Darrell Kelley: After watching the national news one night I had to ask myself will racism ever come to an end. You know, I pray every day that black and brown people stop getting shot and killed because of the color of their skin. It was then that the lyrics “We need to stand together, let’s put racism to an end. I’m so tired of black and brown people getting murdered over and over again and again.” popped into my head and I had the beginning to a song about Ahmaud Arbrey. Because when I saw and heard the news about his death, it just hurt my heart and it brought tears to my eyes. Ahmaud’s murder prompted me to do some research, and I came upon a story about George Meadows, a young black man lynched near the Pratt Mines in Jefferson County, Alabama, on January 15, 1889. It made me wonder if we’re still living in those days. I keep asking myself, Will racism ever end? As I pondered this, I decided to write a series of songs dedicated to all the innocents who got killed because of the color of their skin.
Sarah Sharp: Any other songs you’ve recently recorded that relate to current events that you could tell us about?
Darrell Kelley: Even before creating this song series I’d written a number, “Kneel (Believe in Something)”, about Colin Kaepernick, the NFL quarterback who put his career on the line to become a civil rights activist, and one called “Because of You” that addresses gun violence in America. More recently I released “Black Lives Matter” about the ongoing civil rights movement, “Police Brutality” that references what happened to George Floyd as well as the seemingly systematic racial injustice within our legal system, “7 Times” for Jacob Blake who was shot in the back by officers in Wisconsin, “Release the Transcripts” that’s related to the Breonna Taylor investigation, and I just recorded a song detailing what happened to Derrick Scott in Oklahoma.
Sarah Sharp: If you had the power to change anything in today’s world, what would you change?
Darrell Kelley: I’d change hatred into love, divisiveness into unity, and confusion into understanding.
Sarah Sharp: What political causes or charitable activities are you currently involved in?
Darrell Kelley: Politically I consider myself to be an independent voter. I created my own charity foundation I call U.W.G.E.A.M. that helps others on a one-to-one basis. Without question, I’m also a powerful supporter of the Black Lives Matter organization.
Sarah Sharp: You’ve been traveling quite a bit now to attend events related to social justice for African-Americans. Please share with our readers a bit about that.
Darrell Kelley: Since the end of spring, I’ve been to Minneapolis, MN, and Houston, TX, in support of the peaceful protesters and those commemorating the death of George Floyd. I was in Atlanta, GA, for the Ahmaud Arbrey and Rayshard Brooks events, as well as to help out at several BLM rallies. Next in my itinerary, I’ll be traveling to Oklahoma City, OK, to demand justice for Derrick Scott, another African-American man who died after a violent encounter with police.
Sarah Sharp: Do you believe others in the entertainment business have taken, in general, an adequate part in support of these causes?
Darrell Kelley: Honestly, some have done more than others. But isn’t that the way it always is? I’m not one to call out others for their contributions or lack of contribution; it’s just that there’s so much more we could all be doing. So, instead of playing the blame game let’s all just take a silent vow to do more for all our brothers and our sisters in the days to come, then carry through on that promise.
Sarah Sharp: Who are some of the people, past or present, that have inspired the new direction you’ve taken?
Darrell Kelley: I’d say the three people who have most inspired me to take this course would be Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, and Abraham Lincoln. These men did what the world around them said could not be done, they did so at an enormous personal cost and sacrifice, and by doing so they left God’s creation a better place by the time they departed the world than it was when they first came into it.
Sarah Sharp: Besides being involved in the music business you’re also an entrepreneur, a man of the cloth, and a social activist. Can you tell us a bit about that and how these activities sometimes crossover?
Darrell Kelley: In addition to being a professional singer/songwriter, I’m also a part of the business community. I’ve bought, managed, and sold restaurants and real estate among other ventures. I was a bishop in the Baptist church before creating a new religion called U.W.G. E.A.M. Much of my time is spent participating in social activism and in travel to support the Black Lives Matter cause and to call for legal and social justice for all. The place where these activities intersect and converge is that as a man of God I engage in all of them on the behalf of the Lord.
Sarah Sharp: Could you tell our readers about what your method is when you write songs?
Darrell Kelley: It’s very simple: I let the Lord inspire me and to use my mind and voice to better His world. When God speaks I listen and use His words and ideas to create my songs.
Sarah Sharp: When you record, do you usually collaborate with other artists?
Darrell Kelley: I rarely do because I like to go into the recording studio on a whim, knock out a new track then mix and master it at the end of the same session. It’s just the way I’m comfortable working with so it’s difficult to coordinate my schedule to meet the demands of others. Perhaps one day that’ll change, but for now, it is what it is.
Sarah Sharp: How can people keep or get in touch with you?
Darrell Kelley: The easiest way to get a good overview of what I’m doing is to go to the “About” section of my Facebook artist page: www.facebook.com/darrellkelleysmusic
