Iconic Music - Kellie While biography

Chris & Kellie While Biography

Kellie While is a talented and original singer/songwriter. Her unique style fuses many influences including jazz, folk and roots, and contemporary acoustic music. Kellie's debut solo album Tenacious brought her critical acclaim from fellow musicians, music magazines, and national press and radio. Her songs have been described as 'fresh' and 'infectious' and her voice as 'effortless', 'classy' and 'timeless'.

Kellie grew up surrounded by music and musicians and began singing and playing as a child. Her influences are wide-ranging and include James Taylor, Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Joel, Joni Mitchell, Michael McDonald and Stevie Wonder. Perhaps her greatest influence, however, is her mother, the songwriter and folk diva Chris While.

Kellie started performing in her early teens in youth concerts and local folk clubs. At 14 she became lead singer with the Sefton Youth Jazz Big Band where she was singled out as a future star by the legendary Betty Carter. Already an accomplished singer, Kellie began to write her own songs and to develop her skill on the guitar.

Kellie was invited to join Ashley Hutchings' Albion Band at the age of 19. She has toured extensively in the UK and Europe with the Albions alongside Joe Broughton, Ken Nicol, Neil Marshall, Pete Zorn and Ashley. In January 2000, Kellie joined e2K since when she has worked with both bands as well as continuing to pursue her solo work.

Session work has been another strand of Kellie's career.  She has contributed to albums by Helen Watson, Bill Jones, Chris While and Julie Matthews, Samuel Owosu and Owen Grey among others. She has also enjoyed live collaborations with Pete Morton, Fairport Convention, Emily Slade and Mike Silver.