The Kelly Family is an European-American music group consisting of a multi-generational family, who plays 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, travelling around Europe in a double-decker bus and houseboat. Their image was enhanced by their eclectic and often home-made clothing and the very long hair worn by both male and female members of the band. In recent years they have presented a more modern look. The group had its origins in May 1965 when Daniel Kelly Sr. and his first wife Joanne left their native United States with their children Danny, Caroline, Kathy and Paul, and settled in Spain, where Daniel opened an antique shop.[1] Kelly and his wife Joanne separated, with Joanne returning to the US, and Kelly entering a relationship with Barbara Ann Suokko, who he was to marry in 1970.[1] Daniel Kelly and Barbara had eight children, with the eldest, John born in 1967 and the youngest, Angelo, in 1981. The children were home-schooled and lessons in music and dance.
In 1974 four of the older children, Caroline, Kathy, Paul and John, formed a band, The Kelly Kids, at first busking, then performing at parties and local events. They became well-known enough that they appeared on Spanish television in 1975.[2] The band was joined by the younger members of the family as they matured and learned to play musical instruments. (Their eldest brother Daniel Jerome Jr. suffered intellectual disability and did not participate in the family's musical performances.[1]) The band's popularity increased in Spain, with several performances on television and in circuses. In 1976 they went on tour as The Kelly Family, in Italy, Germany and Holland, followed by Ireland in 1977, then in 1978 toured again in their hallmark double decker bus.[1] Daniel Kelly and Barbara joined the children for performances, Barbara often performing with a baby in her arms.
In 1977 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.
Barbara Kelly died of breast cancer in 1982, shortly after the birth of the youngest child, Angelo. Her last words to her family were "Keep on singing!"[1] The band continued to record, Daniel Kelly having formed his own recording company in 1980. As the older members of the family reached adulthood, Caroline and Paul left the band and married. In 1990 Daniel Kelly suffered a stroke. However, he remained a leading figure in the group until his death in 2002.
The Kelly Family continued recording and performing, both together and as individuals. In the 1990s, the group enjoyed their biggest success. Their 1994 album Over the Hump sold more than 2.25 million copies in Germany alone , 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. In 1998 they bought a castle, Schloss Gymnich, on the Rhine near Cologne, Germany.[1] 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.
