Life Member. Cello
2/26/1938 – 3/4/2025

by Daniel Kelley

Ray Kelley had the cello career any musician would covet: a member of the Utah Symphony, Dallas Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, followed by decades of nonstop studio work during a golden era for records, jingles, live TV and motion pictures. But I would rather write about who he was.

Ray was the life of the party, the one who always wanted to make sure everyone around him was having a good time. The player who elicited countless “Your dad is my favorite stand partner” comments. He was renowned for dropping wicked lines with perfect timing, for making newcomers on any instrument feel welcome, and for mixing the best drinks around, more often than not out of the trunk of his Mustang, ice bucket included.

Our own relationship was a typical array of fights, hugs, disagreements, fantastic advice, misfired asides, make-ups, and periods of, well, no activity at all. But for the final 10 years of his life, he and I never clashed even once, and I got to know the man who drew so many musicians to tell me frankly, “I love your father. Let me tell you a story about him.”

I love you too, Dad. I’ll miss you more than I could possibly say.

Daniel