Dan Kelly

Dan K. Kelly Aug. 26, 1965 - July 22, 2020

Beloved fiddle player Dan K. Kelly, 54, died July 22, 2020. Kelly was a multi-instrumentalist who also played mandolin and guitar. He toured with a plethora of artists, won multiple awards for his fiddle playing, worked as a session player, was a member of the Tennessee Mafia Jug Band, and taught many students as well. He was a longtime member of the Nashville Musicians Association who joined the local March 5, 1986.

Kelly was born Aug. 26, 1965 to Ken and Gloria Kelly, and was raised in Connellsville, Pennsylvania. He began playing fiddle at the age of eight, and started to enter contests early on — he won the Canadian National Open Fiddle Championship when he was 12. This initiated a string of other championship honors around the nation, including two wins for the Mid-America Championship. At 17 he won the Grand Master Championship, which is considered the most famous and coveted award for fiddle playing in the United States.

It wasn’t long afterward that his talent was noticed by Roy Acuff, who brought him into the band to replace the ailing Howdy Forrester. Kelly would remain a Smoky Mountain Boy until 1992. “The highest compliment or achievement I have ever received is the fact that Roy Acuff, the ‘King of Country Fiddlers,’ liked my fiddling. That’s always been a huge deal for me,” Kelly said. Acuff encouraged Kelly to stay in college, and he graduated from Belmont University with a degree in music business.

“Dan Kelly’s memorial service was beautiful and very moving. When more than a dozen fiddlers who were his friends and protégés played ‘Sally Goodin,’ it was a heavenly sound and a perfect send off." — Dave Pomeroy

Over the years Kelly worked with a host of artists — most recently he was on the road with Clint Black, and also played with Alan Jackson, Steve Wariner, Faith Hill, SheDaisy, Pam Tillis, and others. He’s performed on a variety of TV shows and award shows, as well as Carnegie Hall, which he called “a dream come true.” Kelly talked about the importance of becoming a multi-instrumentalist. “Over the years, because of economic pressures, it has become a necessity for the fiddle player to be a utility musician who also plays mandolin and acoustic guitar. Now the trend is for the fiddle player to also be able to sing harmony. For young players who want to pursue work with touring artists, it’s important to expect that you will not just be playing fiddle. The more versatile you are, the more valuable you are to potential employers,” Kelly said.

Guitarist Mike Armistead talked about Kelly, who he considered a good friend. “He had many passions, and one that he was most proud of was that of music instructor, teaching people of all ages how to play guitar, mandolin and fiddle. He loved spending time travelling and antiquing with his wife, Cheryl. Dan would always greet you with a smile and was generous with his time and talent to anyone in need.”

Survivors include Kelly’s wife, Cheryl. A celebration of life was held Aug. 26 at Spring Hill Cemetery in Madison, Tennessee. Local 257 President Dave Pomeroy attended Kelly’s service. “Dan Kelly’s memorial service was beautiful and very moving. When more than a dozen fiddlers who were his friends and protégés played ‘Sally Goodin,’ it was a heavenly sound and a perfect send off,” Pomeroy said.

Dan Kelly