Introducing KELLEY HUNT -- "Queen Of The 88's"

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Anybody here ever heard of a singer/piano player named Kelley Hunt? I discovered her quite by chance while watching the results of a Georgia-state Shag dance competition on YouTube. The winning couple was Shaggin' to the hottest Boogie Woogie tune I've ever heard. Naturally, I had to Google the title of the song based on just a few of its lyrics. Luckily, I found it first thing and was able to determine that the artist is Kelley Hunt, and the title of the song is "Queen Of The 88's".

Although this recording is from the year 2000, if you've grown tired of the same old, same old, and you're yearning for a fresh, new sound, Kelley Hunt just might be right up your alley!

ARTIST: Kelley Hunt
CD/Download Title: "Inspiration"
2000/2009 88 Records

[[All lead vocals and piano/keyboards are by Kelley Hunt.)

SONG: "Queen Of The 88's"
https://youtu.be/PWJDQ9oMJAE?si=L-K0_UH6LjDjYm4a


The CD tracklist is as follows:

1) "Inspiration"
https://youtu.be/AB7_LlP-S8o?si=Lzn34hF1tNxrGBDa

2) "Stronger Wings"
https://youtu.be/Bwtmmejgy5Y?si=2bhIJ044U9HsbbI1

3) "Queen Of The 88's"
https://youtu.be/PWJDQ9oMJAE?si=IZhH-JLrYN79WaxC

4) "Treat Me Right"
https://youtu.be/Ja3RAmqlg9s?si=ku6lMK_1JJ-fuWnF

5) "Natural Thing"
https://youtu.be/sJh4q5fCgSs?si=vPplxQsmVacxp678

6) "Back In The Saddle"
https://youtu.be/yNTGqwtJ4dc?si=CIEPXqi93RMP9hRo

7) "Just Like Oxygen"
https://youtu.be/zhUpt8ijRM8?si=AmFoxTcJLfdTYP20

8) "Forgive And Forget"
https://youtu.be/ek6PnEBDBps?si=3OhK-G7QnFUuROAh

9) "Love Never Dies [[Love For Charles)"
https://youtu.be/gGXMBbwgG7o?si=eVolLxegr9NcErIx


It's hard to believe that most of us have never heard of Kelley Hunt until now. I can only hope that she's still alive and well, and still Boogie Woogie-ing her way into the hearts of music lovers everywhere.

[daviddesper]

Oh I am QUITE familiar with Miss Kelley and have several of her CDs. I fit her into the category of Texas Blues but I am not sure that is completely accurate. She does another hot song that I like very much although at the moment the title escapes me. I know it starts with the word When and it is something like When the Love Comes Around.

I see that Amazon has some of her CDs for sale and I am sure other outlets would as well. Also I am pretty sure I remember reading that she appeared at a blues festival somewhere this year, so she is still very much alive and kicking.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Oh I am QUITE familiar with Miss Kelley and have several of her CDs. I fit her into the category of Texas Blues but I am not sure that is completely accurate. She does another hot song that I like very much although at the moment the title escapes me. I know it starts with the word When and it is something like When the Love Comes Around.

I see that Amazon has some of her CDs for sale and I am sure other outlets would as well. Also I am pretty sure I remember reading that she appeared at a blues festival somewhere this year, so she is still very much alive and kicking.

Glad to hear that you share my enthusiasm for Kelley, David, and it's good to hear that she's still performing. I'm still scratching my head as to why she never caught on with the masses. Her variety of music styles [[not her voice) reminds me of Phoebe Snow. It was impossible to lump her into any one category, be it jazz, blues, pop, soul, funk, boogie woogie, or gospel, as both ladies excelled in all of the above categories.

While purchasing her "Inspiration" CD, I, too, came across a couple of Kelly's other CDs which I need to check out. Let me see if I can find out the title of her "When...." song you're referring to.

In the meantime, here's how I discovered Kelley and her "Queen Of The 88's".

https://youtu.be/XW1BcNy0JVI

[[If the music is right, I've always loved watching couples Jitterbug. But Shag requires even more fancy footwork which, to me, looks even hotter!)

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Oh I am QUITE familiar with Miss Kelley and have several of her CDs. I fit her into the category of Texas Blues but I am not sure that is completely accurate. She does another hot song that I like very much although at the moment the title escapes me. I know it starts with the word When and it is something like When the Love Comes Around.

I see that Amazon has some of her CDs for sale and I am sure other outlets would as well. Also I am pretty sure I remember reading that she appeared at a blues festival somewhere this year, so she is still very much alive and kicking.

Hey, David, I found it! The song you were referring to is "When The Love Comes Through", and I LOVE it! In the intro, they had me from the very first piano note! Gotta go buy it now! Thanks!

https://youtu.be/z-q7VcpINDY?si=y-X0zDygrbgm0q61

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Here are Kelley Hunt's 7 CD's in their entirety:


KELLEY HUNT
CD #1: "Kelley Hunt" [[Self-Titled)
Label: 88 Records
Released: 1995

[[Featuring Bassist Reggie McBride and Saxophonist Wilton Felder)

Tracks:

1) "Talk To Me"
https://youtu.be/iUYtTfb7lEU?si=MnG2t7BwXrMdhGMf

2) "Brick By Brick"
https://youtu.be/gcMSw1gI3OI?si=VyJQNUcBF4KF7LgQ

3) "I Miss You"
https://youtu.be/AXzRilTqBk0?si=-2Pd6i41e-3GBVRj

4) "Invincible Woman"
[[Video Defective)

5) "Dancing Too Fast"
https://youtu.be/Fx6nUuLCLuM?si=Uiq-B3Z_aPmvCi8D

6) "Sad Cafe"
https://youtu.be/mL-ePQ58mbc?si=rcUyg8eZiAEqcywx

7) "If I Don't Dance"
https://youtu.be/8KY7A-FUCqg?si=pyvPj0fI9HNUpyUk

8) "Who's That Fool"
https://youtu.be/CBT54VBdzEE?si=P5MtGGzNBhUvpvYw

9) "Crawl Through Kansas"
https://youtu.be/kcFvCaO_SWE?si=cFpQ9c3AAv3KdqoU

10) "Walk All The Way Home"
https://youtu.be/ZRpkZTwydb0?si=4FgjzeZdfD7H2dIO

11) "That Old Door"
https://youtu.be/cOGdzwx85Bk?si=ZxwqpxF6hY28qQN3

[Philles/Motown Gary]

KELLY HUNT
CD #2: "Inspiration"
Label: 88 Records
Released: 2000

Tracks:

1) "Inspiration"
https://youtu.be/AB7_LlP-S8o?si=Lzn34hF1tNxrGBDa

2) "Stronger Wings"
https://youtu.be/Bwtmmejgy5Y?si=2bhIJ044U9HsbbI1

3) "Queen Of The 88's"
https://youtu.be/PWJDQ9oMJAE?si=IZhH-JLrYN79WaxC

4) "Treat Me Right"
https://youtu.be/Ja3RAmqlg9s?si=ku6lMK_1JJ-fuWnF

5) "Natural Thing"
https://youtu.be/sJh4q5fCgSs?si=vPplxQsmVacxp678

6) "Back In The Saddle"
https://youtu.be/yNTGqwtJ4dc?si=CIEPXqi93RMP9hRo

7) "Just Like Oxygen"
https://youtu.be/zhUpt8ijRM8?si=AmFoxTcJLfdTYP20

8) "Forgive And Forget"
https://youtu.be/ek6PnEBDBps?si=3OhK-G7QnFUuROAh

9) "Love Never Dies [[Love For Charles)"
https://youtu.be/gGXMBbwgG7o?si=eVolLxegr9NcErIx

[Philles/Motown Gary]

KELLEY HUNT
CD #3: "New Shade Of Blue"
Label: Coda Terra
Released: 2004

Tracks:

1) "Deal With It"
https://youtu.be/c7eax823Ehs?si=ko6nciPCZvyPoC3t

2) "Long Way Home"
https://youtu.be/T5PwLReLG-s?si=CLT8IjYj65yiaGzp

3) "Why Do I Love You"
https://youtu.be/oCYHJEsLZ6I?si=FZZTxuZsDG2Dmh4W

4) "It Ain't Over When It's Over"
https://youtu.be/oCYHJEsLZ6I?si=FZZTxuZsDG2Dmh4W

5) "Temptation"
https://youtu.be/P4f21ifYbnU?si=w6xuIgjf2T0Odnyg

6) "Darkness"
https://youtu.be/B2a_8SBaFFg?si=NGKJhrhdwPCUhgMg

7) "New Shade Of Blue"
https://youtu.be/PhAcu9hIRqk?si=pfcRbQu3QJ0AvvvF

8) "The Word"
https://youtu.be/fznmpMBimgs?si=VwYWDf62ZAXWMxtR

9) "When Love Comes Through"
https://youtu.be/z-q7VcpINDY?si=Uq4uJwgHD1oi3u0p

10) "Waking Up Slow"
https://youtu.be/-h5Em_ktP3k?si=bDNMWcI61Meo4bha

11) "Would You Still Be There"
https://youtu.be/uZ6Ij7f7K1s?si=mL1wjlIl8DvPz92c

12) "That's What Makes You Strong"
https://youtu.be/U5G1mxtoSsw?si=1VpC-itfDtOV_bEd

[Philles/Motown Gary]

KELLY HUNT
CD #4: "Mercy"
Label: 88 Records
Released: 2008

Tracks:

1) "You Got To Be The Vessel"
https://youtu.be/wLJT-NCABg8?si=KHqT9hyd98Xix4xi

2) "Lone Star Road"
https://youtu.be/HfxBUaS06xk?si=lkEUodzBmOvragv4

3) "Love"
https://youtu.be/LT0lbcdI3pg?si=xpEsazczu7Gn9hot

4) "Freedom Day"
https://youtu.be/tqRVg6YylJw?si=n1IzQbFQv2fVexa1

5) "Emerald City"
https://youtu.be/qymzRvWXmu8?si=LaKxhfIQwPFlWViw

6) "Mercy"
https://youtu.be/cSA6atTYhbQ?si=MEhsMouL075l2d2-

7) "Give Me A Sign"
https://youtu.be/jHx5MKfkZZs?si=bH-xI0CWA9vvAcjm

8) "You Can't Fool Me Any More"
https://youtu.be/OtVJ3RGQD9I?si=DmKrfk6SwHSBHauD

9) "Drowning Man"
https://youtu.be/faPS37iK8T8?si=R-G8nUJTcIG1X22Q

10) "That Ain't Love"
https://youtu.be/lxtPzPNJCZ0?si=PXMBBWiK8bRbiC1p

11) "Wig Chalet"
https://youtu.be/kZqjUgE4cG4?si=sctYA2guO0ail07S

12) "Mountain To Move"
https://youtu.be/Nq2QIiaWJbk?si=8c9ybyMugxAh2v25

[Philles/Motown Gary]

KELLEY HUNT
CD # 5 - "Gravity Loves You"
Label: 88 Records
Released: 2011

Tracks:

1) "Too Much History"
https://youtu.be/gkBNV38VIw8?si=_L8fBhR2wgqZ-MNw

2) "Gravity Loves You"
https://youtu.be/1dqGyaSx6J8?si=Xd8t930l2epOTSg6

3) "These Are The Days"
https://youtu.be/1dqGyaSx6J8?si=Xd8t930l2epOTSg6

4) "Music Was The Thread"
https://youtu.be/qHqc1W2I3U8?si=MqraKdRH3siX3a_J

5) "Deep Old Love"
https://youtu.be/ozlEY5_1BhA?si=oPvulgmXvmJDHDRQ

6) "This Fall"
[[No Video Available)

7) "I'm Ready"
https://youtu.be/RdGKch6E8Qs?si=6V6q3ES3bPslpg9q

8) "The House Of Love"
https://youtu.be/q7L7JdvrRqM?si=dQ8QI7MceGEFMgF0

9) "When The Deal Came Down"
https://youtu.be/wJPSTyXgi2s?si=1FMgnS2q7YoCPGa7

10) "The Land Of Milk And Honey"
https://youtu.be/GzU325EGGwU?si=CuXThelKQZGda7y3

11) "Shake It Off Right Away"
https://youtu.be/gUTsr2nlYHQ?si=9KYR8qxqbxU0cQOa

12) "In The End"
https://youtu.be/r7i4-kQg6nI?si=2jZ3yCGc8PhdVr-T

[Philles/Motown Gary]

KELLY HUNT
CD #6 - "Beautiful Bones"
Label: 88 Records
Released: 2014


Tracks:

1) "Simplify"
https://youtu.be/98iGtOOvurY?si=WSRFgFElVXVHFpNx

2) "When Love Is At The Wheel"
https://youtu.be/DWGs1yV2kIM?si=orw2bQYE-ZUHmJks

3) "Release And Be Free"
https://youtu.be/Z-tfjpkav_o?si=eXllwPJKjm25Eaq2

4) "The Beautiful Bones"
https://youtu.be/XsAoqTRFDcI?si=G9CfmrhMy5BbHNz1

5) "Miracle"
https://youtu.be/CqWpj1j6ctI?si=Z6TO3TG0S-HLWGnF

6) "The Sweet Goodbye"
https://youtu.be/dKvBZs64fRk?si=VLjrd1Ik_IbFfY6j

7) "This Time"
https://youtu.be/mK07hSXu2q8?si=nPsYfiSGe48742Bx

8) "Golden Hour"
https://youtu.be/CWync8aXl_I?si=kb1YSr-_B_KDOi56

9) "I Want You There"
https://youtu.be/027P5JKLhm8?si=Sc1gZhoEQQBQw5Er

10) "Let It Rain"
https://youtu.be/H-XLZnJPel4?si=R6mc9pB0X3zgTBXJ

11) "I've Got A Good Feeling"
https://youtu.be/0fn6ahUOPQo?si=OEB1znd6DSWad4cn

12) "Gates Of Eden"
https://youtu.be/17Vxj92EU_c?si=jg1mARQ29rPTPQrG

[Philles/Motown Gary]

KELLEY HUNT
CD #7 - "'Winter Soulstice" [[Christmas CD)
Label: 88 Records
Released: 2022

1) "Bright Lights"
https://youtu.be/QDaBGBvKVME?si=giduuKf3SWV7X_yq

2) "Still, Still, Still"
https://youtu.be/Tn0hEW_KgrY?si=2zhV7UYW9RFbG2hv

3) "You You You"
https://youtu.be/XsjpBpW379g?si=TQPGbCJ0NA9GNgZF

4) "Children Go Where I Send Thee"
https://youtu.be/wmv9m5GBEoA?si=IGfo3j8aQTez2vEL

5) "Ancient Bell"
https://youtu.be/34_-h2xkEYM?si=PXO7lUEXrQytzl_w

6) "Auld Lang Syne"
https://youtu.be/owNpnPEGH5c?si=5ancpDHN5D0jVW7v

7) "Silent Night"
https://youtu.be/66NMZjHidcQ?si=GO-BLhkDF6RkN2Zc

8) "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear"
https://youtu.be/tJr5pXCky6I?si=IXx8vIg2kFKIvwgi

9) "Go Tell It On The Mountain"
https://youtu.be/y56HI3w91Nc?si=X12WpJll-e-F_AAE

10) "Auld Lang Syne [[Reprise)
https://youtu.be/sM_Z_JcXtw8?si=SuBzZdY3e-ZQt3ht

[Philles/Motown Gary]

That's the extent of Kelley Hunt's CD output. I can still hardly believe how fresh and exciting her musical performances are. And to think they've been here all along since 1996 -- just waiting to be discovered!

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Oh I am QUITE familiar with Miss Kelley and have several of her CDs. I fit her into the category of Texas Blues but I am not sure that is completely accurate. She does another hot song that I like very much although at the moment the title escapes me. I know it starts with the word When and it is something like When the Love Comes Around.

I see that Amazon has some of her CDs for sale and I am sure other outlets would as well. Also I am pretty sure I remember reading that she appeared at a blues festival somewhere this year, so she is still very much alive and kicking.

David, as of today, I've managed to get all 7 of Kelly Hunt's CD's. Man, are they ever hot! With the exception of only two, they're exciting from start to finish. So very glad I discovered her!

[Philles/Motown Gary]

All of Kelley Hunt's CDs have arrived. I've finished reviewing and rating them all, and I'm more than pleased and satisfied to share that I love about 80% of them, which I consider an excellent ratio -- especially for an artist whom I discovered only recently.

I hope you've all found something you like from the Kelley Hunt audio links I provided. If you don't particularly care for her Boogie Woogie style, there are several other styles throughout her 7 CD's to catch your fancy.

Some of her tracks are pure Memphis Soul:

"I Miss You"
https://youtu.be/AXzRilTqBk0?si=MDl7eeN91C0a6LEo

and

"If I Don't Dance"
https://youtu.be/8KY7A-FUCqg?si=C3jzFxJ7zk7kkSku

[[Notice that Kelley mentions "Motown", and the Memphis Horns are clearly present! If you were to erase Kelley's lead vocals and replace them with Aretha's early-Atlantic voice, it would sound perfectly natural.)

and

"Talk To Me"
https://youtu.be/iUYtTfb7lEU?si=dG_Cktm-c9N41xKG

and

"That Old Door"
https://youtu.be/cOGdzwx85Bk?si=JwRNTPABpuBuUmoR


If you haven't already, do yourself a favor and take some time to check out the recordings of Kelley Hunt throughout this thread. There's something for everybody!