Irene Kelley

Irene Kelley
BornLatrobe, Pennsylvania[1]
GenresCountry, bluegrass
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Years active1980s–present
LabelsMCA, Madacy, Irk, Patio, Mountain Fever
Websitewww.irenekelley.com

Irene Kelley is an American country and bluegrass musician. As a songwriter, she has written for Ricky Skaggs, Alan Jackson, Loretta Lynn, and the Osborne Brothers.[2][3]

Early life

Kelley is originally from Pennsylvania and in high school sang in a Led Zeppelin cover band.[4] She was asked to leave the group after suggesting the band cover songs from Dolly Parton.[4]

Career

Kelley moved to Nashville, Tennessee in the early 1980s. This was after visiting on her honeymoon in 1983 and discovering the first gathering of the International Bluegrass Music Association.[5] Kelley co-wrote the Ricky Skaggs and Sharon White song "Love Can't Ever Get Better Than This" with Nancy Montgomery. The song peaked at number ten on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1987 and was awarded Duet of the Year at the Country Music Association Awards that same year.[6] Kelley signed to MCA Records in the late 1980s.[1]

Discography

Albums

Title Album details Peak positions
US Bluegrass[7]
Simple Path
  • Release date: February 27, 2001
  • Label: Madacy
 —
Thunderbird
  • Release date: October 25, 2004
  • Label: Irk
 —
Pennsylvania Coal
  • Release date: February 11, 2014
  • Label: Patio Records
 —
These Hills 3
Benny's TV Repair —

Singles

Year Single Peak positions
US Country
[1]
1989 "Love Is a Hard Road" 67
1991 "A Rock and a Rolling Stone"[8] —
2018 "Something About a Train Sound" —

Music videos

Year Video Director
1991 "A Rock And A Rolling Stone"
2003 "A Little Bluer Than That"

References

  1. ^ a b c Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 89. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
  2. ^ Lawless, John (16 March 2016). "Carolina Wind- new single from Irene Kelley". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  3. ^ Recker, Scott (12 February 2014). "Pennsylvania Coal". PopMatters. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  4. ^ a b Clementi, Tyler (8 February 2015). "How Led Zeppelin led to Bluegrass for Irene Kelley". Columbus Underground. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  5. ^ Fox, Randy (13 February 2014). "Irene Kelley's roots run deep through Pennsylvania Coal". Nashville Scene. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  6. ^ Cooper, Peter (3 October 2014). "Ricky Skaggs and Sharon White find harmony". The Tennessean. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  7. ^ "Chart history for Irene Kelley". Billboard. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  8. ^ "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. January 5, 1991.


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