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When Kelli Johnson sings, people listen. With a voice that radiates emotion, she mesmerizes crowds wherever she performs. With no formal training, she commands attention as an accomplished guitar player and solo artist, and posesses a fervent and deep songwriting ability that will draw listeners in and hold them captive from start to finish.
Born in Calhoun County, Alabama, as the second youngest of five children, Kelli began singing at the age of 4. Surrounded by Southern Gospel and country music , Kelli quickly began picking out harmony parts, and began honing her writing skills, penning her first tune at 8 years of age.
She was part of the Bluegrass favorite Distant Cousins and wrote four of the songs on the 2004 release Somebody in Alabama Loves you, including the title cut . Their local show “Pickin and Singin with the Cousins” was a regional favorite in Northeast Alabama, and ran for over 4 years on WJXS TV 24 out of Jacksonville, Al.
Kelli began producing and hosting her own show,'Kelli Johnson LIVE" in 2006, which showcased local artists and musicians.
In July 2007, she released her first solo album, Kelli Johnson, which included 8 of her original songs, and was co-produced Bryan Carter .
Kelli has played and recorded with Chimney Peak, Sweetwater Road, and The Kelli Johnson band and has shared the stage with acts such as Claire Lynch, Valeri Smith, IIIrd Time Out, and opened for Marty Raybon, Exile, and Sugarland!
In 2009 she was the opening act for the First annual Alabama Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Induction,
where she later performed with Bluegrass Legends Three on a String, Gary Waldrop, Jake Landers, and the Whites.
She was a Top Four finalist on the tv show " Original Artist" and has worked with Herd Records in Mobile as a songwriter. Several of her songs have appeared in regional and national tv commercials, and she also wrote "Brand New Day" which became the campaign song for 2010 Alabama Gubernatorial Candidate
Judge Roy Moore . In 2011, she competed in the Texaco Country Showdown and won the Alabama State Finals.
Her songs have been performed and recorded by other artists, including her first single, "Somebody in Alabama Loves You" which was recently recorded by Blue Circle Records recording artists The Bluegrass Soul Pickers on their cd If I Ever Get Home , and Bluegrass Recording artist Pam Thrower and Shine.
Her newest album- Johnson, Cone and Ryan is set to be released in February 2012.
