Today is the
first anniversary of the death of Western Pennsylvania bluesman Jeff
Kelley. The Jukehouse Bombers will pay tribute to Jeff at the
Westsylvania Jazz and Blues Festival in Indiana, PA, on May 24. I
wrote this piece exclusively for the Bluesletter
of the Blues Society of Western Pennsylvania. It appeared in their
July 2013 issue. Today seems like a good time to share it with you.
On April 12, Western Pennsylvania lost
one of its most generous and talented bluesmen. Jeff Kelley died of
cancer in Indiana (PA) Hospital at the age of 65. You may know him
best as the winner of the 2007 BSWPA Blues Challenge in the solo/duo
category.
Jeffrey Dean Kelley was born in Mt.
Pleasant, PA, on May 28, 1947. He graduated from Mt. Pleasant High
School and earned his B.A. from Indiana University of Pennsylvania
(IUP) in 1969. He was awarded a Doctor of Chiropractic from the
National College of Chiropractic in Lombard, Illinois. He opened his
practice, his day job, in Clymer, PA in 1988. He lived in Clymer and
was known to many of the locals as “Doc.”
Jeff began playing the guitar and
singing in 1964 as part of the '60s folk revival. While at IUP he
was part of a group of musicians who hung out at a coffee shop called
The Grotto, in the basement of an Indiana church. He formed a Simon
and Garfunkel-style two-part harmony folk duo with Steve Colantti.
Over the years, Jeff played roots music
in a variety of styles. With his talent and versatility, he was
invited to join a number of bands, with names like the Folkmen,
Cowbuoy, Madison Blues Shoes, and the Beale St. Blues Band. He
played in several genres of folk music with his longtime close friend
and companion, LaVona Reeves. Beginning in 1992, he and Colin Finan
had a yearly gig at the Coney in Indiana playing Irish music on St.
Patrick's Day. When playing solo, however, his greatest commitment
was to country blues of the '20s and '30s. He performed in bars and
at blues, folk and arts festivals. He played expertly in both the
Mississippi Delta and Piedmont styles, recreating songs by the likes
of Robert Johnson, Son House, Skip James and Mississippi John Hurt.
His favorite was the Rev. Gary Davis. And just for fun, he'd mix in
a few contemporary songs by folks like Bob Dylan, as well as some of
his own compositions.
 |
| Photo by Frank Olma |
Although Jeff was a far better singer
than most of us, it was his guitar playing that was his biggest
attraction. He played both six and twelve string guitar, and was an
expert with a slide. As one of his colleagues commented, other
guitarists liked to watch him at work because his playing was always
so precise. He never missed a note.
Jeff was known for his modesty and his
willingness to share his skills and knowledge. Back at The Grotto
one time, he posted a note on the bulletin board offering free guitar
lessons to anyone who was interested. Over 60 people signed up.
They had to split the class, with his friend Rob Black teaching the
beginners and Jeff taking the advanced class. He was a great radio
guest, whether playing in the studio or just spinning his favorite
records, since he was a blues historian who knew the background and
history of so many songs.
Fortunately, Jeff received some
long-overdue recognition during his last decade. He had a regular
monthly gig at the Brown Hotel in downtown Indiana from 2003 on. In
2006, he accomplished the lifelong dream of releasing a CD, Classic
Acoustic Blues, featuring 14
examples of his masterful country blues singing and playing. In
2007, he came to Moondog's, entered and won the opportunity to
represent the Blues Society the following year at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. Here's a radio appearance of Jeff's at around that time.
Among his proudest moments were the
times when his daughter Sarah played with him and LaVona at Indiana
Memorial Park and at the Brown.
 |
| Jeff Kelley, LaVona Reeves and Jeff's daughter Sarah at Indiana Memorial Park |
Sadly, Jeff's health declined in the
last couple of years. He lost a leg due to serious blood clots.
Friends held a benefit concert for him at the Rose Inn outside
Indiana in July, 2011. The road back was difficult, since he lost
his callouses due to months of inactivity, but he made a triumphant
return to the Brown Hotel last Fall. This Winter, he was diagnosed
with cancer. It was typical of Jeff that when he met a friend at the
cancer treatment center, he asked her not to tell anyone. Jeff has
inspired us all with his courage and dedication.
Death don't have no mercy in this
land
Death don't have no mercy in this
land
Come to your house and he won't
stay long,
Look in the bed, find your brother
gone.
Death don't have no mercy in this
land.
Rev. Gary
Davis
If you'd like to purchase a copy of
Jeff's Classic Acoustic Blues
CD, please contact Colin Finan at colinpfin@yahoo.com.
You may also be interested in reading:
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