Joni Mitchell, Ben Folds, Billy Joel, Carole King, Colbie Caillat, Jewel, Lisa Loeb, Shawn Colvin, Sarah McLachlan, Sara Bareilles, KT Tunstall, Anna Nalick, Rosie Thomas, Ingrid Michelson, Vanessa Carlton, Michelle Branch, Sheryll Crow, Paula Cole, Damien Rice, Elton John, David Grey, Jon McLaughlin, Blessid Union of Souls, Marc Cohns, Joshua Radin, The Beatles, Natalie Grant, Nichole Nordeman, Ginny Owens, Rich Mullins, Amy Grant, Shane and Shane, Bethany Dillon, Jason Upton, Monk and Neagle, Jon Foreman, Jennifer Knapp...
Sounds Like
Kind of a mix between Joni Mitchell, Colbie Caillat, Shawn Colvin, Lisa Loeb, Carole King, Jewel, Sarah McLachlan, Anna Nalick, Sheryll Crow, Paula Cole, Michelle Branch, Natalie Grant, Nichole Nordeman, Jennifer Knapp, Ginny Owens, Bethany Dillon, and Amy Grant... but really, it just sounds like me!
BOOKING CONTACT: info@kellymurraymusic.com
View Kelly Murray's EPK
Kelly cannot remember a time before she considered herself a musician. Just as Ray Charles once said, "I was born with my music inside of me. That's the only explanation I know of." Born and raised in the Maryland suburbs of Washington DC, Kelly began taking piano lessons at the age of four. However, it wasn't until her early teen years that Kelly began to write her own music. “I can still remember when it all started. I had just purchased Jewel's debut album “Pieces of You” and was completely mesmerized by what I heard.” says Kelly. “Jewel wasn't afraid to be vulnerable. Listening to her music was like hearing the journal entries of a soulmate. I was so inspired that I pulled out a notepad right then and there and began to write. I've been writing on a regular basis ever since.”
During these teen years, Kelly also began to develop a passion for knowing God and making Him known. As Kelly's faith began to deepen, so did her heart for the lost and the struggling believer. “I've always had a lot of friends who either struggle with their faith or don't share my faith at all. I guess I just gravitate towards people who are searching. I may know what I believe, but I also understand what it's like to struggle internally. I had a tough time learning how to understand and accept myself growing up, especially during the high school/college years. Who knows where I'd be without the upbringing I had. It's always bothered me when Christians don't want anything to do with those who don't believe or live exactly as they do. Christ befriended all kinds of people during his years on earth. It was His love that changed lives. I want to live like Christ, be His hands and feet, and live out His message of unconditional love. I believe that this is what it means to be a Christ follower.”
After graduating high school, Kelly moved to the New York City area to study music at Nyack College. She then transferred to Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, to finish her degree. After graduating college, Kelly moved to Atlanta, GA, to pursue a career as the Director of Music and Curriculum for a children's performing arts center. “Everything was great. If someone had told me what the next two years of my life was going to be like at that point, I would have laughed in their face and told them to leave me alone. But then the hard times came. At first I lost my job unexpectedly in a way that was very painful to deal with. The worst part was that it robbed my passion for music. I literally packed my instruments up and didn't play or sing for months. However, even in the midst of this season, God was still at work. A defining moment came during a chance meeting with an old friend, who, realizing how much Kelly had lost herself, challenged her to move forward, rediscover her passions, and pursue her dreams. “That night I wrote “Let Me Fall” in response to this encounter. It flowed out like water bursting through a river dam. With shaking hands and teary eyes, I realized that music was inside of me waiting to be written. And I knew what I wanted to do: I wanted to share my music with the world.”
As Kelly began to move forward, God began to open doors. “I put “Let Me Fall” on MySpace and within a few months was contacted by an A&R rep who wanted to present my music to major record labels.” A couple of labels, including Atlantic Records, entertained offers with Kelly, but she decided to remain unsigned while developing herself as an artist. I was connected with Now more motivated than ever, Kelly continued to write music. And as she did, more people began to take notice. “I started my MySpace page with about 100 friends. I now have over 10,000. The response has been humbling and exciting. My recordings were by no means professional at the time. I think people were just able to relate to what I was putting out there.”
But God allowed a wake up call to take place in Kelly's life. “Basically, I had to learn a very tough lesson the hard way. My entire world was rocked. The snowball effect led to some significant losses and damaged relationships. It brought upon my life great feelings of rejection, loneliness, and low self-worth. This was hands down the most painful experience I have ever gone through."
However, through the brokenness, God began to really dig at Kelly's roots and heal her from the inside out. “It's not as if one day I just woke up completely fine. It has been and continues to be a lengthy recovery that I am still learning from to this day. But this is what I can say: God used the situation to bring me to my knees and to a place of complete surrender." He has also given Kelly a heart for the broken. “I know some people think the words "God saved me" are lame, cliche, or even untrue. But when you really experience it to the level I did, you just want to shout it from the rooftops so everyone else can experience God too. His grace truly is amazing! When I look back at the slimy pit I was in and see the solid rock He has placed under my feet, I want to share my testimony with others, that I may be able to offer a message of hope to those who feel hopeless. Christ died for us in order to love us to wholeness. The enemy wants us to believe that the love of God can only be earned by our goodness. But there is nothing you can do to make God love you more, and there is nothing you can do to make Him love you less. It doesn't matter what you've done or where you've been. The love of God is unconditional and unfailing. And it is in His love alone that you are made complete."
Kelly Murray has continued to pursue her music career, this time refocusing on her original passion: to use music to serve God. “This time it's not about me. It's about using my music for Him. I've learned that those tough circumstances were never meant to be dead ends, but opportunities for character to seep in like rain and allow me to grow. For that, I can be nothing other than thankful. I've also been learning that it's okay to be that imperfect and vulnerable self that I try so hard to cover up. I can't explain the freedom that has come from learning to love the person in me that God loves, despite the flaws and failures. Afterall it's our cracks that allow our light to shine through." And the doors continue to open. In May 2008, Kelly won a songwriting contest through Songwriter's Universe for her well liked tune, “Like I'm Beautiful.” She also opened for Blessid Union of Souls on their "Close To The Edge" tour in the winter of 2008-2009. During this time, Kelly recorded her debut album "Like I'm Beautiful" with producer Eliot Sloan, the front man of Blessid Union of Souls, scheduled for a release this fall. She recently finished a solo tour up the east coast, which included performances at the Annual 500 Songs for Kids Concert in Atlanta, Springfest in North Jersey, and Florida Music Festival in Orlando. "Like I'm Beautiful" has begun to capture some attention from the industry, and there is much going on behind the scenes to be announced soon. "This is only the beginning of my budding music career, so I hope you will join me on my musical journey as I share my message of hope and help fight battles beyond my own!"
Kelly, Thank you for adding me to your list of friends. I really appreciate it. My current project is a fiction novel with CD soundtrack due out this fall. Wishing you continued success and a wonderful musical and happy weekend.
Hello Kelly my name is Doug and thank you for the add and for the love and friendship on myspace your a very beautiful woman and I love your music and your songs there very good and your a great singer and could you please comment me back it would mean a lot to me and thanks again for the add and take care.
Hello Kelly Murray My Names Adam Its nice to meet you Sweetie on MySpace and your Music is so great and I love the Songs they are a Joy to listen to and I be so Honord if you can please Sign my new myspace Guest Book with a Picture along with a friendly Comment and as well with another Comment on my page thank you Sweetie take care all the best.
Hi stopping by to say Hi and invite you to a listen of my new minute long version of White Christmas.More to come soon.Thank you for your support and the Best To you,the best always. tim
Love and Respect's to you From over here in VancIty...:} could you let me know what you think of the new demo on my page .. The first song on the list (If I come down)tnx
Kelly cannot remember a time before she considered herself a musician. Just as Ray Charles once said, "I was born with my music inside of me. That's the only explanation I know of." Born and raised in the Maryland suburbs of Washington DC, Kelly began taking piano lessons at the age of four. However, it wasn't until her early teen years that Kelly began to write her own music. “I can still remember when it all started. I had just purchased Jewel's debut album “Pieces of You” and was completely mesmerized by what I heard.” says Kelly. “Jewel wasn't afraid to be vulnerable. Listening to her music was like hearing the journal entries of a soulmate. I was so inspired that I pulled out a notepad right then and there and began to write. I've been writing on a regular basis ever since.”
During these teen years, Kelly also began to develop a passion for knowing God and making Him known. As Kelly's faith began to deepen, so did her heart for the lost and the struggling believer. “I've always had a lot of friends who either struggle with their faith or don't share my faith at all. I guess I just gravitate towards people who are searching. I may know what I believe, but I also understand what it's like to struggle internally. I had a tough time learning how to understand and accept myself growing up, especially during the high school/college years. Who knows where I'd be without the upbringing I had. It's always bothered me when Christians don't want anything to do with those who don't believe or live exactly as they do. Christ befriended all kinds of people during his years on earth. It was His love that changed lives. I want to live like Christ, be His hands and feet, and live out His message of unconditional love. I believe that this is what it means to be a Christ follower.”
After graduating high school, Kelly moved to the New York City area to study music at Nyack College. She then transferred to Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, to finish her degree. After graduating college, Kelly moved to Atlanta, GA, to pursue a career as the Director of Music and Curriculum for a children's performing arts center. “Everything was great. If someone had told me what the next two years of my life was going to be like at that point, I would have laughed in their face and told them to leave me alone. But then the hard times came. At first I lost my job unexpectedly in a way that was very painful to deal with. The worst part was that it robbed my passion for music. I literally packed my instruments up and didn't play or sing for months. However, even in the midst of this season, God was still at work. A defining moment came during a chance meeting with an old friend, who, realizing how much Kelly had lost herself, challenged her to move forward, rediscover her passions, and pursue her dreams. “That night I wrote “Let Me Fall” in response to this encounter. It flowed out like water bursting through a river dam. With shaking hands and teary eyes, I realized that music was inside of me waiting to be written. And I knew what I wanted to do: I wanted to share my music with the world.”
As Kelly began to move forward, God began to open doors. “I put “Let Me Fall” on MySpace and within a few months was contacted by an A&R rep who wanted to present my music to major record labels.” A couple of labels, including Atlantic Records, entertained offers with Kelly, but she decided to remain unsigned while developing herself as an artist. I was connected with Now more motivated than ever, Kelly continued to write music. And as she did, more people began to take notice. “I started my MySpace page with about 100 friends. I now have over 10,000. The response has been humbling and exciting. My recordings were by no means professional at the time. I think people were just able to relate to what I was putting out there.”
But God allowed a wake up call to take place in Kelly's life. “Basically, I had to learn a very tough lesson the hard way. My entire world was rocked. The snowball effect led to some significant losses and damaged relationships. It brought upon my life great feelings of rejection, loneliness, and low self-worth. This was hands down the most painful experience I have ever gone through."
However, through the brokenness, God began to really dig at Kelly's roots and heal her from the inside out. “It's not as if one day I just woke up completely fine. It has been and continues to be a lengthy recovery that I am still learning from to this day. But this is what I can say: God used the situation to bring me to my knees and to a place of complete surrender." He has also given Kelly a heart for the broken. “I know some people think the words "God saved me" are lame, cliche, or even untrue. But when you really experience it to the level I did, you just want to shout it from the rooftops so everyone else can experience God too. His grace truly is amazing! When I look back at the slimy pit I was in and see the solid rock He has placed under my feet, I want to share my testimony with others, that I may be able to offer a message of hope to those who feel hopeless. Christ died for us in order to love us to wholeness. The enemy wants us to believe that the love of God can only be earned by our goodness. But there is nothing you can do to make God love you more, and there is nothing you can do to make Him love you less. It doesn't matter what you've done or where you've been. The love of God is unconditional and unfailing. And it is in His love alone that you are made complete."
Kelly Murray has continued to pursue her music career, this time refocusing on her original passion: to use music to serve God. “This time it's not about me. It's about using my music for Him. I've learned that those tough circumstances were never meant to be dead ends, but opportunities for character to seep in like rain and allow me to grow. For that, I can be nothing other than thankful. I've also been learning that it's okay to be that imperfect and vulnerable self that I try so hard to cover up. I can't explain the freedom that has come from learning to love the person in me that God loves, despite the flaws and failures. Afterall it's our cracks that allow our light to shine through." And the doors continue to open. In May 2008, Kelly won a songwriting contest through Songwriter's Universe for her well liked tune, “Like I'm Beautiful.” She also opened for Blessid Union of Souls on their "Close To The Edge" tour in the winter of 2008-2009. During this time, Kelly recorded her debut album "Like I'm Beautiful" with producer Eliot Sloan, the front man of Blessid Union of Souls, scheduled for a release this fall. She recently finished a solo tour up the east coast, which included performances at the Annual 500 Songs for Kids Concert in Atlanta, Springfest in North Jersey, and Florida Music Festival in Orlando. "Like I'm Beautiful" has begun to capture some attention from the industry, and there is much going on behind the scenes to be announced soon. "This is only the beginning of my budding music career, so I hope you will join me on my musical journey as I share my message of hope and help fight battles beyond my own!"
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