Tom Kelly (musician)

Thomas F. Kelly(born April 16, 1952) is an American musician. WithBilly Steinberghe co-wrote numerous hit songs for popular music artists, including five number-one singles on theBillboardHot 100chart in the 1980s.

Tom Kelly
Kelly performing at the 2011ASCAPconcert
Background information
Birth name	Thomas F. Kelly
Born	(1952-04-16)April 16, 1952 Indiana,U.S.
Occupations	Songwriter musician

Early life

Originally fromIndiana,Kelly lived inEffingham, Illinoisfrom 1963 to 1966, before moving back toWest Lafayette, Indianawhere he graduated fromWest Lafayette High Schoolin 1967.Kelly attendedEastern Illinois University,Southern Illinois University Carbondale,andPurdue University,but dropped out of college to pursue his music career.He playedbass guitarand sang in several bands throughout Illinois and Indiana in the late 1960s and early 1970s, including the Trifaris, the Gaping Huggers, the One Eyed Jacks, and the Guild.

In 1974 Kelly moved toLos Angeleswith his first wife, Kay Kelly, and two children, Barry and Denise. He played inDan Fogelberg's backup band, and joined with other members of the band under the name 'Fools Gold' to release two albums in 1976 and 1977. Kelly became a prominent session singer in Los Angeles, singingbacking vocalsfor many recording artists. He accompaniedTotoon their 1979 World Tour as a backing vocalist and rhythm guitarist, and sang background vocals on the Toto albumsToto IV,Isolation andThe Seventh One.In 1981 he wrote his first hit song, "Fire and Ice",withPat Benatarfor her albumPrecious Time.

Partnership with Billy Steinberg

After Kelly met Steinberg at a party in 1981, the duo began writing songs together, with Steinberg as lyricist and Kelly the principal music writer. Steinberg and Kelly wrote songs for a variety of popular music artists, including five number-one singles on theBillboard Hot 100chart. The pair also joined together as 'i-Ten' to release the albumTaking a Cold Lookin 1983.

Notable songs written by Steinberg and Kelly include:

• "True Colors",recorded byCyndi Lauperand byPhil Collins
• "Alone",originally recorded by his band i-Ten, re-recorded byHeartand byCeline Dion
• "In Your Room",recorded byThe Bangles(co-written withSusanna Hoffs)
• "Eternal Flame",recorded byThe Bangles(co-written withSusanna Hoffs)
• "I Drove All Night",recorded byCyndi Lauper,byRoy Orbisonand byCeline Dion
• "I'll Stand by You",recorded byThe Pretenders(co-written withChrissie Hynde)
• "I Touch Myself",recorded byDivinyls(co-written withChristina AmphlettandMark McEntee)
• "Like a Virgin",recorded byMadonna
• "So Emotional",recorded byWhitney Houston

Steinberg and Kelly were inducted into theSongwriters Hall of Famein 2011.

Later life

Kelly co-wrote "In My Dreams",recorded byREO SpeedwagonwithKevin Cronin,but Kelly lost enthusiasm for songwriting in the mid-1990s and went into semi-retirement in 1998. He remarried and had two more children. He lives inThousand Oaks, California,nearSherwood Country Club,where he enjoys playing golf regularly.

External links

• Songfacts interview with Billy Steinberg
• Tyson Kelly Spotify page