Kellye Gray

Originating from Texas, vocalist Kellye Gray first earned notice on Austin's club circuit in the 1980s by fronting an adaptable group whose sets drew from jazz, pop, funk, and blues sources. The combination of her stylistic range and soul-tinged delivery quickly built a loyal audience of students and residents, leading to prominent slots at numerous local festivals. Around the same period she developed a rapport with emerging saxophonist Kirk Whalum; when he brought her onstage during a 1987 Houston show, the positive response prompted her relocation to that city and, soon afterward, a recording deal with Justice Records. Her first album, Standards in Gray, presented interpretations of classic material and further broadened her following. By the release of her next project, Tomato Kiss, in 1994, she had already settled in San Francisco. After returning to Austin in 2001, she captured a concert performance titled Blue and Pink, planned for summer 2002 release.