Kelly Riley: Hazel-Eyed Soul & Blues
“Kelly Riley blends the powerful blues-rock energy of Susan Tedeschi and Bonnie Raitt with the haunting, genre-defying intimacy of Eva Cassidy. Dubbing her sound "Hazel-Eyed Soul"—a stylish, modern spin on the classic blue-eyed soul of Dusty Springfield—Kelly constructs a captivating bridge between vintage rhythm & blues and contemporary roots music. Grounded by the timeless vocal gravity of icons like Etta James, Aretha Franklin, and Nina Simone, Kelly Riley delivers a dynamic live set built for the festival stage. From powerhouse belters to raw acoustic confessions, Kelly's performance is a masterclass in vocal shade, light, and unfiltered emotion.”
Career Highlights / Accolades
Kelly Riley is an Award-Winning Songwriter, and accomplished Singer, Multi-Instrumentalist, Performer, and Recording Artist. She has opened for Willie Nelson, Steve Miller Band, and Lyle Lovett, and is a Winner in the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) Song Contest and the Tennessee Songwriters Week Qualifying Rounds. Songs from Kelly's CD's: "Live and You Learn", "County Line", "The Songs of Rich Sokolow and Kelly Riley", and various other projects have been featured on commercials, TV, and streaming, including: "Mission Impossible", "The Young and the Restless", and the popular Brazilian telenovela "Pega Pega". Kelly holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music, is a Berklee College of Music Online Instructor, an experienced Vocal, Songwriting, and Performance Coach, and a Guitar, Bass, and Piano Instructor. Based in Nashville, TN, she writes, performs, and teaches. Kelly released her 7th album, “Love Is Gonna Find You”, in Spring, '26.
Awards:
Nominee: Song of the Year, Josie Music Awards, Nashville, TN
Winner: Qualifying Round, Tennessee Songwriter's Week Competition
Top Winner: Nashville Songwriters Association International Competition
Semi-Finalist: International Songwriting Competition
Honors Award Winner: Great American Songwriting Contest
Bronze Medal: Global Music Awards
Finalist: CT Folk Fest Songwriting Competition
Finalist: Lilith Fair Competition
Songwriting Award: Berklee College of Music
Songwriting Award: ASCAP
Finalist: Boston Acoustic Underground Series
Grand Prize: Providence Song Slam
Performance Award: No. California Songwriters Association
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Kelly Riley; Award Winning Singer-Songwriter-Performer
Writing and performing melodies, rhythms, and harmonies … chasing winding journeys down diverging roads,
finding hards truths, and seeking hopeful destinations.