Kelley Johnson

Kelley Johnson is a renowned jazz vocalist known for her soulful and storytelling-driven performances. She is the 2003 first-place winner of the International Jazzconnect Vocal Competition and has been recognized by prestigious institutions such as the Jazz Education Journal, which listed her album "Live at Birdland" as a Blue Chip Jazz Vocal album in 2004. Kelley's music often features intricate arrangements and collaborations with notable musicians like Geoffrey Keezer and Ingrid Jensen. Her album "Music is the Magic" rose to #15 on the national jazz radio chart, showcasing her ability to craft music that is both personal and moving. Kelley has also been selected as a Jazz Ambassador by the U.S. State Department, leading her band on tours across multiple countries, including Japan, Turkey, and China.

Kelley Johnson's background includes growing up in Ironwood, Michigan, surrounded by a diverse range of music genres. She developed her jazz skills through both formal education at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music and informal learning in Milwaukee jazz clubs. Kelley is not only a singer but also a music educator, composer, arranger, lyricist, poet, and producer, with several internationally distributed albums on her label, Sapphire Records.