Kevin Kelley is an award-winning, GRAMMY®-nominated musician and recording engineer.
His versatile skills as a professional drummer and sound engineer have placed him with notable artists such as Yolanda Adams, Tony Bennett, Shirley Murdock, Erykah Badu, Ramsey Lewis, The Temptations, and many more. He released his first album of 10 best-loved holiday tunes, A SOULFUL CHRISTMAS, in 2017. He returns with a new holiday single, “What Christmas Means To Me,” a warm, family-themed song that sparks nostalgia and joy of the holiday season.
“Christmas holds so many meanings—from the birth of Jesus Christ, the greatest gift, to family and giving,” says Kevin. “It was a blessing to write this song with two of my greatest gifts, my kids Cyan and Lil Kev, along with some of my amazing friends Ben Tankard, Phil Hugley, Byron ‘Mr. Talkbox’ Chambers, and Pat Bergeson.”
Listen To “What Christmas Means To Me”
Guitarist and harmonica player Patrick Bergeson adds the perfect nostalgic melody on the harmonica. Bergeson is best known for his live and session work with Michael McDonald, Chet Atkins, Lyle Lovett, Chuck Loeb, and Alison Krauss, and on movie soundtracks, Diary of a Mad Black Woman and Ratatouille: What’s Cooking? GRAMMY® Nominated R&B, Funk and Gospel artist Mr. Talkbox (Bruno Mars, Kendrick Lamar) also steps in for an appearance on the single, adding his signature ‘Talkbox’ essence and flair, while platinum-selling Jazz icon Ben Tankard creates the smoothest of smooth atmospheres on keys.
“What Christmas Means To Me” is an original holiday song recorded at Kevin’s Studio 2024 recording studio that also features Kevin’s daughter, Cyan Kelley on vocals, and his son, Kevin Martin William Kelley, on background vocals. Songwriters are Kevin, Cyan, Kevin M.W. Kelley, and Phil Hugley.
“There is nothing better than family and getting to spend time with the best people, and also being creative is something that is just unmatched,” says Cyan Kelley. “Christmas means love, rest, but also joy, and I got so much joy while making this song with my dad and my brother.”
Kevin Kelley is a 2025 Gospel Music Hall of Fame Inductee for his contributions to the genre. He also won the 2024 Avidity Award Mix Engineer Of The Year award and has GRAMMY® nominated credits as mastering engineer for “Lord Do It For Me(Live)” by Zacardi Cortez, musician/drummer on “Church Doors” by Yolanda Adams, and as engineer on HEART OF A HUMAN album by DOE.
“What Christmas Means To Me” is available now on all digital outlets. Add this warm holiday single to your Christmas playlist and have a Merry Christmas!
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