The Kelly Family

The Kelly Family
Left to right: Jimmy, Patricia, Paddy, Kathy and Joey in 1990
Background information
Origin	Ireland/United States
Genres	Pop, Rock, Folklore
Years active	1974–2008, 2011-2012, 2016-
Labels	Kel-Life, EMI, BMG, Ariola, Polydor, Universal
Members	Kathy Kelly Patricia Kelly John Kelly Joey Kelly Jimmy Kelly Angelo Kelly Paul Kelly
Past members	Dan Kelly Barbara-Ann Kelly Joanne Kelly Daniel Kelly Caroline Kelly Michael Patrick Kelly Barby Kelly Maite Kelly
Website	KellyFamily.nl

The Kelly Family is an Irish-American-European music group consisting of a multi-generational family, usually consisting of nine siblings joined occasionally on stage in their earlier years by their father and mother. They played a repertoire of rock, pop, and folk music. They had chart and concert success around the world, especially in Germany, the Benelux countries, Scandinavia, Poland, Spain and Portugal. They have officially sold over 20 million albums, though they sold their albums on concerts from Tours Europe to Over the Hump, except the Polydor years. The Kelly Family was ranked as the 6th most popular music act in Germany in the 1990s. Despite its American origins, the group is virtually unknown in the United States. They have sung in English, Spanish, German, Italian and Basque.

For many years, the group presented a ragamuffin image and a vagabonding lifestyle, travelling around Europe in a double-decker bus and houseboat. Their image was enhanced by their eclectic and often homemade clothing, and the very long hair worn by both male and female members of the band. The Kelly Family began to break up in 2000 and afterwards they performed mostly as individuals or sub-sets of the full group and took on a more mainstream look.

The Kelly Kids

Origins

During the great famine in Ireland in the middle of the 19th century, many Irish people immigrated to America. Sean O'Kelley, born 1839, was one of them. He was only 8 years old when he and his family emigrated from somewhere around Cobh, Ireland, to Michigan in the US. Sean O'Kelley is the great-grandfather of "The Kelly Family". In USA, they changed the name O'Kelley to Kelly, to sound more American.

Sean grew up to be a well-known violin player and musician in the Irish community where they lived. He married a woman called Mary and they got children, one of them was John (Papa Kelly's father). John married Caroline, and they got 10 kids. 8 boys: Edward William, Ray, Jack, Joe, Henry Lawrence, Bob, Jim and Daniel Jerome. And 2 girls: Margareth and one more.

Early Years

The patriarch of the family, Daniel Kelly Sr., has been described as a "grizzled, ageing druid aesthetic", but according to his daughter Kathy he was in earlier days "a clean-cut, intense conservative Catholic" who studied for the priesthood. He grew up to be a teacher and professor in math, Lateen and philosophy. Dan Kelly married his first wife, Joanne, in 1957. The family lived a modern life with TV, radio and two cars. But Dan got sick of the "American Life". He wanted his kids to grow up in a safe environment, which he meant they wouldn't find in the US, and the couple left their native United States in 1965 with their children Daniel Jr., Caroline, Kathleen and Paul, and settled in Spain, where Daniel opened an antiques shop. In the US, Barbara-Ann Suokko worked for Daniel Kelly. In 1966 she, and a friend named Linda, moved to Spain. Linda helped Joanne with the children and Barbara Ann worked with Daniel.

Daniel Kelly and Joanne separated in 1969, and Joanne returned to the US. There were no contacts between her and Kathy until 2001. In 1970, Kelly married Barbara Ann Suokko. Because of the age difference between the two, the marriage was not accepted by Barbara's parents, Barbara-Ann (1929-2009) and Victor J. Suokko (1928-1982). Daniel and Barbara had eight children, with the eldest, John, born in 1967, and the youngest, Angelo in 1981. The children were homeschooled and given lessons in music and dance.

Formation

In 1974, the older children formed The Kelly Kids (with Caroline on accordion, Kathy on violin, Paul on saxophone, John on drums and a cousin called Maribel on guitar), at first busking, then performing at parties and local events. John was the main vocalist there. They became well-known enough that they appeared on Spanish television in 1975. They were also joined by Dan and Barbara, with Dan playing the bombo and asking the money with an hat, and Barbara dancing as she was a dancer. The band was joined by the younger members of the family as they matured and learned to play musical instruments, starting from Patricia with the guitar in 1975. The band's popularity increased in Spain, with several performances on television and in circuses. In 1976, they went on tour as The Kelly Family, in Italy, Germany and The Netherlands. Their money was stolen during the tour and, penniless, they had to busk on the streets to earn enough for the return trip home.

The family moved to Ireland, living at a campground and touring there in 1977. During this time they were joined by Jimmy and Joey. Then, in 1978, they toured again in their hallmark double-decker bus. (They later lived on a large houseboat.) Their first album was recorded in 1977, called Kelly Family Tours Europe and sold in street concerts in Ireland. They played at some TV-shows and collected money for a children hospital. They stayed in Ireland for 5 months, before they moved back to Spain.

Contract with Polydor

At the end of 1978, they landed a record contract in Germany with Polydor. They released their first album, The Kelly Family, on March 1979. Their first major chart hit came in 1979, with the song "Who'll Come With Me (David's Song)", with John Kelly, aged 12, singing the solo. The song, with a Gaelic melody by Vladimir Cosma, was the theme to a German television production The Adventures of David Balfour, based on Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson. The song hit number 1 in the Netherlands and Belgium, and it reached the top 20 in Germany. On September, the second album with Polydor was released, called Lieder der Welt first and then Songs of the World. At this time Barby had joined the band and Caroline was leaving, but returned later without taking much parts in the music.

In 1980, three albums were produced for Polydor: Ein Vogel Kann im Kafig Nicht Fliege, Festliche Stunden bei der Kelly Family and Kelly Family Loves Christmas and You. Polydor asked Dan to make John Kelly a solo star, but he refused and their contract expired in 1980.

Barbara-Ann's Death

In 1981 two CDs were produced: Wonderful World! and Christmas for All. They toured in Europe another time, only to return in Spain after discovering that Barbara Kelly was ill.

Barbara Kelly died of breast cancer in 1982, shortly after the birth of the youngest child, Angelo. Her last words to her family were "Keep on singing!" The band continued to record, Daniel Kelly having formed his own recording company in 1980. As the older members of the family reached adulthood they left the band. Daniel Jr, who never took part in music because of a mental disability, left immediately after Barbara Ann's death and went to the US to live with one of Daniel Sr's brothers, Bob. Caroline left also in 1982 to study nursing in the US.

France, Eddy Barclay and Allstar

In 1982 the family retired to a place where they were unknown, in France. There they gave spontaneous concerts in the metro. In one of those concerts the family were once again discovered, this time by Eddy Barclay, who offered them a contract. This leads up to a new LP called Une Famille c'est Une Chanson, with songs mainly from 1981, except for the omonymous single and Didelidei. They also re-released Wonderful World! with the label Allstar and a new version of What a Wonderful World, with Paddy and Joey on the leads. On that year also another version of Didelidei and a german version of Une Famille c'est une Chanson (called Eine Familie ist wie Eine Lied) were released as a Double A-Side single, just like Old MacDonald Had a Farm/Amazing Grace with Allstar.

The popularity of the family was growing in France, as they were featured on television many times. With big popularity in France, the family decided to go on tour in the USA, but without Paul, who left to become a chef at Paris.

In 1985, a new single called Hiroshima, I'm Sorry was released with the label KEL-Life. The family leaves France soon that year.

From Live to Wow

In 1986, the family released a single called We Love the Pope/Our Father, which were both tracks from Wonderful World, who was once again sold with the 1981 tracks.

In 1987, a new version of Who'll Come With Me (David's Song) was released, featuring 10-years old Paddy on the lead vocals. On the single, Paddy is described as "the new main vocalist".

In 1988, they rented a tent with the capacity to room 6000 people. It was a big risk, because they didn't know how many people who would show up on the two concerts. It was a big success and they were sold out on both concerts. That year the band released a live album called Live, which featured ten tracks recorded in 1987 and 1988. During this time, Adam Kelly was briefly touring with the family.

Keep on Singing! was released in 1989, featuring whole new material. The single Sean O'Kelly was also released. The family returned once again in television, this time in a concert for an East Germany television. That was the famous live when Paddy cried while singing Amazing Grace, and the concert was released in 1996 as a VHS called Live in East Germany.

In 1990, Daniel Kelly suffered the first of his five strokes which partially paralyzed him, but he remained fairly active in the group through the 1990s. In that year the album New World was released, featuring also a new version of Who'll Come With Me, again with Paddy and Dan.

In 1991 the album Honest Workers was released and in 1992 the live album Streetlife as well as the single House on the Ocean. During this time Adam Kelly and Henry Kelly toured with the family for one year with their band Adam O'Henry, as well as Michael Robert "Mike" Kelly, who was the band's drummer for some months.

In 1993 the album Wow was released, followed by the compilation The Very Best...Over 10 Years.

By this time, the fanbase was heavily grown and their concerts were always populated by thousands of people.

Fame

Music

The Kelly Family covered famous songs such as "We are the World" and "The Rose", but wrote most of their own music based on family and personal experience, their Catholic faith, and their worldview. Songs include "Santa Maria"; "Why, Why, Why"; "An Angel", the video of which popularized a younger family member Paddy; "Break Free", sung by Barby; the haunting "Mama", in which Barbara Kelly is remembered by her children; and "The Pee Pee Song", in which the common childhood problem of bedwetting is portrayed by the raucous, flaxen haired baby-of-the-family Angelo.

Breakout and Fame

In the 1990s, the group enjoyed their biggest success. Their 1994 album Over the Hump sold more than 2.25 million copies in Germany alone, and 4.5 million copies throughout Europe. They also released a VHS for that album, containing videoclips and live performances. In 1995, to promote the album, they played a concert to a Vienna audience of 250,000. In the same year they filled the Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, nine times in a row, a feat no other musician has since accomplished. In one of those concerts at Dortmund, Papa Kelly was also present, standing with his children on stage for the first time in five years. They also released a Christmas album in 1994, Christmas For All, which was on top of the German chart for years during the Christmas holidays. In 1996 they headlined their first Stadium Tour, filling some of Europe's largest venues. In that year they also released Almost Heaven, another big success. That album was recorded in Italy. They were also present in the Pavarotti and Friends concert held by Luciano Pavarotti where they sung Ave Maria with him. They played in Beijing, China in front of 20,000 people.

They then released Growin' Up in 1997 with once again big success. In 1998 they released From their Hearts, with less commercial success than the previous albums, and they bought a castle, Schloss Gymnich, on the Erft near Cologne, Germany. During the Kosovo war, the band released a charity single with Unicef to help the population, called Children of Kosovo. Jimmy briefly left the family and joined a monastery that year, only to quit within few months and returning in 1999. About the same time, Adam Kelly, son of Papa Kelly’s younger brother Henry, started performing with his cousins in The Kelly Family. He toured with the band until September 1999. He is present on videoclips Oh It Hurts and "Hooks" and can be heard on "Saban's Mystic Knights of Tir Na Tog". From mid-2000s to early-2010s he and his wife had a band called One Journey. As of 2017, he is living in the US with four kids, whom he performs in a country band called Culpa Free with also his wife. Success for the Kelly Family band continued until they started to disagree on a professional basis at the beginning of the year 2000. Kathy will left in 2000, only to return briefly in 2007, and John will left in 2001.

Later years and first breakup

2001 was a stop for the Kellys; Papa Kelly is very ill and the band only did three concerts that year. They spent almost all days with their father on Gymnich, not only the nine members but also Paul, Caroline (who lost contacts with the siblings in 1982) and Danny. Eventually in 2002 Papa Kelly died from yet another stroke. That same year the family competed in the German Eurovision Song Contest with the song of Maite Kelly "I wanna be loved" and placed fourth.

In 2002, Barby's ongoing illness forced her retirement from the band and, to the disappointment of his fans, Paddy cut his long hair and joined a religious order in France. Members of the family continued to perform as soloists or together, or in combination with their partners, as both Jimmy and John married singers. In 2004, there were only seven members remaining: Paddy, who left in 2004, Maite, Angelo, Patricia, Jimmy, Joey and the returning Paul. In 2004 the band released Homerun, which had more rock influences than the other albums, but it was not a success. In that year they started touring again with the Roncalli Circus. Later, in 2005, the Kellys released Hope, a charity album containing old songs re-recorded. Fan interest prompted a comeback with gigs in Germany in 2007. Their last concert was in 2008.

Stille Nacht

In 2011, the name of the Kelly Family begun again to show, as Paddy was trying to promote a comeback. It all turned out in a tour called Stille Nacht where only five Kellys took part (Paddy, Patricia, Kathy, Paul and Joey). In 2012 another Stille Nacht tour took place where Barby was also present in sporadic occasions.

In 2011, the 12 Kelly siblings were reported as living in Ireland, Germany, the United States, Spain, and Belgium.

Controversies and problems

Along with their fame and rabid followers came problems. The father, Daniel Kelly, was described, allegedly by his children, as having a "tyrannical, controlling streak". The most outspoken sibling, Jimmy, has criticized his father for not giving his children a formal education and imposing on them a "Huckleberry Finn" lifestyle. Moreover, he said that as The Kelly Family group began to dissolve, he had almost nothing left of the millions of dollars the family had earned. The oldest daughter, Kathy, who managed most of the finances of the family, said that Daniel was more "free spirit than tyrant" but that "we got too big too fast, we should have cut things down some or handed over to professional management."

Dan Kelly taught his children to "always keep independent of the structures of the modern entertainment industry." He formed his own record label and "the Kellys kept everything in the family, from copyright and bookings to promotion and money matters."

The Kellys ran into tax problems in Germany, the "Dan Kelly Foundation" was discovered not to be a registered charity, and they were criticized for their lack of transparency in accounting for money raised for an AIDS charity. Likewise, the group had little success in the English-speaking world and aroused the derision of critics.

Comeback

In March 2017, six members of the Kelly family (Kathy, John, Jimmy, Joey, Patricia, and Angelo) released an album titled "We Got Love" and promoted the album on German television. The album contains revisions of some of the band's best-known songs plus new material. Barby is also present in some of the songs, but she was never present in any concert. A tour called "Comeback das Jahres" took place in 2017, where also Paul was present. The dates where in Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland and Poland. The band once again sold out the Westfalenhalle in Dortmund, this time twice. In 2018, the Kellys will be once again on tour.

A new live album (2CDs and 2DVDs) will be released on October 25th, called We Got Love Tour, featuring the band live at the Westfalenhalle, Dortmund. The members are likely to be Kathy, Paul, John, Patricia, Jimmy, Joey and Angelo.

Members

Name	Birth	Birthplace	Notes
Daniel Jerome ("Dan")	11 October 1930	Erie, Michigan, USA	Father and leader of the Kelly Family. Died, 5 August 2002, Cologne, Germany
Joanne	?	?	Married Dan in 1957 and mother of Danny, Caroline, Kathy, and Paul. Went to Spain with Dan about 1965, but returned to US and apparently lost contact with other members of the family. Divorced Dan.
Barbara Ann	2 June 1946	Fitchburg, Massachusetts USA	"Mama" of the Kelly Family. Eight children with Dan. Died of cancer, 10 November 1982, Belascoain, Spain
Daniel Jerome ("Danny")	1961	Leominster Massachusetts, USA	Never present in the music business because of a disabilty. In 2011 reported to be resident in a home for autistic people.
Caroline	20 July 1962	Leominster Massachusetts, USA	Performed with the Kelly Kids and The Kelly Family in the 1970s; participated occasionally thereafter. Left in 1982. In 2011 was working as a nurse in the United States. Married, no children
Kathleen Ann ("Kathy")	6 March 1963	Leominster, Massachusetts, USA	Studied ballet and violin; leader and producer of The Kelly Family after Dan became infirm. Frequent lead singer with operatic alto voice. Became a solo artist in 2000, but continued to participate in Kelly family tours and activities. Divorced with one son, Sean
Paul	16 March 1964	Leominster, Massachusetts, USA	One of the Kelly Kids in the 1970s, Quit to become a professional cook in 1984. Rejoined Kelly Family in 2004 only as a touring member and briefly as studio musician. Married to Muriel, six sons Clement, Coco (Sean), Patrick, Yannick, Daniel, Michael. and a daughter Brenda. He has at least 10 hurdy gurdys and can also play the violin, saxophone and flute.
John Michael ("Johnny")	8 March 1967	Talavera de la Reina, Spain	The oldest male who performed regularly with the Kellys, he was the lead singer on many songs, and the favorite of young women fans early in the history of the group. In 2001, he married Maite (née Itoiz, b. 27 January 1975), a Spanish opera singer, and left the band. No children. In 2011, Maite and Johnny were performing together in Europe, focusing on rock-opera and medieval music. Returned in 2017.
Maria Patricia ("Patricia")	25 November 1969	Gamonal, Spain	Married to Denis Sawinkin (b. 19 February 1973), two sons Alexander Joseph and Ignatius Aaron Maria. She has been active since 1975 and only left in 1995 because of ill problems, but re-joined in 1996.
James Victor ("Jimmy")	18 February 1971	Gamonal, Spain	Married to Maike (née Höchst, b. 3 November 1980), two daughters Aimee Benedicta Maria and Máire Therese Seraphine, and a son, Yeshua Fulton James Kelly, born Tuesday, 3 March 2015. Jimmy was known as the rebel of the family, became involved in drugs and alcohol, and later joined a monastery briefly. In 2011, he was touring in Europe and recording.
Joseph Maria ("Joey")	20 December 1972	Toledo, Spain	Married to Tanja (née Niethen, b. 25 January 1973), has two sons Luke Christopher and Leon Daniel and two daughters Lilian Ann and Lisann. He does a lot of sports.
Barbara Ann ("Barby")	28 April 1975	Belascoáin, Spain	Left the band in 2002, due to illness; later rejoined only as a studio member.
Michael Patrick "Paddy" Kelly	5 December 1977	Dublin, Ireland	Left band in early 2004, to study theology. He joined the Saint-John community where he was a monk, and took the name John Paul Mary. He quit the monastery and by late 2011 had returned to music-making. On 13 April 2013 Paddy married Joelle Vereet at Ballintubber Abbey in Ireland.
Maite Star	4 December 1979	West Berlin	Married to Florent Raimond (b. 5 January 1975), has three daughters Agnes Therese Barbara, Josephine Katherine Francoise and Solene. Left the band in 2008.
Angelo Kelly	23 December 1981	Pamplona, Spain	Married to Kira (née Harms, b. 7 October 1979), has three sons and two daughters: Gabriel Jerome, Helen Josephine, Emma Maria, Joseph Ewan Gregory Walter and William Emanuel

Other members

Maribel Kelly

Daughter of Bob Kelly. Active in the band when it was called The Kelly Kids from 1974 to 1975, when the band was still in Spain. She was the guitarist of the band before Patricia joined, but in early photos she was seen also playing the violin. When Daniel closed his bar and toured in Europe, Maribel remained in Spain and never returned in music.

Bob Kelly

One of Dan's brothers present in early recordings, he can be seen on the VHS A Long Time Ago with Mom while the band is playing.

Henry Kelly

Henry Lawrence "Larry" Kelly was one of Dan's little brothers, born in the US in 1937. He was one of Dan's brothers present in the early recordings, helping as a mixer or engineer but never did anything more. He wrote the text for Join this Parade (Scotland the Brave). He created the band Adam O'Henry in 1988 with his son Adam. They covered many songs recorded by the Kelly Family, such as Who'll Come with Me, Lord of the Dance and Let it Be. They also have sung some of their own material, just like Flames of Love. The band released two MCs in both 1988 and 1989, called The Kellys, Vol. 1 and The Kellys, Vol. 2. They were the opening acts for the Kelly Family from 1988 to May 1993, mainly in 1988 and from late-1991 to May 1993. Henry was never seen on stage with the main Kellys. Adam and Henry continued touring and making CDs, they published three further CDs, for example Irish Stew. They toured in Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Scandinavia and Poland. In mid-1990s they were pretty known and even played a show in front of 10'000 people in 1995 at Malmo, Sweden. In 1998, the band released two live CDs, Singing the Flames of Love... and ...To Reach your Heart with Dropkick Murphys drummer Matt Kelly, Henry's nephew. Matt is Bill's son (born in 1920). When Adam was touring with his cousins, Henry was feeling too old, and he retired, only to return once again in Summer 1999, making a concert in Germany with his son Adam. Angelo Kelly was playing the drums in that concert. Adam O'Henry then continued to tour as a street band until 2001.

Adam Augustine Kelly

Son of Dan's younger brother, Henry, he was born in 1975. He was an additional member of the band, having played for a total of eight years. He was the main vocalist in the band Adam O'Henry, formed in 1988 with his father Henry. They made seven albums together, two MCs, three acoustics CDs and two live CDs. In 1988 he was also on stage with the Kellys, not doing so much things. He had also a part in the cover of the Beatles song Let it be, but his part was not featured on albums Live and New World. From 1991 to 1993 he started to tour with The Kelly Family on a regular basis, during the Streetlife times, along with few other members of the extended family, who collaborated to the albums: Paul, Mike and Adam's father Henry. He continued touring with his father as a street band. In early 1998 the band Adam O'Henry disbanded, and Kelly Family members Jimmy and Angelo asked Adam to join the Kelly Family. Adam accepted, and for the first time in a while there were ten Kellys together on stage. He lived with the other nine members of the band (and also with Daniel Kelly Sr) in Schloss Gymnich castle for a little while. He can be seen in some of the band's videoclips, "Oh, It Hurts", "I Really Love You", "Hooks" and "Saban's Mystic Knights of Tir Na Tog". He even had lead vocals in the latter, becoming the fifteenth member to have lead vocals on a studio song released by the band. On live shows he had lead vocals also for "Peces", one of the earliest cover songs of the band.

In summer 1999, Adam and his father Henry reunited and performed at a concert. Eventually, Adam Kelly quietly left the Kelly Family in September 1999, without any announcement, similarly to the way he joined them. There were no agreements on the payments when he joined, a problem that was significant for them to part ways. Adam was even getting a lawyer to ask the money he wanted, even when Joey once claimed Adam was paid.

Adam performed with his father until 2001. He is married to Jessica and with her formed an acoustic folk band called One Journey. They recorded together five CDs from mid 2000s until early 2010s in the US. They played some concerts for some years with Jimmy Kelly, his wife Meike and their Street Orchestra. They also played briefly with Angelo Kelly.

He has four children with his wife of Dutch origin and now plays with them in the band Culpa Free.

Mike Kelly

One of the many drummers from the family, he played drums during the Streetlife era in early 1990s. He is not featured in any album, though.

Sean Jerome van Hille

Born on 1992, he is the son of Kathy Kelly and Vincent van Hille, he is present on the VHSs Tough Road (Vol. 1, 2 & 3), Crossroads and Growin' Up. He had lead vocals on Dance to the Rock 'n Roll from From their Hearts in 1998. After that he never took part in music.

Gabriel Kelly

Angelo and Kira's first son, born in 2000, he is briefly featured on New Morals (Human Race) from La Patata (2002). He, along with his siblings Helen, Emma, Joseph and William is a part of Angelo Kelly's band, called Angelo Kelly & Family. He mostly plays instruments and can play the flute and the percussions.

Kira Kelly

Married to Angelo, she has five children with him. Born in 1979, she and Angelo first met in 1991 and started dating in 1997. She is close friend to Jimmy's wife Meike. She is present on I Will Be Your Man from the charity album Hope (2005). She started singing with Angelo and is part of Angelo Kelly & Family's band.

Alex & Iggy Kelly

Both Patricia's sons, they were featured on the Stille Nacht tour from 2011 to early 2012 and also present on the live CDs from that tours. Alex is born in 2001 and Iggy in 2003. The latter also took part in the German version of The Voice Kids in 2017, participating with Sound of Silence and started also making music.

Emma Kelly

Emma is the third child of Angelo and Kira, born in 2006. She is a member of the Angelo Kelly & Family and she is one of the main vocalist, with his father Angelo. She is also present on the first version of An Angel from We Got Love (2017).

Other studio and touring members

Nippy Noya

An expert percussionist from the Netherlands, he helped the Kelly Kids during early recordings. He was present at recordings of several albums as a musician from the 80s until the early 90s.

Benito Lextundi

One of the guitarist in the recordings during the early years, he was one of the teachers of the family. He is featured on Searching for the Magic Golden Harp.

Carlos Itoiz

Another guitarist teacher, he is the father of Maite Itoiz, John Kelly's wife. He is also featured on Searching for the Magic Golden Harp.

Hartmut Pfannmüller

Another musician from the 80s-90s, he was the main producer with Dan Kelly in early 90s. He can be seen on many VHS and live events, playing mainly the drums when the band's drummers had to sing. He is featured on the video albums Tough Road and also Over the Hump. He was playing with the band until Almost Heaven.

Johann Daansen

Another musician from the Streetlife years, he can be seen on Tough Road. He was a mixer and a touring guitarist for the band and remained for a long amount of time from the '80s till the mid '90s.

Matthias Krauss

One of the stand-in touring members from 2000 to 2005. As the band was having less members and others were focusing on solo projects, touring members were required. Krauss played many instruments in both live shows and during the studio sessions both for the "La Patata" sessions (as he appeared in "Making of La Patata" often), the "Homerun" sessions and the "Hope" sessions.

Christian Prüssing

Bassist in early 2000s in live shows. Also present for some additional bass in studio in 2004 and 2005.

Peter Materna

Saxophonist in the Homerun sessions in 2004.

Marco Minnermann

Drummer for Michael Patrick's band on In Exile (2003), Human (2015) and Ruah (2016), he was also present on Homerun in 2004. He also played drums on some live shows from 2003 to 2005.

Jürgen Brunner

Featured on the Stille Nacht live CDs. He talked during the CDs, before, when and after some songs.

Discography

Main article: The Kelly Family discography

For the solo recordings of the individual members please see Solo Recordings.

Gallery

• 
  Kathy Kelly, 2010
• 
  Patricia Kelly, 1997
• 
  Jimmy Kelly, 2009
• 
  Joey Kelly, 2011
• 
  Maite Kelly, 2011
• 
  Angelo Kelly, 2009

Bibliography

• Peter Wendling, Die Kelly Family, die Geschichte einer Supergruppe, Goldmann 1995 (German Book)
• Lisa Reinhard, Die Kelly Family und ihre Erfolge, Heyne 1995 (German Book)

External links

• Official website