Kelly Willard

Last updated

Kelly Willard
Birth nameKelly Bagley
Born (1956-08-18) August 18, 1956 (age 67)
Origin Winter Haven, Florida, U.S.
Genres CCM, Jesus music
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Piano, mandolin
Years active1978–present
Labels Maranatha!, Autumn, Coyote
Website kellywillard.com

Kelly Willard (born on August 18, 1956) is a contemporary Christian musician best known for her praise and worship recordings. She was featured as a soloist on projects from Integrity, Vineyard Music, and Maranatha! Music. Additionally, she has sung duets and background vocals with such artists as Don Moen, Dion DiMucci, Lenny LeBlanc, Amy Grant, Ricky Skaggs, Paul Overstreet, Twila Paris, Steve Green, Fernando Ortega, Keith Green, Buddy Greene, Jim Cole and many others. Kelly has also recorded nine solo projects.

Willard was born in Winter Haven, Florida. She began playing the piano at the age of five and composing her own songs at the age of thirteen. She accompanied the church choir, playing and singing in nursing homes, and traveling with a part-time gospel group on weekends. At the age of sixteen Willard moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where she accompanied The Jake Hess Sound on piano. She later moved to Panorama City, California, where she joined the popular CCM group The Archers, and then on to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where she joined the group Seth. She credits her vocal development to Jonathan David Brown and Harlan Rogers. [1]

Willard married at 18, joined Harlan Rogers & Friends, and traveled the mid-west until 1977, when she moved to Southern California to be a part of the then current flow of 'Jesus Music' artists who were ministering and recording there. She played keyboards and sang background vocals on projects for artists including Bob Bennett and Roby Duke before Maranatha! Music approached her in 1978 to record her own solo project. [1]

After the birth of her children, she took periodic sabbaticals, homeschooling through the 1980s, 1990s, and later taking care of her mother, who was suffering with Alzheimer's. In 2004, both her parents died, her 29-year marriage came to an end, and her 18-year-old daughter Haylie committed suicide after a struggle with severe depression. Willard later referred to the period in an interview as "the worst year of my life." Willard moved to Jacksonville, Florida, and became part of a church support community there. [2]

Her latest album, recorded in 2000, titled Paga, features then 18-year-old son Bryan on bass guitar, and 15-year-old Haylie in a duet on the song "Beautiful Jesus".[ citation needed ]

Willard is currently living in Florence, Alabama, and is writing and recording a new "duo" project with long-time friend, Rene Stamps.[ citation needed ]

Discography

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References

  1. 1 2 Devlin Donaldson (December 1, 1998). "Kelly Willardprofile". Crosswalk.com. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  2. "Out of the Darkness". Christianitytoday.com. August 27, 2007. Retrieved October 18, 2013.