with students around the
world. She said of talent, “I find
talent is a very small portion of anything.
Passion and hard work is what it takes to be successful.”
In the mid-80s, she played with Stealin’ Horses. By 1990, she started the Kelly Richey
Band. “I knew I had to pick a music that
I could play forever. Blues was on the
rise with Bonnie Raitt and Eric Clapton, making bluesy rock more popular. So I decided to play the blues – but I always
played it with a rock edge.”
Richey this year has cut the concerts on the road with the
band down to 20 really great shows.
“Normally, I do upwards of a hundred.
But I’m starting to play a lot of solo shows. This is not to replace the
band, but to have the mobility to travel by myself, so that I can play any gig
that comes up anywhere.” Richey has an
album to be released later this year. “I
want to play music that I am passionate about!
I don’t want to be all things to all people. I want to be who I am.”
But that’s not all for this rock star… she also is a
certified life-coach, and training to become a facilitator for writing
workshops. “All the pieces of my life
are starting to fit together nicely. I
enjoy teaching and building connections!”
“When inspiration strikes, honor it! Stop what you are doing and capture it! Because if you don’t, you’ll lose it!” For more information about Kelly Richey
and/or learn how to play guitar from a master, check out her website: kellyrichey.com.
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