Kelly King

Kelly King was a self-taught guitarist who started making music in the 1970s. His sound had some folk and rock in it, and his voice was raw. In 1980, he put out a single called "I'm a Fool" that got some attention. That song led to his first album, The Fool, later that same year.

He worked with a few other musicians, including Bobby Ryan on bass and Chuck Jones on drums. Amy Foster sang backing vocals on some of the later records. After The Fool, he released several more albums over the next few decades, like Lost and Found in 1983 and Damaged Goods in 1986.

King's later writing kept a direct, unflinching quality. He put out Redemption Road in 1992, The Long Shadow in 2001, and Unfinished Symphony in 2010. His music found a steady, if modest, audience that appreciated its plainspoken feel.