Born in Kansas City, Hunt’s love for her craft was fine tuned listening to early blues, R&B, roots rock,
jazz and gospel influences including Ruth Brown, Mahalia Jackson, Billie Holiday, Ann Peebles, Ray
Charles, Dinah Washington, Aretha Franklin, Charles Brown, Wanda Jackson and a crossection of the
New Orleans/St. Louis/KC piano traditions of Professor Longhair, Toots Washington, Johnnie Johnson
and Kansas City masters Jay McShann and Mary Lou Williams among others. While clear reminders of
those very traditional influences are there in Kelley’s live performances and recordings, her lyrics, soul
and passion are all her own.

The result has been impressive critical praise, "surprises don't often crop up on the well-trodden blues
circuit. So welcome Kelley Hunt. This Kansan is a full-blown phenomenon: Powerhouse singer, hardboogieing
pianist, polished songwriter…” -Minneapolis Star Tribune. “…the freshest slant on classic
R&B you're likely to hear these days. She's a tough woman who makes a hip and burly sound." -
Westword Denver.

Along with critical acclaim Kelley’s blistering live performances over the last several years have won
over legions of blues and roots music fans making her a crowd favorite at over 100 blues and music festivals
across North America. 2005 saw another impressive list of festival performances including a
same-summer trio of appearances at 3 of the biggest music festival events in the world - Milwaukee’s
Summerfest, Seattle’s Bumbershoot Festival (her 2nd appearance) and the Austin City Limits Music
Festival. The result was another bushelful of accolades in 2005: "...One of the best new songwriters in
the genre.” Paul de Barros SEATTLE TIMES; "Hard-driving, gospel-influenced piano blues and bal -
lads. Her vocals are rich and limber - there's not a tentative bone in her body." Brad Wheeler TORONTO
GLOBE AND MAIL; "Stellar singing, songwriting and monstrous boogie-woogie piano chops.”.
PORTLAND OREGONIAN; "...A great voice and a magnetic stage personality, and leads a rock-solid
band. No excess showboating, just a floating bed of groovitude for Hunt's subtly powerful voice to ride."
Garaud MacTaggart THE BUFFALO NEWS; "...I ventured to Toronto's venerable Silver Dollar and was
blown away by the talent in evidence...Hunt's fiery blasts of soul channel Bonnie Bramlett, Maggie Bell,
and even Queen Aretha herself." Eric Thom BLUES REVUE Oct. '05

“New Shade of Blue” is a project that clearly describes Hunt’s musical breadth and depth beyond strict
blues definitions but still with undeniable appeal to the genre’s purists - a unique quality of Hunt’s which
has set her apart and enabled her to reach fans with broad tastes and across a wide spectrum of ages.
She’s one of a rare breed of artist coming from multiple angles but who is without question valid from
every one of them. The road to “New Shade” took some surprising twists, however, including one of
those fairytale “accidents” that allowed her to catch the ear of two veteran, all-star producers.
On a trip to Nashville in 2001 Hunt took a meeting with one of the most respected producers in town,
Garth Fundis, (Trisha Yearwood, Keith Whitley, New Grass Revival, Sugarland). Fundis’ marquee production
projects were for well-known mainstream country artists but Hunt was aware of a much broader,
rootsier, edgier set of efforts Garth was known for behind the scenes. Her intent, however, was simply
to pitch him a few songs for Trisha Yearwood. Fortunately one of those songs was not yet on CD so at
Garth’s request Kelley sat down at the grand piano in Sound Emporium’s Studio B and performed it live.
Fundis wanted to hear more and then more and after Kelley had filled up almost an hour giving spontaneous
piano/vocal performanes from her original catalog Fundis wanted to do more than cut one of her
songs, he decided he wanted to take her on as an artist. "When I first heard Kelley Hunt sit down at a
piano and sing my reaction was immediate; this was not only a great musician but an artist who is a
'natural'. Like a great athlete, painter, or writer, I believe she was born with a musical gift (SOUL) that
she couldn't escape from if she wanted to," said Fundis.

Garth then decided to call his friend Gary Nicholson, Grammy Award-winning producer (Delbert
McClinton), who was also an accomplished musician and multi-platinum songwriter. Thinking they
would be a natural creative fit, Garth promoted a meeting between Hunt and Nicholson just to see what
would happen. The the chemistry was right from the start and great song collaborations blossomed
immediately and effortlessly. Shortly thereafter Garth asked Gary to co-produce the new project with
him. Also taken with Kelley’s talent and passion he gladly accepted. When asked about her ability as a
singer Nicholson said, “Kelley has found that soul space that all singers really want to be coming from
and she lives there. She's a song's best friend.”

While taking her time writing and recording material for “New Shade”, Kelley continued to tour across
North America, adding to a significant fan base (her previous two releases on 88 Records have sold a
combined 80,000 copies). Her growing grass-roots popularity built a buzz prompting invites to perform
on NPR/PRI’s “A Prairie Home Companion,” (seven times) and "Beale Street Caravan" The Blues
Foundation's internationally syndicated radio show (six times). Other appearances include "House of
Blues Radio Hour", a 2001 appearance on the PBS-TV music series "Backstage Pass" and numerous
other syndicated blues, roots and Americana radio vehicles.

While in Los Angeles on business Fundis met with friend and former co-worker Pam Hughes and played
her some rough tracks from Kelley’s sessions. Pam was impressed and immediately suggested that
Kelley’s new project land on her newly formed label Coda Terra.
Over the period of the next year Kelley finished recording NEW SHADE OF BLUE at Sound Emporium
with Garth and Gary producing. They chose to start the album off with mid-tempo “Waking Up Slow.” “I
wanted that to be the first track on the album because I felt it embodied the spirit of the rest of the
record,” said Fundis. Although the project boasts 12 strong tracks standouts include a gospel-feel take
on Jesse Winchester’s “That’s What Makes You Strong,” her own intense reading of Jim Lauderdale’s
alt-country “Why Do I Love You”, “Darkness,” a haunting introspection from Hunt’s pen written well
before the recording process began and “Deal With It”, a raucous up-tempo duet with Delbert McClinton
that deals with the challenges of making a relationship work.

NEW SHADE OF BLUE debuted at #9 on the Billboard Blues chart and continues to gather critical
acclaim from both press and fans.

CONTACT:
Publicity -
Michael McClune
Crow’s Feet Productions
(o) 310-546-3630
(c) 858-342-2626
michael@crowsfeet.biz

Booking, Management -
Al Berman
Out Loud Talent
Management
785-841-6000
ajbmusic@earthlink.net

Coda Terra Entertainment
Pam Hughes
718-965-1652
phughes@codaterra.com