About Kelly

Playing over 200 nights a year, Singer/Songwriter Kelly Fitzgerald has toured all over the world as a solo and ensemble performer. She and her band have shared stages with artists such as John Hiatt, Shelby Lynn, Nancy Griffith, Cheap Trick, Eddie Money, The Gin Blossoms, Ben Taylor, John Oats, Vonda Shepard, The BoDeans, and many others. 

Kelly Fitzgerald is known for her soulful style, which is a blend of folk, blues and rock. Influenced by Billie Holiday, Ricky Lee Jones and Led Zeppelin, Kelly's voice has been likened to Bonnie Raitt, with a contemporary comparison to Melissa Etheridge and Sheryl Crow. The result is music that is smooth and gritty, honest and moving.

Her much-anticipated album, Find the Silver Lining, is her sixth album release, following Be, That and Change, So Far, Halfway to Naked, and Vesica Pisces. Kelly also released a full-length Christmas CD titled Into Christmas in November 2013 featuring six original songs and six classic covers.

In addition to her albums, Kelly writes original music for a variety of events and entertainment platforms. In 2021, a co-founder of the Orange County Children’s Book Festival, Pat Burns, asked Kelly to write a song to accompany an important new learning initiative called “STEAM: Race to Space Reading Challenge” (STEAM = Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics). So, she enlisted the help of her better half, John Diggins, and they wrote a song called “Read, Read, Read.” It was a hit with the STEAM team, and Kelly performed it at the 2022 OC Children’s Book Festival.

Also in 2021, Kelly co-wrote a song with her good friend Yvonne Perea called “Homemade” that was placed on many episodes of “The Young and the Restless.” 

In the spring of 2020, Kelly wrote and performed music that was included in the Making HERstory event, an inspirational tribute to the women who helped pave the way for equal rights, and a celebration commemorating the 100th anniversary of the passing of the 19th amendment to the constitution. 

Based in L.A, Kelly has traveled to Nashville many times to write and perform. She was chosen as one of the top 25 finalists in Nashville’s “Music City Songwriting Competition” for her song “I'm Done,” which appears on That and Change. In 2018, “Blingle Bells,” one of Kelly’s original holiday songs (co-written with Corey Lee Barker), was featured in two Hallmark Christmas movies. Fitzgerald and writing partner Brian Pothier co-wrote and recorded the song “Thank You,” which premiered on MTV’s The Jersey Shore in September 2011.

In May 2007, Kelly received the “Comet Award” for emerging artist by L.A Women In Music. She won the 1st place prize in the 4th Annual GINA/LAWIM Singer Songwriter Contest for her song “Summer Rain,” which you can hear on That and Change.

While signed to an independent record label, Kelly and her band had the pleasure of recording the Halfway to Naked album with Grammy Award Winning producer Jack Douglas (John Lennon, Aerosmith, Cheap Trick). “It was a great experience working with Jack,” says Kelly. Jack responded by saying, “The songs are well crafted and the girl sings phenomenally.”

In April 2003, the single “No Easy Way Out” (written by Wayne Kramer) from the Halfway To Naked album won accolades for the band by earning the #2 spot for the most added spins just behind Lucinda William's “Righteously” on the triple A charts.

The Halfway to Naked album earned Kelly and her band a nomination for Best Adult Contemporary artist by the LA Music Awards in 2003, which they won in 2000 for the same category. Kelly was also nominated for Best Female Vocalist. In 2005, she was nominated for Best Female Vocalist and Best Solo Performer at the Orange County Music Awards and in 2006 Kelly made the “Music Connection's Hot 100 Unsigned Artists” list.

Kelly was born and raised in Salem, Massachusetts, where she performed in nightclubs with local bands while attending high school. Shortly after high school, she left Salem and began touring throughout the U.S., including Hawaii and the Caribbean, with long-time friend and songwriting partner, guitarist Brian Pothier. After years of touring, Kelly and Brian landed in southern California in 1989, where they met drummer and collaborator Adam Roach.

Together with her band, Kelly has created a grass roots following across the U.S. and around the world as they have traveled to Europe and Mexico and performed for the U.S. and NATO troops in Bosnia and throughout the Balkan Islands.

In short, Kelly is enjoying a lifelong career doing what she loves most: writing, performing and sharing her music with audiences everywhere.

 “Vocalist Kelly Fitzgerald sings with authority, painting pictures with her words; the players are tight and the arrangements nicely varied. Strong lyrics and a singer who knows how to deliver them...”
 —Music Connection Magazine
 
“There is something about Kelly Fitzgerald’s voice that is extraordinary. It's warm and smooth as butter, with just enough rasp to make it sexy and real.”
 —OC Metro
 
“Armed with an emotive and wonderful voice, Kelly Fitzgerald continues to make leaps as a songwriter as evidenced by her third and latest CD, So Far.”
 —Robert Kinsler, Dana Point News
 
“Her third and finest CD, titled So Far, is the culmination of all she is today. It's a timeless, soulful recording steeped in the tradition of rock, country and acoustic blues, warm, loving embrace with a compelling personal voice dipped in a vat of life experience and humor.”
 —Music Connection Magazine
 
“Her powerful voice is confident on the new record, and the frequently bluesy accompaniment gives it a gospel feel.”
 —Performing Songwriter
 
“Finally a clear, poignant woman who doesn't whine. Kelly Fitzgerald is not only tops on our play list, but in my personal collection as well.”
 —Liz Mann, WLPW