Paul Kelly | Booking Agent | Live Roster | MN2S

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Paul Kelly

Paul Kelly is an acclaimed Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist whose work spans folk, rock, and country genres, celebrated for his poetic lyrics and storytelling.

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Paul Kelly Shows

Oct
11
Westport
Sun 9:30 PM | Westport Woods Hotel & Spa

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Past Works

Triple J

Radio station Triple J presented a Kelly tribute concert marking his 30th anniversary as a solo artist.

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Penguin Books (Australia)

Published Paul Kelly's memoir, 'How to Make Gravy'.

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ABC Music

Released 'Before Too Long', a DVD and double CD recording of the Triple J tribute concert, with a bonus CD featuring original songs by Kelly.

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Paul Grabowsky

Partnered with Paul Grabowsky for the album 'Please Leave Your Light On'.

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Dan Sultan

Collaborated on the album 'And Every Day My Mother's Voice' in 2019, showcasing his consistently strong songwriting. Also featured on 'The Merri Soul Sessions'.

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Siân Darling

His manager and life partner, who has produced and directed some of Kelly's music videos including 'With the One I Love', 'Sleep Australia Sleep', and 'When We're Both Old and Mad'. Darling also produced the 2020 re-issue of Kev Carmody's album 'Cannot Buy My Soul'.

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Ted Mullens (Mushroom Records)

Paul Kelly and the Dots signed to Mushroom Records.

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A&M Records

Issued a 15-song version of 'Gossip' in the United States.

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Yahoo Serious Film 'Young Einstein'

The song 'Dumb Things' was included on the soundtrack for the 1988 film.

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National Campaign Against Drug Abuse

Paul Kelly performed for The Rock Party, a charity project initiated by The National Campaign Against Drug Abuse, which included other Australasian musicians.

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Kev Carmody

Co-wrote 'From Little Things Big Things Grow' and collaborated on 'Treaty' with Yothu Yindi. Also involved in the soundtrack for 'One Night the Moon'.

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Yothu Yindi

Collaborated with members of the indigenous band Yothu Yindi to write 'Treaty'.

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Roger Bennett Play 'Funerals and Circuses'

Paul Kelly was asked to compose songs for 'Funerals and Circuses', a play about racial tensions in small-town Australia.

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Mark Seymour (Hunters & Collectors)

Co-wrote 'Hey Boys' for the soundtrack of the 1992 Australian film 'Garbo'.

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Alkinos Tsilimidos Film 'Everynight ... Everynight'

Paul Kelly composed music for the 1994 film 'Everynight ... Everynight', directed by Alkinos Tsilimidos.

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Liz Phair

Paul Kelly toured North America, appearing on several dates with Liz Phair.

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Joe Jackson

Paul Kelly toured North America, appearing on several dates with Joe Jackson.

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Uncle Bill

Released the album 'Smoke' with the Melbourne bluegrass band Uncle Bill, featuring a mix of old and new Kelly songs in a bluegrass style.

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Ani DiFranco

Paul Kelly performed a series of acoustic shows in Europe, supporting Ani DiFranco in France.

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Bob Dylan

Paul Kelly was a support act for Bob Dylan's tour of Australia in March 2001 and made appearances as a special guest at Dylan’s concerts in Sydney and Melbourne in April 2011.

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Life, Love and Health Foundation

Funds raised from the 'Timor Leste – Freedom Rising' album went to Life, Love and Health and The Alola Foundation.

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The Alola Foundation

Funds raised from the 'Timor Leste – Freedom Rising' album went to The Alola Foundation.

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Hoodoo Gurus

Paul Kelly and the Boon Companions, Hoodoo Gurus, and Sime Nugent performed at the Athenaeum Theatre to raise funds for Life, Love and Health.

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The Waifs

Paul Kelly toured North America, appearing together with The Waifs at clubs and festivals.

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Melinda Schneider

Duet with country singer Melinda Schneider on 'Still Here', which won 'Vocal Collaboration of the Year' at the 2009 CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia.

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Leonard Cohen

Paul Kelly supported Leonard Cohen's tour of Australia. Following the Black Saturday Bushfires, Cohen and Kelly donated $200,000 to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal.

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ABC Radio

Sian Prior met Paul Kelly when she interviewed him for 'Sunday Arts' on ABC Radio.

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Neil Finn

Co-headlined a show at Red Hill Auditorium in Perth and undertook a collaborative tour of Australia, resulting in the live album 'Goin' Your Way'.

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Machine Translations

Recorded the studio album 'Spring and Fall' with J Walker of Machine Translations.

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Vika and Linda Bull

Featured on Paul Kelly's 'The Merri Soul Sessions' album and performed with him on tour.

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Kira Puru

Contributed to 'The Merri Soul Sessions' album.

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Clairy Browne

Contributed to 'The Merri Soul Sessions' album.

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Charlie Owen

Released a covers album 'Death's Dateless Night' with Charlie Owen. Also contributed to a tribute album for Maurice Frawley.

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Steve Earle

Toured with Paul Kelly as a supporting act.

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Middle Kids

Toured with Paul Kelly as a supporting act.

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Busby Marou

Toured with Paul Kelly as a supporting act.

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The Eastern

Toured with Paul Kelly as a supporting act.

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James Ledger

Released the album 'Thirteen Ways to Look at Birds' with James Ledger, Alice Keath, and Seraphim Trio.

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Alice Keath

Released the album 'Thirteen Ways to Look at Birds' with James Ledger, Alice Keath, and Seraphim Trio.

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Seraphim Trio

Released the album 'Thirteen Ways to Look at Birds' with James Ledger, Alice Keath, and Seraphim Trio.

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January 13, 1955

Born

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1974

First public performance

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1977

Joined The High Rise Bombers

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1978

Formed Paul Kelly and the Dots

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1979

Released 'Recognition' with The Dots

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1980

Released 'Billy Baxter' with Paul Kelly and the Dots

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1981

Released 'Talk' with Paul Kelly and the Dots

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1982

Released 'Manila' with Paul Kelly and the Dots

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1982

Assaulted in Melbourne, jaw broken

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1982

Film 'Starstruck' released, featured song 'Rocking Institution' and score contribution

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1983

Formed Paul Kelly Band

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1984

Relocated to Sydney

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1985

Recorded 'Post'

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1985

Formed Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls

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1986

Performed for The Rock Party charity project

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1986

Released 'Gossip' with Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls

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1987

Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls renamed Paul Kelly and the Messengers for international releases

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1987

'Darling It Hurts' peaked at No. 19 on Billboard Mainstream Rock chart

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1987

Released 'Under the Sun'

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1987

'To Her Door' peaked at No. 14

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1989

Released 'Dumb Things'

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1989

'Dumb Things' reached No. 16 on Billboard Modern Rock chart

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1989

Released 'So Much Water So Close to Home'

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1991

Released 'Comedy'

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1991

Co-wrote 'From Little Things Big Things Grow' with Kev Carmody

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1991

Collaborated on 'Treaty' with Yothu Yindi

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1991

Paul Kelly and the Messengers gave last performance

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1992

Paul Kelly and the Messengers released 'Hidden Things'

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1992

Composed songs for 'Funerals and Circuses' play

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1992

Co-wrote 'Hey Boys' with Mark Seymour for 'Garbo' soundtrack

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1992

Released 'Live, May 1992'

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1993

Contributed songs to and sang on 'Seven Deadly Sins' soundtrack

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1993

Released 'Lyrics'

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1994

Produced Renée Geyer's album 'Difficult Woman'

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1994

Released 'Wanted Man'

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1994

Composed music for film 'Everynight ... Everynight'

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1995

Released 'Deeper Water'

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1995

Toured North America

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1996

Released 'Live at the Continental and the Esplanade'

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1996

Released CD-EP 'How to Make Gravy'

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1997

Released 'Songs from the South: Paul Kelly's Greatest Hits'

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1997

Won ARIA Award for 'Best Male Artist'

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1997

Inducted into ARIA Hall of Fame

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1998

Released 'Words and Music'

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1998

Toured Canada and the US

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1999

Released 'Smoke' with Uncle Bill

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1999

Formed Professor Ratbaggy and released debut album

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1999

Published 'Don't Start Me Talking'

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2001

Worked as composer for film and TV scores including 'Lantana', 'Silent Partner', 'One Night the Moon'

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2000

Released 'Roll on Summer' EP

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2001

Released '...Nothing but a Dream'

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2001

Performed acoustic shows in New Zealand, UK, Ireland, Spain, France

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2002

Toured North America, UK, and Ireland

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2003

Toured North America, UK, and Ireland, performing at Edinburgh Festival Fringe

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2004

Released 'Ways & Means'

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2004

ABC Television broadcast 'Fireflies' with score by Kelly

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2004

Performed 100 songs in alphabetical order over two nights in Melbourne

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2005

Released 'Foggy Highway' with Paul Kelly and the Stormwater Boys

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2005

Put together 'Timor Leste – Freedom Rising' charity album

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2006

Performed at Commonwealth Games closing ceremony

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2006

Formed Stardust Five and released self-titled album

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2006

Toured North America with The Waifs

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2006

A-Z tour in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney

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2007

Released 'Stolen Apples'

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2008

Filmed 'Live Apples: Stolen Apples Performed Live in its Entirety Plus 16 More Songs'

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2008

First appearance at Big Day Out concerts

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2008

Performed at South by Southwest music festival

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2008

Released 'Songs from the South – Volume 2'

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2008

Released DVD 'Paul Kelly – The Video Collection 1985–2008'

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2009

Supported Leonard Cohen's Australian tour

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2009

Won 'Vocal Collaboration of the Year' at CMAA Country Music Awards with Melinda Schneider

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2009

Performed at Sound Relief concert

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2009

Triple J presented Kelly tribute concert, 'Before Too Long'

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2010

Published memoir 'How to Make Gravy'

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2010

Released 8xCD box set 'A – Z Recordings'

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2010

Inducted into The Age EG Awards Hall of Fame

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2011

Short-listed for Prime Minister's Literary Award

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2011

Co-winner of 'Biography of the Year' at Australian Book Industry Awards

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2012

Performed at AFL Grand Final

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2012

Issued 'Spring and Fall' studio album

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2012

Released biographical film 'Paul Kelly: Stories of Me'

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2013

Collaborative tour with Neil Finn

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2013

Released live album 'Goin' Your Way' with Neil Finn

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2014

Released 'The Merri Soul Sessions'

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2016

Released 'Seven Sonnets and a Song'

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2016

Released 'Death's Dateless Night' with Charlie Owen

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2017

Released 'Life Is Fine'

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2017

First number-one album with 'Life Is Fine'

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2017

Won four ARIA Awards

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2017

Appointed Officer of the Order of Australia

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2018

Released 'Nature'

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2019

Released 'Songs from the South: 1985–2019'

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2019

Performed at 2019 AFL Grand Final

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2020

Released single 'Sleep, Australia, Sleep'

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2021

Released 'Paul Kelly's Christmas Train'

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2021

Released song 'Every Step of the Way' inspired by Eddie Betts

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2022

City of Adelaide renamed a laneway 'Paul Kelly Lane'

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2023

Released book and song 'Khawaja' inspired by Usman Khawaja

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2023

Inducted into South Australian Music Awards Hall of Fame

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2024

Released 'Fever Longing Still'

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2024

Film adaptation of 'How to Make Gravy' released

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2025

Announced new album 'Seventy' and single 'Rita Wrote a Letter'

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About

Paul Maurice Kelly was born on January 13, 1955, in Adelaide, South Australia. He attended Rostrevor College, where he developed musical talents by playing trumpet and studying piano. After leaving Flinders University, Kelly worked various jobs and traveled before moving to Melbourne in 1976. He entered the pub rock scene and gained recognition as a songwriter, with his first public performance in 1974 in Hobart. His early career saw him form Paul Kelly and the Dots, releasing their debut single “Recognition” in 1979 and the charting single “Billy Baxter” in 1980.

Kelly’s career evolved significantly in the mid-1980s. After recording the self-funded album “Post” in 1985, which was critically acclaimed, he formed Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls. To avoid potential misinterpretations, the band was renamed Paul Kelly and the Messengers for international releases. This period produced hit singles like “Before Too Long” (1987) and “To Her Door” (1987), with the latter reaching No. 14 on the Australian singles chart. The band also toured the United States, and their song “Dumb Things” (1989) gained traction on the U.S. Billboard Modern Rock chart. The Messengers disbanded in 1991, allowing Kelly to pursue a solo career and various collaborative projects.

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Kelly continued to release albums, compose soundtracks for films and television, and undertake extensive tours. His compilation album “Songs from the South: Paul Kelly’s Greatest Hits” (1997) achieved significant commercial success and led to his induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame. He consistently explored diverse musical styles, from bluegrass with Uncle Bill to working with his nephew, Dan Kelly, in Stardust Five. Kelly’s memoir, “How to Make Gravy,” released in 2010, further cemented his status as a cultural figure, reflecting his unique storytelling ability.

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