Kelsey Taylor

“Music is more than simply a part of my life, it is an indivisible part of my being. Music can open places in the soul to feelings and emotions that mere time and experience alone might not. In fact, music reminds me that I have a soul. . .” Kelsey Taylor

With a voice that turns heads, and a dazzling smile that warms hearts, Kelsey Taylor captivates her audiences with her flawless delivery and ability to pull the listener into the song with her. Bono once said that Sinatra invites you into the song with him, where he lives. Few singers can be so open and intimate with their audiences, but for Kelsey it comes naturally.

As a native of Dallas, Texas, Kelsey grew up surrounded by a very musical family. In her own words her most powerful inspiration came from her favorite musicians and performers, her family. As she put it “It would be impossible to separate myself from the way my family has shaped who I am as a vocalist.” From early childhood through high school music was a big part of her life. She sang in church choirs, school choirs and vocal ensembles, and formed a folk rock duo with a best friend which performed at many local and school events. It was a great time in her life. Outside her family there were many other major musical influences that shaped her vocal development such as Ella Fitzgerald, Barbara Streisand, The Indigo Girls, Natalie Merchant, Sarah McLachlan, Patsy Cline, and her idol, Cher. Then in 1999 she graduated from high school and left all the music behind her.

Following in her family’s footsteps she attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas, but after two years transferred to Texas A&M in College Station, Texas. Having made the decision to not pursue music as a career, Kelsey obtained her BBA in finance in 2004. Far from beginning the corporate business career she had imagined, Kelsey accepted the manager’s position at a local restaurant where she had worked as a server during college, Café Eccell. For the next several years her life was immersed in the all consuming world of restaurant management. The position of music in her life was reduced to humming in the shower and singing in the car.

There was a good reason for staying in College Station and taking a job that had nothing to do with her degree, she had fallen in love. Kelsey had met Chris Taylor at Café Eccell. An exceptionally good looking and mysterious dark haired man, Chris is a certified Sommelier, an expert in wine. He is also experienced at managing upscale restaurants and was involved in the upstart of a new high end restaurant in College Station named Verita’s Wine & Bistro. Kelsey joined Chris as part of the management team at Veritas. The job was highly stressful though and very demanding and in June 2007 Kelsey decided it was time to take a step back and evaluate her life choices. Leaving Chris behind, she headed to Paris, France for the summer to clear her head.

Kelsey returned from Paris with a fresh abundance of self esteem and a new career path in mind – law school. She returned to College Station and accepted an entry level job at a local law firm. For almost 10 years the music inside her had laid dormant. That was all about to change.

In December of 2007 Kelsey’s boyfriend was extremely distressed because the entertainment he had booked for the New Year’s Eve bash at Verita’s had cancelled. Without thinking or even knowing why she said it, Kelsey blurted out “I’ll do it,” to which her stunned boyfriend replied “Seriously? Sing something.” As Kelsey found herself doing an impromptu audition for her boyfriend in his living room, it dawned on her that in the 3 years they had been together he had never heard her sing. With only two weeks to pull a band together and rehearse, nervousness became her constant companion, but she pulled it off and the New Year’s Eve party was a huge success! This sparked Kelsey’s desire to sing again, and she began working with a local college band whenever she could.

In May of 2008 Kelsey Mullens became Mrs. Chris Taylor. To Kelsey the wedding had been somewhat of a blur but afterwards she kept hearing comments from family and friends about how wonderful the music at her reception had been. She knew that there had been a last minute cancellation and a well known local jazz pianist, Greg Tivis, had been hired to fill in. A couple of months later, when the Greg Tivis Trio was performing at the upscale Verita’s Wine & Bistro which her husband still managed, Kelsey sheepishly approached Mr. Tivis and asked if he might be able to use a female vocalist from time to time. He reluctantly agreed to let her audition for him. Later he would refer to it as one of the best decisions of his life.

As a vocalist, Kelsey Taylor’s music transcends multiple genres, from easy listening to traditional pop, to straight ahead jazz to down and dirty blues. Her sound is pure and her style graceful and yet powerful. Add that to the polished sound of the Greg Tivis Trio and it’s a combination that will win you over every time.

“As I continue to re-learn how to sing and perform, I have also relished the opportunity to discover more about this fabulous and exciting musical genre. Truly they are called “standards” for a reason. The longevity and staying power of many of the songs from the Great American Songbook and the jazz era is a tremendous testament to their timeless ability to captivate audiences. My metamorphosis to professional entertainer is far from complete, but the process is made easier by the fact that both the music and my pianist are just so damn good!” Kelsey Taylor