About Guy Kelly
Lived 1906 – 1940 (aged 33). Guy Kelly was an American jazz musician, singer and musician.
Guy Kelly (November 22, 1906 – February 24, 1940) was an American jazz trumpeter and singer.
Life and career Guy Edgar Kelly was born in Scotlandville, Louisiana on November 22, 1906. In his early career he performed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a band led by Toots Johnson before going to New Orleans to play in Papa Celestin's band in 1927-1928. In 1929, he went on tour as a member of Kid Howard's band, and then joined Boyd Atkins's band in the summer of 1930.
By 1931, Kelly had moved to Chicago where he was working with Cassino Simpson and Erskine Tate. Other Chicago musicians he worked with in the 1930s included banjoist Ed Carry (1932), Dave Peyton (1934), Tiny Parham (1934), Carroll Dickerson (1934, 1937–1938), Jimmie Noone (1935-1936), and Albert Ammons (1935-1936, 1939 and 1940s).
Kelly appears on the Noone classic "The Blues Jumped a Rabbit", recorded Chicago January 15, 1936. Kelly died February 24, 1940.
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Important facts
People in Guy Kelly's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Guy Kelly's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Guy Kelly?
American musician (1906-1940)
When was Guy Kelly born?
Guy Kelly was born on 22 November 1906.
When did Guy Kelly die?
Guy Kelly died on 24 February 1940 in Chicago.
What was Guy Kelly's occupation?
Guy Kelly was a jazz musician, singer and musician.
What nationality was Guy Kelly?
Guy Kelly was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Guy Kelly. https://biography.guide/guy-kelly/
MLA: "Guy Kelly." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/guy-kelly/.
Chicago: "Guy Kelly." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/guy-kelly/.
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