Kelly Richey Last updated December 31, 2025 Early life Kelly Richey was born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky , United States, [ 3] in a conservative Christian household that avoided rock music. Her first instrument was the piano. [ 4] [ 5] Her second instrument was a drum kit that her neighbor let her take home. After a couple of months of playing drums in her bedroom, her father offered to buy her anything she wanted; she chose the guitar. She started learning guitar at age 15; she reached a point where she was practicing 12 hours a day. [ 6] [ 7] [ 8]
Career Kelly Richey joined Stealin Horses, Kopana Terry , Kiya Heartwoodin 1986. In 1988 she played with Albert King at the Cuckoo Nest in Nashville . [ 9] [ 10] In 1990, she formed The Kelly Richey Band (KRB). [ 11] In 1997 she moved from Lexington, Kentucky to Mount Auburn, Cincinnati . [ 12] Writing of her 2001 album Sending Me Angels , Guitar Player praised her "fiery solos" and her "fast, powerful picking hand", which she credited to having played as a drummer. [ 13] She cites Roy Buchanan as an influence, [ 13] besides Stevie Ray Vaughan , Jimi Hendrix [ 1] and Lonnie Mack . [ 14] She released eleven albums between 1994 and 2008. [ 6] Her 2006 album Speechless consisted entirely of instrumentals . [ 15] She took a break from performing in 2010. [ 16] [ 17]
Discography 1994: Sister's Gotta Problem [ 19] 1995: The Blues Don't Lie 1996: Live at Tommy's On Main [ 20] [ 21] 1997: Eyes of a Woman [ 22] 1998: Dig a Little Deeper 1999: Kelly Richey Band Live 2001: Sending Me Angels [ 23] [ 24] 2003: Kelly Richey Live...As It Should Be [ 25] 2004: Kelly Richey Live 2006: Speechless [ 15] 2007: The Kelly Richey Band Live at the Thirsty Ear 2008: Carry the Light 2013: Sweet Spirit [ 26] 2014: Live at the Blue Wisp [ 27] References 1 2 (November 20, 1998). "Energy and polish define blues-rockers", St. Petersburg Times , p. 10. ↑ (December 2001). "Richey resonates in new CD", Kentucky Monthly 4 (12): 30. ↑ Johnston, Katie (April 30, 1999). "Blues woman making it while remaining true to her roots", The Gazette , p. GO15. ↑ Hughes, Andrew S (February 17, 2008). "Richey sees music as a light in the storm" . South Bend Tribune . p. D7. Archived from the original on September 6, 2017. Retrieved Sep 5, 2017 . ↑ Johnson, Ryan (April 17, 2009). "She's got the blues - Kelly Richey Band plays Empire tonight". Grand Forks Herald . 1 2 Hughes, Andrew S (October 2, 2011). "Richey changes her life, renews her music Archived 2012-04-25 at archive.today ", South Bend Tribune , p. D2. ↑ (January 29, 1999). "Kelly Richey Knows Stomping Grounds", Dayton Daily News , p. 18. ↑ Hay, Lee (Jan 18, 2015). "Local blues special features Kelly Richey & Sonny Moorman!" . WVXU . Retrieved Sep 5, 2017 . ↑ Smith, Emmet (April 17, 2013). "Albert King: A blues guitar great who left a monumental imprint on rock 'n' roll (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2013)" . The Plain Dealer . Retrieved Sep 5, 2017 . ↑ Commons, Ed; Murphy, Will (September 1, 1992). "A Conversation with Kelly Richey" . Ace Weekly . Lexington, Kentucky . Retrieved Sep 8, 2017 . ↑ "Kelly Richey Band - a blues-based rock virtuoso" . Chronicle Times . December 10, 2009. Retrieved Sep 5, 2017 . ↑ Bird, Rick (May 27, 1999). "Kelly Richey: She digs a little deeper", The Cincinnati Post , p. 5. 1 2 3 4 5 Ellis, Andy (March 2002). "Buzz" . Guitar Player . pp. 57– 60. Archived from the original on 27 August 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2011 . ↑ Richey, Kelly (April 23, 2016). "Lonnie Mack RIP" . KellyRichey.com . Archived from the original on September 6, 2017. Retrieved Sep 5, 2017 . 1 2 Bird, Rick (June 22, 2006). "Kelly Richey's 'Speechless' is just that" . The Cincinnati Post . p. T23. Archived from the original on September 6, 2017. Retrieved Sep 5, 2017 . ↑ Baker, Brian (May 3, 2011). "Music: Kelly Richey" . Cincinnati CityBeat . Retrieved Sep 5, 2017 . ↑ Wedel, Mark (January 21, 2010). "Blues guitarist Kelly Richey to take hiatus after Bud Blues show" . Kalamazoo Gazette . Retrieved Sep 5, 2017 . ↑ Richards, Dave (September 4, 2003). "Inseparables: Kelly Richey And Her '65 Stratocaster". Erie Times-News . ↑ Campbell, Michael (June 1994). "Janis, Jimi . . . and Kelly: Sister's Got A Problem" . Louisville Music News . Retrieved Sep 5, 2017 . ↑ Bird, Rick (July 4, 1996). "ANOTHER LIVE CD MADE AT TOMMY'S" . The Cincinnati Post . Archived from the original on September 6, 2017. Retrieved Sep 5, 2017 . ↑ Willman, Alys (July 1996). "a better, more soulful Richey" . Louisville Music News . Retrieved Sep 5, 2017 . ↑ Bird, Rick (December 18, 1997). "THE KELLY RICHEY BAND: THROUGH THE 'EYES OF A WOMAN' " . The Cincinnati Post . Archived from the original on September 6, 2017. Retrieved Sep 5, 2017 . ↑ Bird, Rick (May 17, 2001). "KELLY RICHEY FINDS 'ANGELS' ON NEW CD" . The Cincinnati Post . Archived from the original on September 6, 2017. Retrieved Sep 5, 2017 . ↑ Richards, Dave (August 23, 2001). "Pleasing the Perfectionist - Kelly Richey is her own worst critic, but even she likes her new album". Erie Times-News . ↑ Bird, Rick (March 27, 2003). "KELLY RICHEY CD: ROCKIN' HONESTY" . The Cincinnati Post . Archived from the original on September 6, 2017. Retrieved Sep 5, 2017 . ↑ Orosz, Monica (June 6, 2013). "Clean Tone - after Years on Road, Guitarist Changes Ways" . Charleston Daily Mail . Archived from the original on September 6, 2017. Retrieved Sep 5, 2017 . ↑ Mullins, Terry (April 14, 2014). "Featured Interview – Kelly Richey" . Blues Blast Magazine . Retrieved Sep 5, 2017 . External links
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