Crusade Musicians

KELLY WILLARD

"Simple, honest, unpretentious, easy to listen to over and over and over...."

These are a few words that most people use when describing the music and voice of Kelly Willard. Although Kelly has lent her talents to the artistry of Dion DiMucci, Ricky Skaggs, Paul Overstreet, Buddy Greene, Lenny LeBlanc, Susi Luchsinger, Julie Miller, Twila Paris, Fernando Ortega, Bob Bennett, Steve Green, Bruce Carroll, Darrell Evans, and innumerable praise & worship recordings over the years, she remains as simple, approachable and 'down to earth' as a person could be.

Born and raised in Winter Haven, Florida, Kelly took to the piano at the tender age of five but piano lessons were short-lived. She preferred the unconventional, non-restricting path of playing the piano "by ear". Learning by listening to the radio and finding chords by trial and error, Kelly began to compose her own songs at the age of thirteen as well as accompanying the choir at her church, playing and singing in nursing homes every Sunday afternoon and traveling with a part-time Gospel music group. At the young age of sixteen Kelly moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where music became her livelihood.

Kelly recorded her first three albums with Maranatha! Music; BLAME IT ON THE ONE I LOVE, WILLING HEART and, what many people have termed their 'favorite' Kelly Willard album, PSALMS,HYMNS & SPIRITUAL SONGS. This recording was what Kelly considered "a personal look at her love for God, in the form of worshipful music". In 1986 and 1990 she recorded MESSAGE FROM A KING and GARDEN following with her sixth release, HOMESICK FOR HEAVEN.