Kelly Schoppa

Bobby Bowman · Post by **Bobby Bowman** » 28 Nov 2013 8:56 am

Singer, song writer and great guitar player, Kelly Schoppa, passed away last night. He'd been fighting a lot of different illnesses in cluding cancer for a long time.
Don't know any of the arraingements yet.
Rest in Peace my friend.
BB

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 28 Nov 2013 10:01 am

Another good one gone.

Susan Alcorn (deceased) · Post by **Susan Alcorn (deceased)** » 28 Nov 2013 1:51 pm

This is sad news. There was a time in the early 80s when I used to play a lot with Kelly. He was in many ways a troubled person, but what a brilliant musician. I sat next to him on the bandstand every night just marvelling at what a great singer he was. And he was just as good a guitar player - one-of-a-kind, an original in every respect. Had circumstances been right, Kelly would have been a star.

One memory I have of him that sticks out was when we were playing at, I think, the Rising Sun in Trinity, Texas, and there was a teenage girl there with her parents - the girl was on a portable bed, couldn't move or talk, and she had a strange expression in her eyes. Kelly was very popular in East Texas, so there were lots of people that wanted to talk to him, have him sign autographs, etc. But he spent every break sitting with this girl and stroking her hair. I'll never forget that.

Also, for those of us who lived in Houston during the late 70s and early 80s, Kelly's recording of "Amarillo By Morning" is the definitive version. If you can somehow find the original album that this came on (Bellaire Records early eighties), it's worth a good listen. We lost a wonderful musician.

joe long · Post by **joe long** » 28 Nov 2013 6:56 pm

Susan, I had he pleasue of hearing him at the Rising Sun. My band played there several times. It was owned by my boss at the time, Les Jolly.

Tiny Olson · Post by **Tiny Olson** » 29 Nov 2013 7:09 am

Kelly was a good one. Very sorry to hear of his passing. God bless him and may he rest in peace.

Sincerely,
Chris "Tiny" O.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 29 Nov 2013 3:37 pm

Kelly was such a great singer. Good looks, great voice, great picker.

Here's the link to "Amarillo" that Susan mentioned: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha6BWPGaw28

There's several good cuts of Kelly's on YouTube, BTW.

Bob Shelton · Post by **Bob Shelton** » 30 Nov 2013 2:50 pm

It was my good fortune to catch Kelly's gigs many times when my friend Larry Bob Lehmann was playing steel for him in the Houston area. What a talent.

Keith Junot · Post by **Keith Junot** » 4 Dec 2013 5:25 am

One of the greatest talents I have ever had the honor to work with ... Rip my friend ... Until we meet again

Don Poland · Post by **Don Poland** » 4 Dec 2013 6:29 am

http://www.obitsforlife.com/obituary/80 ... -Kelly.php