Kelly Moneymaker
Kelly Susan Moneymaker is an American singer, songwriter, producer, and documentary film director.
Early career
She was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska. As a teenager, Moneymaker moved to Seattle to co-found the band BoyToy with Michele Rundgren, which led to opening for The Tubes on their Love Bomb Tour. A few years later, she moved to California and worked with Todd Rundgren, Wayne Newton, Connie Stevens, Enya, Meat Loaf, Ringo Starr, Diana Ross and many more.Exposé
Moneymaker was invited to join Exposé by Jeanette Jurado after being introduced to her by a mutual friend, precipitated by Gioia Bruno's departure due to a medical condition. Moneymaker performed on the Exposé LP, which launched the hits "I Wish the Phone Would Ring," "I'll Never Get over You," "In Walked Love," and "As Long As I Can Dream," as well as the new tracks for their Greatest Hits album, one of which was "End of the World," featured on the Free Willy 2 soundtrack.In 1996, when Arista Records dropped Exposé's contract, Moneymaker pursued solo projects. However, she is still an honorary member of the group, and appears with them on special occasions.
Post-Exposé career
Moneymaker has released several independent albums: Stone LP ; Race against the Sky ; Back Seat Taxi by Back Seat Taxi; Goddess Killer by Silvermoney ; Like a Blackbird , and Through the Basement Walls, from which "Angels in the Snow" broke a record in Billboard Single Sales as an independent release. "Can't Live without Your Love" reached #1 on the New Music Weekly AC40 singles chart, and became the theme song for NBC's Days of Our Lives' "supercouple" Bo and Hope. That song's success resulted in her co-writing and co-producing the Love Songs LP for Days of Our Lives; she was a featured artist on the album, and has made appearances on the show as herself. Kelly has also released holiday singles for charity, including "You Are a Snowball," "Jingle Bells," and "No Place Like Home for the Holidays," featuring Sean Holt on saxophone.The original music Kelly writes, performs, and produces has been featured on TV shows such as CSI, Without a Trace, Gossip Girl, Hawaii 5-0, Parenthood, and others. Movies to which she has contributed include Warrior, American Pie: The Naked Mile, Get Smart's Bruce and Lloyd: Out of Control, Confessions of a Go-Go Girl, and others. She also contributed to the video game Guitar Hero.
Kelly's all-star band In the Black includes Tower of Power drummer Herman Matthews, guitarist Gabriel Moses, and bassist Michael Mennell. Guest musicians on her latest album Stone include Tower of Power Horns performer/arranger Bill Churchville, saxophonist Sean Holt, keyboardist Scott Sheriff, Michael Webb, and guitarist Kenny Vaughan. Guest vocalists include Robbie Wyckoff, Will Wheaton, and Michael Mishaw. Choir includes Bernadette Barlow, Gia Cambiotti, Lynn Fanelli, Adam "Ae'jaye Jackson, Connie Jackson, K.W. Miller, Janelle Sadler, and Marina V.