Kelly Joe Phelps

Kelly Joe Phelps (born in Sumner, Washington, on 5 October 1959; died 31 May 2022) was an American musician and songwriter. His music was characterized as a mixture of delta blues and jazz. Phelps grew up in a blue-collar and farming town. He learned country and folk songs, as well as drums and piano, from his father. He began playing guitar at 12. Phelps concentrated on free jazz and took his cues from musicians like Ornette Coleman, Miles Davis, and John Coltrane.