b. 2 October 1968, Lawton, Oklahoma, USA. An Austin, Texas-based singer-songwriter, Kelly Willis was signed by MCA Records’ country division in 1990 and widely embraced by critics as a torchbearer for ‘new traditionalism’.
Willis played in her first band when aged 16, performing with her future first husband Mas Palermo. Her raucous vocals proved immediately popular, so much so that the band was renamed Kelly And The Fireballs in her honour. Willis and Palermo relocated to Austin after graduation and established a new band, Radio Ranch. The band impressed Nanci Griffith, who arranged an audition at MCA Records. Their 1990debut album was marketed under Willis’ name in an attempt to capitalise on her striking looks. Willis has often been compared to another MCA artist, Brenda Lee, because her records suggest the same blend of rockabilly, rock ‘n’ roll and ballads, updated for the modern era. The title track of 1991’s Bang Bang, for example, was an obscure title from rock ‘n’ roller Janis Martin. The songwriting credits on her albums are always interesting. ‘Sincerely’ was written by Steve Earle and Robert Earl Keen, and the Don Was -produced third album included songs co-written with John Leventhal and Paul Kennerley. She also duetted with Kevin Welch on ‘That’ll Be Me’ and took time out to add background harmonies to Chris Wall’s Cowboy Nation. She sang the Paul Kennerley song ‘I Don’t Want To Love You (But I Do)’ on the movie soundtrack ofThelma And Louise, and appeared as Clarissa Flan in Tim Robbins’ political satire movieBob Roberts.
Willis was dropped by MCA in 1993, and remained quiet until she returned to recording with 1996’s Fading Fast EP. A new album appeared on Rykodisc Records in 1999 and the critics really started noticing her as an important ‘new’ talent. What I Deserve was a beautifully constructed album which veered away from her straight country style. The guitar-rich tracks featured Max Butler and the distinctive tones of Chuck Prophet, with stand-out songs including ‘Wrapped’, ‘Cradle Of Love’ and a superb version of Nick Drake’s ‘Time Has Told Me’.
After taking time out to concentrate on her family (giving birth to a son in 2001 following lengthy IVF treatments), Willis returned to music with the mellow, contented Easy. In 2003, she released a seasonal album with her second husband, singer-songwriter Bruce Robison. During the same year she had given birth to twin babies and, with a fourth child arriving in 2006, Willis was absent from the music scene for several years. Her transition from new country hopeful to a successful, independent artist was completed on the richly varied Translated From Love.
