Biography

Since I can remember I have sung!  Born in Maroopna near Shepparton, I grew up on the Ord river in the Kimberleys, Darwin, Brisbane, Melbourne and Canberra. I first heard singing from the voices of Paul Robeson, Miriam Makeba, Odetta, Bessie Smith, Eartha Kitt, a myriad of finely tuned, well honed voices rich with living, poetry and authenticity. Folk songs, field hollers, blues, classics, amazing choirs, gypsy music..great food for a furtile mind.

My first performance at age 7 saw me in a Koala costume. Despite the heat and itch of my fur, the mask that blinded me and terror at the thought of messing up my 2 lines, I decided this was the life for me! Brilliant!

At Balwyn High age 13 I sang solo at a school concert. Petrified!! Yes, clearly I needed more of this feeling. It was obvious I would never be a sportsperson, or an academic. So the stage was IT. At 14 I joined the Ivanhoe church choir, on dad's suggestion. I still have the vinyl of us singing Handel's Messiah. Gorgeous! Choir offered training, picnics, lots of singing and a place where nice boys went! Round about then our family moved to Canberra. I went to Melrose High. Dad took me for an audition and I got into Canberra Opera Society. What an incredible experience for a 17 year old. No Koala masks here!! no! Big voices, huge hooped dresses (with stilettos a definate safety risk!), Dancing and prancing and singing ones face off to incredible music in foreign languages. MAD stuff! I learned singing with David Parker, esteemed Welsh tenor. We spent 3 years in a room housing a grand piano, singing arias in French (this time without the consonants-just the vowels.) Sing from your toes!!

We sang in beautiful venues, I sang solo with the youth orchestra...Oohhh. Wonderful. Although I loved the intensity of the Opera I yearned for something more gritty. I turned to the world of music theatre..kind of modern day vaudeville. One with the lot. More dancing, prancing, intense singing, acting. Wonderful fun.

By the time I was 24 I had two sons, Cameron and Aaron. Our family moved to the Gold Coast and I worked with bands singing RandB, Rock shows, supported The Divinyl's, The Drifters, The Platters, sang backing vocals and jingles in the studio. I was taught the fine art of studio singing by fellow musicians and friends, Rick Kent and Lee Conway.I toured rarely, not wanting to miss my family. I kept busy performing local shows and raising my boys. Like so many of the musos and artists in our community, I often worked as a bar maid, waitress, cook, chief bottle washer or whatever to keep the wolf from the door. Doing those jobs you can dream of something better, while you are growing as a soul, staying in touch and being inspired by people and experiences.

We moved to Melbourne in 1989, lured by cultural diversity and an historic city for my sons to explore.

If I have a home town, this is it. I met up with Boris Conley in 1990. We did shows at Virgonas on Brunswick Street. An old up-right piano in the corner, no microphone, we sang and played and stomped our way through blues and gospel music all night. Boy, they were great gigs. Since coming to Melbourne I've sung supports for Janis Ian, Eric Burden, John Hammond, Jose Feliciano, Manhattan Transfer and backing vocals for Paul Capsis with Kerri Simpson and L'il Fi. Festival engagements include Apollo Bay, Goulburn, Broadford and Brunswick...This city is positively crammed with fine musicians and artists, it's a music adventure out there! Presently I sing with Boris, Linda O'Brien, Neale Farnell, Nick Carrafa, Pete Howell, Herman Swaiger, sometimes with guest horn players. My repertoire is drawn from women performers 1920 to 1970, the Wild Women show tells their stories, sings their songs and wears the fashion of their times. Lots of fun. Something for everyone.

Occassionally I get a chance to sing with Neale's band Texas Flood.. I do love that! Rockin' Blues.

I love my work as musical director with the kids in my care from underprivileged backgrounds and I regularly tutor, which is very satisfying work. I won the "Best new female artist" award at Lithgow Australian Blues Artist awards in 1994. Kavisha Mazella and I are matrons of the Bendigo Gorgeous Voices Festival.

'The Cutters' released a rocking original CD "Blue Angel" in 1997. "Cry Baby" can be heard on my music page.
"Angel on his shoulder" and "KARD" are original collaborations with song writer Rocky Dabscheck. Fine recordings, strong songs and great performances. The newest CD offering is Wild Women. Recorded with Boris Conley, Peter Howell and Nick Carrafa. Guests Paul Williamson on Sax, Paul Dooley on Trumpet and Neale Farnell playing guitar, production and mix/mastering. A collection of blues, gospel, swing and RnB, the CD sports a great live sound. Neale and I are writing new material and we hope to get this to your ears soon. Very exciting original music. 

Oohh I can't wait!

I'd like to get your feedback-drop into the guestbook perhaps and say hello. Hello.

                                                               PEACE.                               Kelly Auty.