Kelly Willard
Kelly Willard | |
---|---|
Birth name | Kelly Bagley |
Born | August 18, 1956 |
Origin | Winter Haven, Florida, U.S. |
Genres | CCM, Jesus music |
Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
Instrument(s) | Piano, mandolin |
Years active | 1978–present |
Labels | Maranatha!, Autumn, Coyote Records |
Website | kellywillard |
Kelly Willard (born on August 18, 1956) is a
Willard was born in
Willard married at 18, joined Harlan Rogers & Friends, and traveled the midwest until 1977. She moved to Southern California to be a part of the flow of 'Jesus Music' artists who were performing and recording there. She played keyboards and sang background vocals on projects for artists including Bob Bennett and Roby Duke before Maranatha! Music approached her in 1978 asking her to record her own solo project.[1]
After the birth of her children, she took occasional sabbaticals, homeschooling them during the 1980s, 1990s. Later she took care of her mother, who had Alzheimer's. In 2004, both of her parents died, her 29-year marriage came to an end, and her 18-year-old daughter Haylie committed suicide after a struggle with severe depression. Willard later referred to the period in an interview as "the worst year of my life." She moved to Jacksonville, Florida, and became part of a church support community there.[2]
Willard's latest album, recorded in 2000, titled Paga, features her son Bryan on bass guitar, and her daughter Haylie in a duet on the song "Beautiful Jesus".[citation needed] Kelly Willard lives in Florence, Alabama; she is writing and recording a new "duo" project with long-time friend, Rene Stamps.[citation needed]
Discography
- 1978 Blame It on the One I Love
- 1980 Willing Heart
- 1983 Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs
- 1986 Message from a King
- 1991 Lookin' Back '77-'86
- 1991 Garden
- 1993 Bless My Little Girl
- 1996 My First Christmas
- 1996 Homesick for Heaven
- 2007 Paga
- 2012 Message from a King
References
- ^ a b Devlin Donaldson (December 1, 1998). "Kelly Willardprofile". Crosswalk.com. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
- ^ "Out of the Darkness". Christianitytoday.com. August 27, 2007. Retrieved October 18, 2013.