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Welcome, Friends!
a bit about me...
Hi there! My name is Janis Kelly and I’m a singer-songwriter, recording artist, educator and “musical instigator” on a mission to IGNITE your body, mind and spirit with my Higher Vibe music: A hip-shaking blend of jazz, r&b, soul and pop tunes with an inspiring, uplifting message--one that's so needed on the planet at this time!
I've been studying music since the age of four--I still consider myself a student today--receiving classical training in piano, trumpet and voice throughout my entire childhood (kudos to my single-parent mother for making this a reality for all five of her children). I majored in music education in college, fully intending to follow in my mom's footsteps as a choral conductor and musical alchemist, but the universe intervened before my graduation in the form of an invitation to become the lead vocalist in a Twin Cities jazz and r&b trio that ultimately turned into a 6-piece, full-time touring band! The next chapter, including becoming a young wife, mother and member of the Prince "Universe," was a wild-and-crazy ride, one that still reverberates and informs my life and my musical sensibilities today!
And so, while also wearing a number of different hats and keeping a number of different side-hustles going--as we musicians tend to do--I have spent the past 42 years as a professional vocalist and band leader, raising two amazing daughters (and husbands) along the way and sharing the stage and the studio with such amazing artists and musical influences as Carole King, Chaka Khan, Tower of Power, The Neville Brothers and Maurice White from Earth, Wind & Fire and Jeanette Hutchinson from The Emotions. These incredible opportunities have had a huge impact on my songwriting and performing endeavorss, as well as my roles as band leader, music director, event producer and, frankly, human being. I am eternally grateful for the opportunities they afforded me and the lessons learned from them!
I've been writing original music most of my adult life, but didn't start recording it until 2007. I've since completed seven albums of original songs, including my latest project, Keep On Reaching, released in November of 2023 and written and recorded largely during the pandemic. You can listen to, download, purchase and share it and all of my music on the Home, Music and Store pages of this site, as well as all of the streaming platforms available these days, including Apple Music/i-Tunes, Spotify, Youtube, Amazon Music, Pandora, Bandcamp, Soundcloud, etc.
In addition to my solo albums, I have been recording more original music with my band, Global Soul Experience and my women’s vocal ensemble, Spirit Voices since 2014, so feel free to take a listen here: https://soundcloud.com/globalsoulexperience; https://soundcloud.com/spirit-voices.
Enjoy my website and thanks for signing up for my mailing list, reaching out with a message and checking out an upcoming event or show. And remember, you are a gift to everyone you meet, you shine your light everywhere you go and you belong every place you enter!
“A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song”-Maya Angelou