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Pat Kelley

Guitarist, composer, producer, educator

About Me

Recognized for his signature touch, harmonic dexterity, bluesy melodies and sense of rhythm, guitarist Pat Kelley has established himself among the best, with an extensive and successful career as a studio and touring musician, recording artist, composer, lyricist, producer, arranger, recording engineer, publisher, and educator. Pat has released twelve CDs as leader. As an integral part of the Thornton School of Music Guitar Faculty at the University Southern California for twenty-four years, he has guided many students to success as professional musicians. Pat has also been on the faculty for the Monterey Jazz Festival Summer Jazz Camp, Guitar College Jazz Camp, and the University of Tulsa Summer Jazz Camp. Two of Pat's books, Arpeggios for the Evolving Guitarist and Melodic Minor Guitar are part of the USC Thornton School of Music instructional series and are available from Mel Bay Publications. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Pat grew up playing with his Dad, other guitarists, singers, and bands from the age of five. After attending the University of Tulsa with a major in music composition, he moved to Southern California in the early 1970's where he has enjoyed a flourishing career in Los Angeles, touring internationally and/or recording with George Benson, Natalie Cole, David Benoit, Jane Monheit, Hubert Laws, Ronnie Laws, Eric Marienthal, John Pisano, Mark Winkler, Rick Braun, Richard Elliot, Dave Brubeck, Gregg Karukas, Dave Koz, Bill Cantos, Tom Scott, Al Jarreau, Nickel Creek, CeCe Wynans, Melissa Manchester, Randy Crawford, Burt Bacharach, Olivia Newton John, Jose Feliciano, etc. Pat worked for seven years as the house guitarist on the Merv Griffin Show, Pat Sajak Show, and the New Carol Burnett Show. Performances with symphony orchestras include San Francisco, San Diego, Houston, Atlanta, Tulsa, Denver, San Antonio, Auckland, Nashville, Toledo, and the Asia America Symphony Orchestra. With a BMI catalogue containing more than one hundred fifty compositions that have been commercially recorded for CDs, films, television, jingles, and music libraries. Pat's latest CD's feature collaborations with nine different guitarists (Overtones 4 Two Guitars), and five different singers (Sing Me Back Home). A new CD has already been recorded and is slated for a Spring 2021 release. In 2003, Pat was honored in his home state by being inducted into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, joining past inductees Chet Baker, Oscar Pettiford, Lester Young, Charlie Christian, and Barney Kessel.

Affiliations: American Federation of Musicians (local 47, Los Angeles) Recording Musicians Association (RMA) Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) American Federation of Television and Radio Announcers (AFTRA) The RecordingAcademy (formally NARAS)