Kelly Family

The Kelly Family is a European-American music group consisting of a multi-generational family, who plays from a repertoire of rock, pop and folk music. They have enjoyed considerable chart and concert success in Europe and other parts of the world, especially in Germany, the Benelux countries, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, Spain and Portugal. They have sold over 20 million albums since the early 1980s. For many years, the group presented a unique gypsy image and a vagabonding lifestyle. This was emphasized by their 'ethnic' clothing (such as long floral skirts worn by the female band members), their hair (very long hair even on all the male band members), and also by their travels around Europe in a double-decker bus and houseboat. In recent years, however, they have presented a more modern look. The group had its origins in 1966 when Americans Barbara and Daniel Kelly Sr. moved together with the four children from Dan's previous marriage - Danny (Daniel Jr.), Caroline, Kathy and Paul - from the USA to Spain, where they would sing at parties and local events. They became well-known enough that they appeared on Spanish television in 1975. After several years of busking, they landed a record contract in Germany in 1977. Their first major chart hit came in 1980 with the song "Who'll Come With Me (David's Song)" which hit number 1 in the Netherlands and Belgium and was top 20 in Germany. After the death of mother Barbara Kelly in 1982, and the stroke suffered by father Daniel Kelly in 1990, the children (some of them adults by this point), continued recording and performing on their own; however, Dan Sr. remained a leading figure in the group until 2002, when he passed away. In the 1990s, the group would enjoy their biggest success to date. Their 1994 album Over the Hump sold more than 3.5 million copies in Germany alone (the biggest selling pop album in German history), and 4.5 million copies throughout Europe. To promote the album, they played a concert to a Vienna audience of 250,000, in 1995. In the same year they filled the Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, nine times in a row, a feat no other musician has since accomplished. In 1996 they headlined their first Stadium Tour, filling some of Europe's largest venues. They also got a rare chance to play in Beijing, China, in front of 20,000 people. Success continued until they started to disagree on a professional basis at the beginning of the year 2000. Fan interest prompted a comeback with gigs in Germany in 2007. Past and current band members * Daniel Jerome "Dan" Kelly, (11 October 1930 in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA – 5 August 2002 in Cologne, Germany) * Barbara Ann Kelly, (2 June 1946 in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, USA – 10 November 1982 in Belascoain, Spain) * Daniel Jerome "Danny" Kelly, Jr. (1961, USA) - has problems with his health, was never on tour * Caroline Kelly (1962, USA) - works as nurse in the USA, is married, no children * Kathleen Ann "Kathy" Kelly (6 March 1963, Leonminster, Massachusetts, USA) - has one son, is divorced from his father and goes with her siblings on tour, gives solo concerts too * Paul Kelly (16 March 1964, USA) - has recently joined the band again; has six sons and a daughter * John Michael "Johnny" Kelly (8 March 1967, Talavera de la Reina, Spain) - is married to Maite (Itoiz, 27 January 1975), no children * Maria Patricia "Patricia" Kelly (25 November 1969, Gamonal, Spain) - is married to Denis Sawinkin (19 February 1973 ), has two sons * James Victor „Jimmy“ Kelly (18 February 1971, Gamonal,Spain) - is married to Maike (Höchst, 3 November 1980), has two daughters * Joseph Maria “Joey" Kelly (20 December 1972, Toledo, Spain) - is married to Tanja (Niethen, 25 January 1973 ), has two sons and a daughter * Barbara Ann „Barby“ Kelly (28 April 1975, Belascoain, Spain) - left the band in 2002, some sources say that she is ill and needs a nurse, and another says when she gained weight she left the band and never sat her feets on a stage again. * Michael Patrick „Paddy“ Kelly (5 December 1977, Dublin, Ireland) - sings with his family, left the group in early 2004, now lives in France and studies theology in a monastery. His new names are John Paul Mary. But a source says he became a monk, and lives in France. * Maite Star Kelly (4 December 1979, East-Berlin, Germany) - is married to Florent Raimond (6 January 1975), has two daughters * Angelo Gabriele Kelly (23 December 1981, Pamplona, Spain) - is married to Kira (Harms, 7 October 1979) , has a son and two daughters