Mark Kelly (keyboardist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mark Kelly
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Kelly with Marillion at the Lieder am See Festival in Spalt, Germany, in 2016
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Mark Colbert Kelly |
| Born | 9 April 1961 Dublin, Ireland |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Keyboard |
| Years active | 1980–present |
Mark Kelly is a talented musician from Ireland. He plays the keyboard for the famous band Marillion. He was born in 1961.
Contents
Mark Kelly's Early Life and Music Journey
Mark Kelly was born on April 9, 1961. He grew up in Ireland. In 1969, he moved to England with his family.
Before joining Marillion, Mark studied electronics. He also played keyboards part-time. He was in a band called Chemical Alice. They released an EP called Curiouser and Curiouser in 1981.
Joining the Band Marillion
Marillion supported Chemical Alice at a show. Mark was then asked to join Marillion. He replaced their first keyboard player, Brian Jelliman. His first show with Marillion was on December 1, 1981. It took place at the Great Northern in Cambridge.
Mark has played on every studio album Marillion has released. He also played keyboards for other artists. These include John Wesley's album Under the Red and White Sky in 1994. He also worked on Jump's album Myth of Independence in 1995.
Other Musical Projects
Mark Kelly has also performed with other bands. He played keyboards for Travis. This was at the Isle of Wight Festival in 2005. He also played with them at T in the Park in 2005.
In 2011, he played keyboards for Edison's Children. This was for their album "In The Last Waking Moments...". He sang on the song The Awakening with Steve Hogarth.
In 2016, Mark was a guest keyboardist for Ayreon. He played on their 2017 album The Source.
Mark Kelly's Innovations in Music
Mark Kelly is known for a big idea in music. He helped invent online crowdfunding. This is when fans give money to help artists make music. Marillion used this to fund their 2001 album Anoraknophobia.
This idea came after fans funded a Marillion tour in the United States in 1997. Mark's ideas have been copied by many other musicians.
Supporting Artists' Rights
Mark was also a Co-CEO of the Featured Artists Coalition. This group helps musicians with their rights. It focuses on how artists are treated in the digital world. Mark left this role in 2018.
From 2009 to 2020, Mark was a director for PPL. This organization helps make sure musicians get paid when their music is played.
Mark Kelly's Solo Work
In September 2020, Mark Kelly started a new solo band. It is called Mark Kelly's Marathon. They released their first single, "Amelia." Their first album came out in November 2020.
