American Idol Aaron Kelly's Friends Speak Out

Our buddy Aaron Kelly wowed the audience again last night with his own take on a Sinatra classic during American idol. A pretty huge achievement for a boy who is a born country singer.

Tonight we will see what happens. I haven’t been this excited about the final four since Michael Jordan played for North Carolina. I sure hope Aaron keeps going, but no matter what happens, I feel Idol has given him the valuable exposure needed to launch a major career,

In a previous blog, I mentioned the annual Angelus event hosted by Charlie Daniels down in Florida as being the first place I met Aaron. I asked a few of the Angelus “regulars” to give me a quote about our boy, and here’s what I got.

Guy Gilchrist, the world famous cartoonist of Nancy and Muppets fame, and a singer songwriter to boot, is a regular at the Angelus event. The new Nashville resident had the following to say about his friend Aaron.

“I spoke to Aaron a few weeks ago. He was still the same sweet, amazingly lovable kid. He texted me to thank me for putting him in the Nancy Comic Strip. He couldn't believe it. What I can't believe, and am thrilled to know, is that NOW all of America knows the talented, heart of pure gold entertainer we have known since he was 9, Aaron Kelly. Or as i call him, "Elvis". He has "it". And the true blue heart and pure soul to make it all the way to the top and be the same wonderful person he is now. Last Charlie Palooza, I brought him up on stage for the finale, and he sang with all of us and shared a mic with Buffalo. Later, I took him out to the pool where our friends from Wiley Fox were jammin' and we all just tore it up. He is a blessing to all who have watched him grow up before our eyes. He is now a blessing - and a Star. When I was asked by the national media how many times I had put an American Idol contestant in the Nancy comic strip, I said..Once. And only once. There is only one Aaron Kelly.”

Another regular at Angelus is Rick Broyles, who not only acts as manager for the all-star Southern Rock band Ghost Riders, he is also professional videographer and photographer. Rick spoke to GRITZ.NET about his long friendship with Aaron.

“I first met the Kelly family during our appearance to the Angelus concert in 2005. I believe he was 11 years old and I thought what a presence and maturity this young man has. I heard him sing "Rockin' Robin" acappela on stage in a ball room in front of people like Charlie Daniels, Dickey Betts, Doug Gray and other classic rockers and let me tell you something, Aaron held nothing back. I immediately thought of a young Donnie Osmond type of talent which I believe I mentioned to him and his family that night. I was shooting video and had to see if what I just saw on stage was "repeatable" or not so after meeting Aaron, Kelly Kelly, his brother and family I asked him to come out on the front porch of the hotel and sing once more "Rockin' Robin" acappela for me, my brother and a couple others. Oh yeah, and my camera too. Wow! Put a smile on all our faces! One more thing that probably impressed me the most was the closeness of that family and the support they shared for and with Aaron. It takes a team and many to make your dreams come true and together you can make them happen.”\

Tammy Williams, who, along with her husband Gar, heads up the annual Charlie Daniels Angelus benefit, recalls her first encounter with a young, very young, Aaron Kelly.

“I remember that the 1st time I heard Aaron sing was at the Sheraton Sand Key in Clearwater at the Annual Charlie Daniels Benefit for The Angelus.  About a week before the event I got a call from Deborah Burge who is Aaron's cousin.  She asked me if her 9 year old cousin could sing at the event and since she was the marketing director for our title sponsor that year I said that I was sure we could let him do something in the hospitality suite and immediately starting thinking OK how are you gonna get out of this.
 
That weekend when I met Aaron he was an absolute doll in his cowboy hat that was twice as big as him; but I was still trying to figure out a way to get out of letting him sing!  because as everyone who has ever attended The Charlie Daniels/Angelus Event knows there are 2 things you can ALWAYS count on - good food and GREAT MUSIC! 
 
In the end I told him if he could get one of the bands scheduled to play to let him have some of their stage time he could sing.  The guys from Wiley Fox being the sweethearts that they are let him sing.  We were all blown away!  Aaron was FANTASTIC.  Every time we turned around that weekend he was on the stage in hospitality and everyone was gathered around and we were all just totally amazed at this little boy.
 
That was 8 years ago and he has been coming back every year since then.  Everyone at The Charlie Daniels/Angelus Event has watched go from a cute little boy who could really belt it out to an amazingly talented young man with a wide vocal range and a great stage presence, 
 
The best thing about Aaron is that no matter what the future holds for him.  He will always remember the residents of The Angelus and  will always be ready and willing to help them!”

Looks like everyone else feels the same as GRITZ does about Aaron. We love the boy, and wish him all the best!

Keep it Real. Keep it Southern.
Buffalo

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