With 11 CD’s now on the market, Kelli’s recording career began on Warner Bros. German label, Eagle Records with the release of a self-titled CD which topped charts at #4 in Belgium and #7 in Holland. It would be Mercury Rock-a-Billy artist, “Mr. Action” Roy Moss who would give her the thrown. After working several shows, Roy took notice of; not only her already award winning vocals, (Voice Scholarship) but also her unique and signature piano style taught to her by her Mother. He asked her along with guitar legend, Johnny Patterson to play on his next project for Eagle Records. In the album liner notes he would call her, “the Star of Texas”; however, he would soon change it to, “the Swingin’ Little Miss from Texas” and finally, “the Queen of Swing”. Kelli would later headline with R&B legend, Carl Perkins who would agree. Today she is known around the world as, The Queen of Swing™.

Her new release, “Swing-a-Billy” is adding to her legacy with fans coming in from all corners of the world. 4 STAR reviews with French critic, Bernard Boyat exclaiming it, “SUPERBES!” Set in the 50’s Jump, Swing & Rhythm & Blues style, this music graduate: Sings, Writes, Arranges and Plays all instruments except guitar. It is an amazing feat that very few artists would be able to accomplish and one the Queen of Swing™ says she is not likely to do again. From now own it will be her BAND OF FIVE, “The Swing Kings”. 4 Songs were placed by the Grammy® reviewing board for consideration in “Best Pop Vocal Performance” for the 2013 award ceremonies.

Her first recognition in the Blues came from Billboard when she received an “Honorable Mention” for her R&B original, 
“The Way Love Use to Be” from the cassette album, “Honky Tonk Rock” which would later be re-released as, “Honky Tonk Swing” receiving
 4 Star reviews in magazines around the world. She is a licensed BMI songwriter.

The CD, “Swing ‘n Blues” focused on the joining of her R&B / Blues accolades with her now Swing title and signature piano style. Her own blues tune, “Loose Woman Blues” captured the attention of the Grammy® Reviewing Board and was placed in contention for 
“Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals”. She included “Jump, Jive & Wail” from the great Louie Prima and covered 
“The Blues Brothers”, “All My Money Back.” She would incorporate this CD into an original musical review, “Swingin’ the Blues” with her performance fees subsidized by the National Endowment for the Arts. She began headlining in casinos across the country and performing art theatres. She would headline with some of the biggest names and appear in some of the biggest venues in the industry. Her new show "SWING" is a derivative of that show adding some of her new original material. Performing Art directors publicly declared Kelli, “an exceptional entertainer”. Because of her extensive research in writing her show, “Swingin’ the Blues” she  was a Table Top Speaker for the Texas Arts & Exchange Conference. 

The CD, “Blues to Me!” followed “Swing ‘n Blues” and would include several of her own blues tunes and would be considered by one of the largest organizations in the industry as a chronicle on the diverse styles of the blues; Swing, Jump, Country, Rhythm, Western and Kelli’s award winning style she calls, “Pure Blues.” 2 of those originals: “B-A-D, BAD” & “Strut My Stuff” would be placed on the Grammy® Voting list in consideration for “Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance”.

Kelli went back to her roots for the CD, “Rock-a-Billy U.S.A.” which was done for the 10 year anniversary of her mentor and friend Mercury Rock-a-Billy artist, “Mr. Action” Roy Moss. Kelli recorded some R&B, Rock-a-Billy, 50’s Swing standards, added a LIVE cut of her husband, Johnny Patterson playing the guitar instrumental, “Honky Tonk” and took the 4 songs Roy had partially recorded editing the pieces to make a complete song. Wanting to honor her mentor and friend, the CD received 5 Star reviews. Roy had started a new album but unfortunately would never be able to finish the project. He passed away from lung cancer in September 1998. She did not realize it would also commemorate Johnny's career. He passed away 2010. 

Considering September 11th, 2001 to be one of the bluest day in America’s history she wrote “Stand Up for the U.S.A.” to honor; not only her father, Seaman 3rd Class Robert Johnson but all of our veterans and the families and victims of this horrible tragedy. In 2007 she wrote the recitation, “I Wouldn’t Go …” to honor her father with the song heard in the background. Both were heard on radio stations across the country for the 70th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor 2011 with local radio stations dedicating their program to her father who was critically ill. Unfortunately, her father passed away the night before. 

Being from Texas, The Queen of Swing™ and due to her husband’s influence the late Johnny Patterson who had worked with the King of Western Swing, Bob Wills, Kelli recorded a Texas Swing CD, “Swing Like That in 2000 which was the first time her title was documented but not registered as a Federal trademark until 2006. The CD topped charts at #6 and her own swing tune #2. Due to its popularity, she was inducted into the Western Swing Hall of Fame. A few years later, Kelli wrote / recorded “Don’t Mess With Texas” for the Texas Department of Transportation, which is the reason she registered the title as a trademark. She recorded Public Service Announcements for the states litter campaign and wrote her own slogan, ‘Bag It, Trash It”. In 2009, she won the Will Rogers Award Female Artist of the Year for her CD, “Swings & Sings” and with fan voting only she was the only female nominee for the RMA Artist of the Year.

As her name and notoriety continued to grow she was one of only 209 Texas artists selected to be on the Texas Touring Roster. The Texas Commission on the Arts solicited her help to stop funding cuts to the arts with Public Service Announcements. 

With required nomination and sponsorship, Kelli was included in the Mid-America Arts Alliance Touring roster with subsidized funding by the National Endowment for the Arts. With extensive research she wrote a musical revue, “Swingin’ the Blues”. The highly acclaimed original revue, designed as a clever way to showcase her CD’s, takes the audience down a musical highway of Blues, Jazz & Swing as the Swing Queen follows the BEAT from New Orleans to New York City, Chicago to Kansas City, Memphis to Vegas and to the GREAT state of Texas. Telling little known facts and funny anecdotes Kelli demonstrates “Swings” evolution into a musical revolution. (psst, don’t tell anyone but the show is very educational) 

As an Award winning Singer, she was inducted into World Who's Who Jazz Cabaret Singers, New York, NY - Federation of American Musicians and the Heritage Registry of Who’s Who - Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.  Her vocals are low and sultry and, almost mesmerizing. Her Pop CD, “Softer Side of Swing” was ONE of only 36 albums on the Grammy® voting list for “Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album” and her own pop single, “If You Were the One” in contention for “Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance”. (Not Nominated) 

Endorsed by Jean Bennett, the responsible management for the success of “The Platters” & their 16 Gold records Jean declares Kelli “a consummate entertainer”, A TRIPLE THREAT: Singer, Songwriter and Musician and she is also very funny and, pretty.

Few artists are credited with creating their own musical style. Known for her signature piano style in which Kelli plays a walking 4/4 “swing” bass line in her left hand coupled with piano poundin’ rock-a-billy leads in the right. She combine the two styles to call her musical style, Swing-a-Billy™ which only the Queen of Swing™ can bring.


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