Kelly Joe Phelps Zoom Memorial - June 19th, 2022. Part 1 of 3
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- čas přidán 22. 06. 2022
- This is the online memorial for Kelly Joe Phelps from June 19, 2022. Hosted by Steve Dawson and Kelly Joe's daughter, Rachel Berndt. Unfortunately, due to a Zoom setting, when Rachel speaks, the camera doesn't switch to show her. But that flaw aside, we decided to share this as many who missed the event have been asking to see it.
Here are the links to the other Parts of the memorial:
Part 2 - • Kelly Joe Phelps Zoom ...
Part 3 - • Kelly Joe Phelps Zoom ... - Hudba
I hired Kelly Joe to play a house concert at my house for my 40th birthday and it was by far the best birthday of my life and one of the highlights of my life. I can't imagine ever having a birthday that tops that one. I feel so incredibly blessed to have experienced his greatness up close that night. He will be greatly missed and always remembered.
Wow I thought of doing this in the 90s. So glad you actually did! :-)
I just came across this and am so thankful. My intro to Kelly Joe was back in late 93 or early 94...right after I arrived in Portland. I walked into the Laurelthirst Pub one Saturday afternoon and there was this fellow playing beautiful lap-slide music and stomping on a box. I went into the pool room and happened to run into a friend of mine from Boston (super random) and he was just raving about Kelly Joe...during a break I went to introduce myself and thank him for sharing his beautiful music and we talked for a bit. He was so very kind. Towards the end of our conversation he mentioned there was another cool guy here from Boston playing pool...anyway, as a musician, my meeting Kelly Joe changed everything. As a guitarist he just opened up an entirely new realm for me. I feel incredibly blessed.
I used to work for a sound a lighting company. We were working the Blues festival in Eureka Springs Arkansas (or maybe it was Helena, I can't remember), back in the early 90s. We just finished with like a 15 piece blues band that was awesome. Loud, funky, drunk folks dancing all over the place, it was crazy and this band was really loud and exciting.
And then the next act walked up to us. He was just one dude. He just walked up to us and said "hey guys I think I just need maybe a mic for my dobro and one to sing into". We gave him a mic for vocals and one pointed at his dobro as requested (I had never seen a "dobro" until that night).
For the next 90 minutes, this gentleman held the room in the palm of his hand with his music like something I had never seen in my entire natural life. It was a room of probably 150 drunk people who, up until that point, had been going crazy dancing and singing to blues and funk. Now, it was a room of frozen statues.
Nobody moved a muscle, captivated by this guy and his amazing music. I never seen anything like it and never have since.
His name was Kelly Joe Phelps. I encourage you to search him on Spotify and listen to "Lead Me On" for a sample. I had heard a lot of music in my life up until that point, but I had never heard anything like Kelly Joe Phelps. From the reaction, neither had the other 150 folks in the room either.
Kelly Joe Phelps was the most captivating musician I have ever seen in my entire life.
His performance that night showed me what it meant to capture the attention of a room full of people, and what kind of responsibility you have when you do so.
Putting together some music lists on Spotify tonight, I learned that Kelly Joe Phelps died last year at the age of 62.
RIP Mr. Phelps. You were awesome and your memory lives on.
I'm just watching this again now. The slideshow is incredibly moving. Rachel showed incredible grace throughout; and what a great friend Kelly Joe must have had in Steve, to have someone produce such an amazing tribute for him.
I hope everyone is doing as well as can be. I just can't stop playing his music.
Just heard tonight that Kelly Joe passed after putting on roll away the stone for my girlfriend, and as she was searching online about him she ran across the news. We then listened to roll away the stone in silence, and it was profound chills and the unmistakably sublime quality that always accompanied his solo performances. Mr Zen and roll away helped carry me through my 20s, and I even got to see him once. A true artist in and of a living lineage. 🙏
Seeing this post is the first I’ve heard of his passing.
I grew up in Portland Oregon. I used to see Kelly play at the Laurelthirst pub back in the 90’s.
I only met him a couple times in passing, telling him how amazing his music and performance was.
He impressed me as a very kind and humble man, even a bit shy, which I found odd for someone with such a great talent.
At the time, I was an aspiring musician myself and more importantly, spiritually lost and seeking what I did not know at the time was Christ.
I became a Christian in the late 90’s and ended up moving to the East coast.
I got a band together and one day my guitar player gave me a cassette of Kelly Joe’s music and said “ you’ve got to hear this guy, he’s amazing.”
I remember listening to it and smiling, so glad that the guy I had met and was so impressed with as a musician, and as a kind and humble man, was becoming known for his talent by other musicians on the other side of the country.
Through the years, Kelly’s music has been an inspiration to me and I’ve shared it with many friends who have also been inspired by him.
Some of the darkest times in my life, Kelly’s albums were in heavy rotation for me.
God has used Kelly’s songs to touch my heart and strengthen my faith at the times I’ve most needed, including the last few years.
I am so grateful to Kelly for sharing his gifts with us all and allowing himself to be used by God to comfort and inspire us all.
Thank you for posting this.
Beautiful.
I would like to share a whole lot of love, Light, and truth here… Kelly Joe did NOT stop playing lapslide guitar, it was all still alive and well, and more beautiful than ever… he was only in the coldest, deepest, darkest, loneliest part of his lapslide season, winter was hard upon him with it, but spring was beauty close. I know this because I watched it all unfold 3’ in front of me over a long hot summer in my home in Nashville TN. Kelly Joe quit playing lapslide in the studio, he quit playing at live shows, and he quit playing lapslide for friends and family… but he did NOT quit playing for himself, he saved enough in the gas tank to keep it personal, to keep it special, to keep that flame alive for himself, and he welcomed me into that world. I know all this because when he disappeared from the world and nobody knew where he was, no one knew where he went, when he fell off the face of the earth… he was with me……. With my family, my wife and kids, and my dog Zen Bazooka Buddha Joe. He called me and asked me to hide him, protect him, watch his back, and tuck him under the radar… and I did to the absolute best of my ability. He was a broken human being when he showed up, and just want to refill his soul, and wanted to be completely left alone. He changed his name to “Uncle Cody” from my tv satellite repairman 😂 and that was it from there on out. No cameras, no videos, no talk of the past. No better brother, friend, uncle to my children, or family will I ever have, nor will I ever know again. Uncountable beauty stories I could share……. the only story I would like to share, because I think it’s too huge and helpful to folks like me… is the lapslide was still alive. He was only waiting for it to come back to life, waiting for it (or himself) to be refilled, and tying to find a new approach with it, but NO conversations were allowed to be had on changing tunings, he was Hell or High Water gonna stay in “Open.” I wholeheartedly felt it was all there again, but he kept saying it wasn’t ready… I would sit in my office with him 3’ away and watch and listen to more beauty and light than I’ve ever heard in my life, nothing in his past ever came close, it was close to his take on “If I prove false to thee” (live) except on steroids… that kind of powerful beauty and LIGHT shining right down on him like God’s hand was right there on his shoulder guiding him back. Kelly Joe and I had a great many talks about this. His favorite words I ever said on this subject were this… as I sat crying one day listening to this untouchable beauty I looked at him and said… “brother, it sounds like God just opened up the Gates Of Heaven and poured out Blessings like Niagara Falls down on you.” This impacted him beyond words, he knew, and fully understood, what I was saying, he also knew I was right. We had a great many sober conversations on this, and even more not sober ones… there’s just no way to explain the Light shining straight down from Heaven into his soul and out through his hands. I don’t understand it to this day, and it’s NOWEHRE else I’ve ever seen, but I was a witness to it and it’s the GOSPEL HONEST TRUTH of the Kelly Joe story. It’s important to me that people know that the lapslide was still dear to his heart…
Brother Kelly Joe had the Heart of Three kinds of Gold, and it shined the brightest on the lapslide.
I love you with all my heart brother, and my only wish is folks could’ve heard…….
Chris FreeMan out here folks (the guy that gave him the Black Johnny Cash Martin…)
🤙🏼
Thank you so very much Chris...for everything you did and for sharing this. Love to you.
@@markbeere7074 thank you very much brother… 🙏🏼
@@markbeere7074 and truckloads and convoys of love back your way my brother…
Thanks for this truly wonderful recollection Chris. He was a genus beyond compare in my opinion. I saw him twice live in the UK in Chester, and these two shows I can honestly say changed my life. We shared a beer after one of the shows and that memory will and does live with me as one of my most precious moments. Shine on Kelly Joe......
@@barriewatts127 that’s beautiful brother ❤️
I was lucky enough to see him many times, and even booked a few shows back in my hometown in Kansas City Missouri… we traded many guitars and drank many beers, shared some tears and life stories, and uncountable hours driving the Tennessee country side… when he lived with us he was the Hero of all hero’s to my kids and God’s greatest gift to us to this very day…
I just discovered this zoom memorial for Kelly Joe and I appreciate all the work that went into it. To me, Kelly Joe Phelps and Chris Whitley were the two greatest singer songwriters of their generation. Both of them have an extensive collection of brilliant original songs and both of them were great guitarists and performers. Both of them also had daughters who adored them and were an important part of their lives. Trixie Whitley has gone on to have her own career as a musical artists. What God given talent. I miss them both. Chris died in his forties and Kelly Joe died far too young as well, I can't imagine my life without discovering their music.
Truly shocked to hear of Kelly Joe's passing and thank you for sharing this moving memorial. I saw him playing lapstyle slide at the Jazz Cafe in London back in the day and, in time, history will show him to be one of the greatest artists of his generation. Thank you KJP for your wonderful gift to the world. Rupert Bedford
My family knows Kelly Joe very well and my dad was close friends with him. It truly was sad to see him go…..🙏🙏
Kelly Joe Phelps was one of the greats. The marriage between his voice and his guitar was unsurpassed. A light has gone out in the musical world and we are less for it.
Steve! Thank you so very much. Not only did you do a masterful job 'on the day' but it's so great that you've posted this for all of us who are aching and playing KJP day in and day out to hold on. Be safe and best wishes. Love to you.
I couldn’t attend the ceremony Sunday, so thank you for the work you put into this with Kelly’s daughter. Thank you so much for making the memorial available, means a lot for so many of us ! Love to you all
What a brilliant talented and unknown musician. Gifted guitar player an excellent lyricist as well. Rest in Peace KJP
The last time I saw him perform was December 14, 2012 in Washington State. The Sandy Hook school shooting had happened that day. I will never forget the poignancy of his performance and I was lucky enough to be able to thank him for sharing his gifts. He is irreplaceable.
Yes he is. Thanks for the note.
Hey Steve!
Thank you so much for posting this wonderful night of friends and family celebrating the life and music of Kelly Joe Phelps!!!
I used to see KJP when we were blessed to have him pass thru the east coast (I'm in western MA) and he turned me on to fingerstyle. Bought his videos and studied his style but gave it up since I couldn't pull it off! One of the best shows I remember was seeing him with Steve Dawson's band Zubot and Dawson at the now defunct Club Helsinki. Thanks Steve! You are one helluva musician. Anyway life gets the best of you (marriage, kids, work, etc.) and I lost touch with KJP and his music. Had no idea he passed until today. So sorry to hear of this news. A lot of super talents out there like Kelly and Steve that don't get the recognition they deserve with the masses but could care less and stay true to the music because of their love for it.
I’m late to the party. I’ve never met him or was even blessed to see him in a live show, but boy am I a fan of his music. Musically and lyrically Kelly Joe hits me just to the left of the middle of my chest. He is raw and the real deal, and I personally appreciate his unapologetic love for our Lord.
Hi Steve, sadly I have only just found you, and this tribute. I first saw and met Kelly Joe in 2000 at a club gig in Wolverhampton, England. My life changed for the better, as I experienced his special gift. Investing my last $20 in 'Lead Me On' and 'Roll Away The Stone', I wish I could have thanked him at a later time, for literally saving my life. Love, Peace and blessings to Rachel, yourself and all those touched by his precious legacy, Stephen💙🕊
Got to watch Kelly Joe perform and talk with him in a small town in VT when touring for "Brother Sinner and the Whale... Amazing performance and the kindest most generous man. I'm perpetually motivated to approach music the way he did when I play. I don't know who to thank for introducing me to his music and I don't know who to thank for introducing me to him in person. I am eternally grateful to have crossed paths with such an amazing musician and person.
Very nice tribute.
Thank you for sharing this. A special man and artist. Bless you and yours.
Thank you too
A genius saint. He played a couple of miracle concerts in Missoula, Montana. Lucid, brilliant, kind. God rest his beautiful soul.
Indeed he was!
Great tributes for an incredibly talented musician and wonderful human being.
Thank you for posting this
You're welcome
Thank you for posting this.
You're welcome
Muchas gracias. Thank you so much.
Wow , Jeff Bridges, well said.
I'm in contact with the man who filmed a lot of KJP for a documentary in the bay area around 2001 or so. I think they might still have the footage and would like to get it to the family. How can we get in touch? - Naomi
Through my website or the KJP site will get to them.
My dream was to be kellys harp player
I can't stop crying
Hello! I didn’t know this great musician how sad that he died so young! What was his cause of death anyway?
I listen to some of his music and he was good !
So sad
I hope it was not due to the forced inoculation that is causing several g famous people to lose their lives or destroying them physically (Justin bieber, celine dion, almost Eric clapton, baritone in il divo, etc) when will people start talking about this obvious dangerous drug being forced on musicians !!!???
So sad
My condolences to family and loved ones