Kelly, Sandy, 1954-

b. 27 February 1954, Ballintogher, Co. Sligo, Eire, but raised in Wales. Kelly became a professional in her teens, singing with the Fairways Showband in Ireland and then with her younger sister Barbara and two cousins as the Duskeys. They represented Ireland in the 1982 Eurovision Song Contest. After developing a successful solo career in Ireland as a middle-of-the-road country singer, Kelly decided to promote the songs of her favourite performer, Patsy Cline. In her 1992 K-Tel videoThe Voice Of Sandy Kelly - The Songs Of Patsy Clyne (sic), she sang 13 songs by her musical hero, backed by the Jordanaires. Kelly was teamed with George Hamilton IV in the stage show Patsy Cline - A Musical Tribute, which toured the UK and Ireland for a year, including a three-month West End run. Sandy’s husband, Michael, plays bass and acts as musical director while her sister, Barbara Ellis (b. 8 October 1961, Mohill, Co. Leitrim, Eire) records for K-Tel (Ireland), releasing an album, Breakin’ Ground, in 1994. Kelly’s 1994 album Kelly’s Heroes includes duets with Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and both George Hamilton IV and V.

Irish singer Sandy Kelly