Biography
Hailing from Tarboro, North Carolina, Kelsh developed his early performing experience in the Chapel Hill music community during his time at the University of North Carolina. In that setting he led Jack and the Cadillacs across a four-year span and also appeared alongside the regionally popular Southern Culture on the Skids. Following the issue of his first two self-released solo projects, Ghost Dance in 1988 and Steel Blue Ballads in 1993, he moved to Nashville and began working with Rodney Crowell, Poco’s pedal steel player Rusty Young, and Squirrel Nut Zippers member Stu Cole. An introduction to former New Grass Revival bassist John Cowan secured him a background vocal role on Cowan’s self-titled 2000 Sugar Hill album. Kelsh’s own 2001 independent release, the folk-leaning Well of Mercy, was tracked at Crowell’s private studio under producer Bill Halverson, whose credits include Cream, Neil Young, and the Texas Tornadoes; the sessions featured Cole, Cowan, bassist Michael Rhodes, Young, and vocalist Joy Lynn White.
Albums
