Terrance Kelly was born October 29, 1962 in Oakland, CaliforniaHis late father was the esteemed jazz and gospel pianist, Ed KellyHis mother, the late Faye Kelly, was a gospel choir directress and pianistTogether with his three sisters, MrKelly grew up in a home filled with music.

MrKelly sang his first solo (as a boy soprano) and also directed his first choir at Allen Temple Baptist Church in Oakland, CaliforniaWith his sisters and their cousin, William Shaw, MrKelly performed for several years as The Kelly Family SingersIn high school, MrKelly joined Castlemont High's famed Castleers, traveling with them to Washington, D.Cand singing for President CarterLater, he sang with the Merritt College Traveling Voices and toured the South along with the Texas Southern Concert Choir.

MrKelly has garnered extensive musical credentials in both gospel and jazz musicHis operatic range and joyous emotional feel for the music make him a popular soloist as well as an accomplished director, composer and arrangerHis credits include choral arrangements on albums by Linda Ronstadt and the Kronos Quartet, and gospel arrangements of popular music for TV and video soundtracksIn addition, he wrote or arranged most of the music for each of the three albums performed by the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir (OIGC). MrKelly received an Emmy Award in 1995 for his choral arrangement of the OIGC's KGO-TV public service announcementIn 2003 and 1997, he received the Gospel Music Academy Award for Best DirectorIn 1999, he performed as a soloist with the Louie Bellson Big Band at the San Francisco Jazz Festival presentation of Orchestral Ellington: A Centennial CelebrationIn 2005, MrKelly received a "Local Heroes" Award from KQED-TV for this directorship of the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Youth ChoirThe Academy of Gospel Music Awards is also honoring him in June 2005.

MrKelly has directed the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir since 1986He currently serves as Artistic Director, directing both the adult and youth choirsHe is Minister of Magnification at Imani Community Church and Professor of Music at Foothill CollegeMrKelly has been a favorite teacher at Rhythmic Concept's annual Jazz Camp since 1982He also travels to Vancouver, Canada and throughout Northern California to teach gospel music workshopsIn 1998, he took part in the International Music Festival in Sydney, Australia, as a judge and member of the facultyMrKelly is a member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and served as a Board Member for one yearHe is also a member of the Northern California Chapter of the Gospel Music Workshop of America and Chorus America.

Over the years, MrKelly has brought his inspiration and joyful leadership to choirs at the Church by the Side of the Road, True Vine Baptist Church, Greater StPaul Missionary Baptist Church, Bayo Vista of Rodeo and the Mexico Music Ministry.