Kelly Love Jones & Deezle

Biography

Kelly Love Jones, born and raised in New Orleans East near Lake Forest Plaza, grew up in a musical family where her mother Patricia and sister were singers, fostering her early passion for music. At 17, she attended high school in Atlanta, Georgia, living with her father Bruce, where she immersed herself in hip hop, forming her first group Understatement and embracing freestyling, rapping, singing, and playing instruments. After graduating from The Art Institute of Houston with a videography degree, she returned to New Orleans, studied sound recording, and began performing in talent shows and local venues, initially lacking vocal polish but driven by determination.[1]

Fun Facts

• Learned cajón playing from a street musician in Peru in 2006 after being drawn to the sound while walking the streets.
• Served as a U.N. Messenger of Truth, invited to a summit in Barcelona after a doctor recognized her music's impact on people.
• Opened for Lenny Kravitz on the Acura Stage at the 2001 Jazz and Heritage Festival.
• First connected with producer Deezle by casually sending him a track, leading to an hour-long studio session for 'I’m In Love'.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Sade - major stylistic influence and inspiration from first major concert (Sade and Digable Planets concert) [young adulthood]
• Chaka Khan - personal encouragement to never give up (meeting during career development) [early career]
• George Porter Jr. - provided opening slots for her band (opening performances) [early gigs]

Key Collaborators

• Deezle (Darius Harrison) - record producer who brought portable studio for sessions; co-produced album (song 'I’m In Love'; Surrender album) [recent (album release context)]
• James Alsanders - drummer and UNO jazz student who invited her to studio and band (first gig at Funky Butt; Thursday night sessions) [early career]
• The Original Pinettes Brass Band - collaborated on projects (various collaborations) [early career]
• Lilli Lewis - written and working with (unreleased/songwriting projects) [ongoing]
• Joy Clark - written and working with (unreleased/songwriting projects) [ongoing]
• Yusa - written and working with international artist (unreleased/songwriting projects) [ongoing]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. String Theory (Back From a Break)
2. Eton Rifles - Live At The Royal Albert Hall (Find The Torch, Burn The Plans (Paul Weller Live 2010))
3. Have a Nice Day (Arr. for Guitar)
4. Have a Nice Day (Arr. for Piano) (Piano Covers 6)
5. Dakota (Arr. for Piano) (Piano Covers: 14 Beautiful Piano Arrangements of Pop Hits)
6. Foreign Shore (Back From a Break)
7. LA Today (LA Today)
8. Invincible (Invincible)
9. The Clichés Are True - Radio Mix (The Clichés Are True)
10. Have a Nice Day (Arr. for Guitar)

External Links

• Spotify