Emma Kelly

For the English footballer, see Emma Kelly (footballer).
Emma Kelly
Emma Kelly (at the piano) and Nancy Hillis in 1994
Emma Kelly (at the piano) and Nancy Hillis in 1994
Background information
Born(1918-12-17)December 17, 1918
Statesboro, Georgia
DiedJanuary 17, 2001(2001-01-17) (aged 82)
Savannah, Georgia
OccupationMusician
InstrumentPiano
Years active1940s–1980s

Emma Thompson Kelly (December 17, 1918 – January 17, 2001) was an American musician. Known as the "Lady of 6,000 Songs",[1] she appeared in both John Berendt's 1994 book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and its 1997 movie adaptation.

Her nickname was given to her by Johnny Mercer, who — after challenging her to play numerous songs he named — estimated she knew 6,000 songs from memory.[2]

Personal life

Kelly was married to George Kelly for 47 years — from 1936 until his death from a heart attack in 1983 at the age of 70.[2] Together, they had ten children.[1]

With Joe Odom, Kelly was a co-owner of the short-lived Emma's piano bar in an old cotton warehouse on Savannah's River Street. The bar was forced to close after Odom squandered its earnings. "He could do you wrong. And he did me wrong," Kelly said in 1997, six years after Odom's death. "But I miss Joe. I get a little teary-eyed thinking about him. He had a flair for coming up with good ideas."[3]

As of 1994, she was performing weekly sittings at Hard-Hearted Hannah's East, above the Pirates' House in Savannah, Georgia.[4]

Death

Kelly died on January 17, 2001, from a liver ailment. She was 82.[1]

Accolades

Kelly was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1998.[5] She performed at the event.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Emma Kelly, 82, 'Lady of 6,000 Songs'" - New York Times, January 29, 2001
  2. ^ a b "Our 'Mrs. Emma'" - Statesboro Herald, October 18, 2015
  3. ^ DEAN, SUELLEN E. "An evening with EMMA KELLY Savannah songbird to sing for Spartanburg benefit The Lady of Six Thousand Voices from the 'Garden of Good and Evil'". Spartanburg Herald Journal. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  4. ^ "Oct 26, 1994, page 41 - The Atlanta Constitution at Atlanta Journal Constitution". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
  5. ^ Georgia Music Hall of Fame inductee list
  6. ^ "Emma's acceptance piano speech Emma Kelly Ga Music Hall of Fame" - YouTube, October 26, 2014