Pat Kelley, Songwriter

"I've always had a passion for music," he says. It's just that he's had to wait a few decades to really pursue that passion.

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Pat Kelley, Songwriter

By Robert F. Smith
Twin State Valley Media Network
Thursday, November 06, 2008 10:09 AM

"I've always had a passion for music," Pat Kelley said. It's just that he's had to wait a few decades to really pursue that passion.

Pat and his wife Linda have operated Kelley Sales and Service in Springfield for nearly 25 years. Their son, Patrick, who has been active in the business for many years, took over the daily operations in October 2007.

Kelley grew up on Elvis and Buddy Holly, but moved on to Jimi Hendrix, Cream and the Doors in the 60s. While he had a passing respect for the work of country music icons like Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard, he was never really all that interested in the genre until he began listening to it more in the 1990s and started changing his views.

"I think I got brought in because of the emotions in country music," Kelley said. "I've gained a complete respect for both traditional and modern country."

Over the years, Kelley said he write a song now and then, but never really studied the craft of song writing, a craft for which he has gained the utmost respect.

"You've got three minutes to write a story," he said. "You have to think of each line as a chapter."

Country music is famed for it's great songwriters, and the competition is fierce.

"There are so many great songs you'll never hear," Kelley said. "(Nashville) is a welcoming environment, but getting into the inner sanctum of a recording company is very difficult. It's quite an accomplishment to get any song recorded by any artist, big label or independent. You're competeing against the best writers in Nashville."

One huge break came for Kelley in a roundabout way, and it was in Vermont, far from the center of country music songwtriting. It turns out that Nashville songwriting giant Bucky Jones had a second home in the local area, and his family loved Jeeps. Kelley sold Jones several vehicles over the years, and the two men became friends. Jones has written eight #1 hits and 25 top 10 hits since 1975.

Among his best known songs are “You Don’t Count the Cost” by Billy Dean; “Only Love Can Save Me Now” by Crystal Gayle; “Touch and Go Crazy” by Lee Greenwood; “Radio Lover” by George Jones; “He Broke Your Memory Last Night” by Reba McEntire; “Highway Robbery” by Tanya Tucker; ”I Meant Every Word He Said” by Ricky Van Shelton and many more songs recorded by such great artists as Ray Charles, Mickey Gilley, Tom Jones, Brenda Lee, Johnny Paycheck, Charlie Pride, the Oak Ridge Boys, Conway Twitty and Tammy Wynette.

Once Kelley seriously started writing songs, he eventually discussed his passion with Jones, and showed him the demo tapes he'd made. Jones told him, "I know we've been friends a long time, but if it's bad, I'm going to tell you," which was fine with Kelley. Jones liked the songs enough to not only encourage Kelley to continue writing, but to also join him as a co-writer. They have written about 20 songs together at this point, two of which will be on the new Mike Kidd album, and Kelley has two songs written completely on his own that will also be on the album. That's a remarkable feat for any songwriter - especially a new one.

Two of the songs Kelley has written will be performed by Kidd as part of Nashville’s America’s New Artists Tour on Saturday, August 16th at the Twin State Speedway in Claremont, NH at 7 p.m. The group, Little Memphis from Lebanon, NH will open the show at 6:00pm. Local favorite, Kyla Beardsley, who sang at Fenway Park last year, will follow by singing the National Anthem.

This will be part of the For The Heroes tour and concerts to honor the military men and women who serve and have served the country as well as to honor and support local fire, rescue and police departments.

Kelley’s song, “Did You Think Of Me Today,” written for his nephew, 1st Lt. Shaun Kelley, USMC, is the promotional single and theme song of the For The Heroes album and is being used to promote the tour. His other song that will be played at the concert is “(The Older We Get The) Better We Used To Be” co-written with Jones.

America’s New Artists, including Kidd, Heather Necole, Nathan Neff, Charis Beitler, Ashley Leigh and Elisha and Deana Shelton will be at Kelley Sales and Service during the afternoon of the concert for autographs and pictures.

Record company veteran and President, Bruce Allen will also be on hand. The Wolf Radio 95.3 or 107.1 will provide exact times, or call Kelley Sales and Service the week of the concert at 885-2186.

Above, Big Machine Records recording artist Dusty Drake with Kelley; America's New Artist President, Bruce Allen.

www.messagefortheweek.com/MSG/Story/080806-prl-spfdKELLEY