Kelly Moneymaker
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Kelly Moneymaker

Sherman Oaks, California, United States | SELF

Sherman Oaks, California, United States | SELF
Band Rock Blues

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"Kelly Moneymaker Popmatters Music Review"

EXCERPT: "As a performer, Moneymaker just doesn’t seem to know the term half-hearted because she goes at these various soul and rock songs like her very life depends upon her performances. The way she sings “Hello Beauty” is a lot like the great Tina Turner might have done it – like a full force gale.

In a world where Miley Cyrus’s tongue gets more attention than almost anything of true musical value, Moneymaker’s Race against the Sky is such a breath of fresh air. This is music made from the best ingredients on Earth (sorry Snapple), and when you create a meal out of top shelf elements, it’s nearly impossible to go wrong. It's the kind of soul music that stands the test of time.

It’s not fair to merely label Kelly Moneymaker as a former member of Exposé because she is so much more than that. It’s safe to say Moneymaker is writing and recording the best music of her life. We can only hope and pray these songs reach an appreciative audience – they’re just too good to waste."

Artist: Kelly Moneymaker
Album: Race against the Sky
Review By: Dan MacIntosh
Rating: 4 Stars (out of 5)

- Pop Matters


"Race Against The Sky CD Review by Heath Andrews"

EXCERPT: Moneymaker has put together a slamming, rocking blues/rock album that has some of the most soulful singing this side of Aretha Franklin. From the first note to the last, she belts out everything with forceful authority. Without exaggeration, Moneymaker is an incredibly powerful vocalist; her full-throated gusto is just as effective in her impassioned cries for love as it is in her moments of emotionally vulnerability.

Race Against The Sky is a major accomplishment for Kelly Moneymaker. As opposed to her work for television scores and soundtracks, this is a cohesive collection of powerful blues-rock that has her in incredible voice, backed by an incredible band. This is far removed from the days of Expose’ and represents a stunning achievement in musical growth and ability. Race Against The Sky is an album that can easily be heralded as much as it can be enjoyed.

Artist: Kelly Moneymaker
Album: Race Against The Sky
Review by: Heath Andrews
Rating 5 Stars (out of 5) - Review You


"Race Against The Sky Music Review by Andrew Greenhalgh"

EXCERPT: Singers are a dime a dozen these days, particularly with the rise of reality shows like American Idol, The Voice, and The X-Factor. And while there are plenty of great voices out there, singers who’ve done their time in vocal lessons, singing through scales and fine tuning their pitch, it’s the rare artist that comes along who was truly born to sing. Theirs is the voice that captivates from the first note to the last and, whether they’re singing from the Great American Songbook or the Los Angeles Metro Yellow Pages, listeners are drawn in, enraptured and unable to turn away.

Fairbanks, Alaska native Kelly Moneymaker is one of those rare individuals.

And Moneymaker truly is the star here, as she should be. Her voice is smoky and whiskey soaked, rich and resonant. She sings with a powerful energy that recalls fellow vocal greats like Janis Joplin and Tina Turner, as she swaggers through thirteen solid tracks of blues-rock goodness, shining all the way.

Kelly Moneymaker may be the best artist you’ve never heard and that’s not an overstatement. Gifted with a voice that is simply stunning and surrounded by a recording band that’s as strong as any out there, Moneymaker makes full use of each and every element on Race Against the Sky, crafting one of the tightest blues rock records heard in a long, long time. Don’t walk, but run to your nearest record store and grab this record now. You won’t be sorry…

Kelly Moneymaker and In the Black
Race Against the Sky
Reviewed by Andrew Greenhalgh
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 - Liverpool Daily Post UK


"Evan Wilson from Rogue Valley Messenger Interview with Kelly Moneymaker"

With a strong influence from Curtis Mayfield and company, Moneymaker combines soul, blues, rock and R&B to create incredibly down-to-earth and soulful music. Her acoustic set in Ashland with her band In the Black was fantastic and we are working on bringing them back to the Rogue Valley early next year. Her new album Race Against the Sky was recorded independently and is available on iTunes. - Rogue Valley Messenger


"Martinis And Bikinis"

Live Concert Review: Kelly Moneymaker (CD Release Party @themintLA October 1 by Luis Alexander

I attended an Exposé show 20 years removed from tonight that was a highlight for me as a 21 year old straight out of college. I reviewed that show as an intern for a rather large music newspaper, I have that show back then a pretty good review -- but this time -- fast-forward 20 years and it's not Exposé but one of it's former leading ladies gone solo -- Kelly Moneymaker -- and all I can say is WOW, say it backwards -- WOW!

I was not expecting this amount of POW from the petite singer/songwriter. If you are thinking sappy love songs or an electro pop sound reminiscent of the trio, you are most certainly mistaken. Erase that delusion. This was pure unapologetic soul, R&B, blues and some southern rock'n'roll...and Moneymaker proudly hails from Alaska!

The song list set she performed is from her newly released CD, Race Against The Sky. She opened with "Swampy Things" and sounded like Bonnie Raitt right out of the bayou to the self-titled "Race Against The Sky" ballad -- which by the way brought the crowd to their feet with applause at the end of the song. She then belted the toe-tapping, butt-slapping (pun intended) "Black Magic In Blue Jeans" a song about her husband's behind, which frankly got us all wanted to SEE that behind!

She closed with Koko Taylor's "Wang Dang Doodle" in her own Moneymaker version that I only wish was included on this new CD.

Holy crap, can she bring it!

The show was a graduate-level workshop on powerful rock & roll vocals. Her unique raspy waling came full force in most all of her tunes. I swear she was channeling Joplin on several occasions. She may sound like Janis Joplin or a Bonnie Raitt but Moneymaker has her own definitive sound, mark my word - including her own distinctive growl that had me saying "Yes, Yes, Yes!" on her "No, No, No" performance. I look forward to the day when I review another artist and report "she has a voice like Kelly Moneymaker!"

Throughout the show she demonstrated an absolute command of the stage. Even when she wasn't singing, you had to remind yourself to pay attention to her as-talented tour band, In The Black.

She revisits Los Angeles on November 1 at the House of Blues Foundation Room -- 11pm. Race Against The Sky can be purchased on iTunes or her website at www.KellyMoneymaker.com

4.75 out of 5 Stars - Luis Alexander (Blog)


"The Music Scene Magazine"

“Fact is, Moneymaker is one bizarre, enchanting, haunting, strangely seductive singer-songwriter with an album that demands to be listened to…” - The Music Scene Magazine


Discography

Kelly's Highlights

Former Member of Platinum Pop Trio, Exposé.

As a Writer/Producer/Performer:
Love Theme for Bo & Hope on NBC's Days of Our Lives
Days of Our Lives Love Songs CD
International Songwriter's Competition & Independent Music Awards Finalist 
Placements on Gray's Anatomy, American Pie Naked Mile, Guitar Hero, Gossip Girl, Hawaii 5-0, Burn Notice, Sony's Play Station 2, Confessions of a Go-Go Girl, Teen Cribs, Parenthood, The Heat 2013 Official Trailer with Melissa McCarthy & Sandra Bullock & more.
Music Supervisor/Music Editor - Venice The Series Season 3
Theme Song for The Grove 2013
Riptide Music 2006-Present

Kelly has shared stages and/or studios with:  Todd Rundgren, Stevie Wonder, Enya, Exposé, Diana Ross, Jewel, Meatloaf, Ringo Starr, Keith Urban, Johnny Winter, Phillip Walker & more...

Other Features on TV/Commercials:  Tonight Show, Good Morning America, Good Day New York, Bold & The Beautiful, Without A Trace, CSI Miami, Nissan, Sony Playstation 2, O'Douls, America's Next Top Model and more...

2013 - New CD "Race Against The Sky" Official Release Date October 1st, 2013!

Touring Band - Jen Leigh (George Clinton & Pfunk - guitar), Wade Biery (Glen Frey - bass), KW Miller (America's Next Top Model - keys), Dennis Morehouse (Gilby Clark - drums)

Photos

Bio

Alaskan-born, soulful rock powerhouse, Kelly Moneymaker, is surrounded by an incredibly talented band of musicians--Herman Matthews on drums (Tower of Power), Michael Mennell on bass (Kenny Loggins), Lenny Castro on percussion (Rolling Stones), Gabriel Moses (Macy Gray) & Bruce Watson (Foreigner) on guitars and guest keyboardist, Kim Bullard (Elton John).

Kelly Moneymaker & In The Black creates a fresh sound with a nod to classic rock. Their new cd, "Race Against The Sky" is an unfolding journey for listeners. From soulful ballads to crank-it-up rock to tribal influenced epics...this is a phenomenal band, cd and an experience not to be missed.

Engineered by Shin Miyazawa (Colbie Collait), Jorge Velasco (Macy Gray) & Frank Rosato (Peter Frampton)

Curt Schneider (Five For Fighting); Alternate mixes by Ryan Freeland (2013 Grammy Winner, Bonnie Raitt)

Mastered by four-time Grammy Winner, Gavin Lurssen (Lurssen Mastering)

What People Are Saying About Kelly Moneymaker & In The Black:

"I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to the release of Kelly's new album. The girl opens her mouth and it's an insta-celebration! It's like someone put Janis Joplin, Etta James & Tina Turner into a blender & came up with a stunning Kelly Kocktail! Give me more because I'm parched!" -- Paul Antonelli, Grammy Winning Music Supervisor & Associate Director, NBC's Days of Our Lives

"THAT VOICE! I swear this woman is channeling Janis Joplin! I'm blown away EVERY TIME I see Kelly live...and can't wait til the next time!" -- Lisa Foxx, Radio Host www.1043myfm.com

"With her wildly energetic and ultimately sexy voice, Kelly Moneymaker bring life to all her music! She captivates an audience while moving the listener through new worlds of beautiful story-telling and melody." -- Dan Silver, Producer Silver Sessions; Sr. Creative Director RipTide Music

"Moneymaker is one bizarre, strangely seductive singer-songwriter with a voice and an album that demands to be listened to." -- Music Scene Magazine

"Kelly Moneymaker and her band, In the Black, were AMAZING! Kellys soulful voice is phenomenal and it was great to have her and her talented band open up the City of Palm Deserts Fall Concert Series." -- Amy Lawrence, Special Programs Dept./City of Palm Desert

Band Members