Jo Ann Kelly born 5 January 1944

Jo Ann Kelly (5 January 1944 – 21 October 1990) was an English blues singer and guitarist. She is respected for her strong blues vocal style and for playing country blues guitar.

The rock era saw a few white female singers, like Janis Joplin, show they could sing the blues. But one who could outshine them all -- Jo Ann Kelly -- seemed to slip through the cracks, mostly because she favoured the acoustic, Delta style rather than rocking out with a heavy band behind her. But with a huge voice, and a strong guitar style influenced by Memphis Minnie and Charley Patton, she was the queen.

Born January 5, 1944, Kelly and her older brother Dave were both taken by the blues, and born at the right time to take advantage of a young British blues scene in the early '60s. By 1964 she was playing in clubs, including the Star in Croydon, and had made her first limited-edition record with future Groundhogs guitarist Tony McPhee. She expanded to play folk and blues clubs all over Britain, generally solo, but occasionally with other artists, bringing together artists like Bessie Smith and Sister Rosetta Tharpe into her own music.

After the first National Blues Federation Convention in 1968 her career seemed ready to take flight. She began playing the more lucrative college circuit, followed by her well-received debut album in 1969. At the second National Blues Convention, she jammed with Canned Heat, who invited her to join them on a permanent basis. She declined, not wanting to be a part of a band -- and made the same decision when Johnny Winter offered to help her.

As with many good things British the Americans got interested. In 1969 Jo Ann appeared live with Mississippi Fred McDowell and later made many US tours. Back in the UK, In 1972 she completed an album with Woody Mann, John Miller and flashy guitarist John Fahey, before forming a group called Spare Rib. She recorded a second solo album called 'Do It' - on Alan Robinson's Red Rag label.  Bully Wee's masterful 'Enchanted Lady' album with Alan was also being produced around that time. The title track of Jo Ann's album is quite wonderful.

She became a major player on the blues circuit, recording with the John Dummer Blues Band and no lesser mortals than Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers, as well as Stefan Grossman. This period of her career obviously reached its peak with a concert at Leyton County High for Boys! In 1979 she helped found the Blues Band, along with brother Dave, and original Fleetwood Mac bassist Bob Brunning. The band backed her on an ambitious show she staged during the early '80s, Ladies and the Blues, in which she paid tribute to her female heros. In 1988, Kelly began to suffer pain.

A brain tumor was diagnosed and removed, and she seemed to have recovered, even touring again with her brother before collapsing and dying on October 21, 1990  Posthumously, she's become a revered blues figure, one who helped clear the path for artists like Bonnie Raitt and Rory Block. But more than a figurehead, her recorded material -- and unreleased sides have appeared often since her death -- show that Kelly truly was a remarkable blueswoman.

by Chris Nickson.

(Edited from Wikipedia and various sources)