Hi Darrell, welcome to Vents Magazine! Before we go down the proverbial 2021 rabbit hole, how have you been?

I’ve been as busy as a bee, not only working on recording new songs, but also staying involved with my social activism activities.

Congratulations on the release of your newest single, Why Lie On The Queen… What was the genesis of this particular song?

I wrote it in response to the televised Oprah Winfrey interview with members of the United Kingdom’s royal family, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, where it was alleged that the Queen of England is a racist. That’s a pretty serious accusation to be leveled at someone, so unless I see proof proving that she is a racist then my position is that the accusation should be withdrawn.

Was there any hesitancy on your part in creating such a timely number, or do you feel that it is an artist’s job to address the social topics of our time?

I firmly believe as an artist, and an activist, it is our artistic obligation to capture in our work what’s going on around us and then comment upon it.

There seems to be a feeling among some that free speech and differing ideological philosophies is becoming increasingly frowned upon, especially in film, television, literature and music, i.e. the theory of “cancel culture.” Can you speak to this concern and where you as an artist fall on this conversation?

First off, I firmly do not condone censorship, and believe that within reasonable limits that individuals should be allowed to decide for themselves on a case by case situation what they want to be exposed to. Secondly, there must be a balance between egalitarianism, freedom, and personal responsibility that’s borne by each individual. That being stated, I strongly feel that there is no simple response available to this dilemma, thus, it must be carefully contemplated and reexamined in each instance. It’s surely not easy to do this for some, but in the end the effort to do so justifies the return.

Is it important, especially when talking books, music and movies, to take from 60-80 years ago, to remember the word “context”? Is it necessary to hide that material from public view, a la Dr. Seuss or a Dean Martin Christmas song?

The idea of context can be a slippery slope, because obviously it does change over time. For instance, in context it was at one time legal and socially acceptable to own slaves. But that doesn’t make slavery right, even in context, does it? Again, there aren’t usually simple answers to these complex questions, so in order to have any hope of arriving at a reasonable conclusion we must review and examine each issue on a case by case basis.

You’re renowned and respected as a voice for combating social injustice in your music. Is Bob Dylan – one of the great social injustice warriors of the 1960s – at all an influence on you? And if not Dylan, then who inspires you to use your art to educate and inform?

Bob who? Just kidding! Of course Dylan and other artist like him have had an influence on my own work. But so have other individuals, like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln, and many, many others.

As a prolific singer/songwriter, can you talk about how the last few years especially have informed your music?

Sadly to say, much of what has gone down over the years between the police, the Afro-American community, and societies economically deprived have had a major impact on my work, and led me from simply being a Gospel and R&B artist into the realm of social activism.

You’re originally from Boston, Massachusetts. Can you talk about what the musical heritage and scene is in Boston?

My family in Boston was full of people with musical talent, so there were always impromptu acts of singing and playing of musical instruments within my home. This, undoubtedly, had a profound effect on my decision to become a professional entertainer when I grew up.

You’re respected as a noted performer, singer, songwriter, social activist, spiritual leader, author and – WHEW! – entrepreneur. Where do you find all of the time (I ask enviously) and is there one job over another that you prefer, or is it all apples and oranges? The secret to success in the entertainment industry is to build a professional and trusted team around you.

There’s just too much to take care of for a single individual to do so competently. The jobs I enjoy doing the most (can you guess?) are creating, performing, and recording the material. It’s these tasks I can best describe as being “soul-delicious”, if you catch my drift.

You’ve released a beautiful song called Because of You which took on gun violence. What are your thoughts on the recent spate of mass gun violence in places as far flung as Colorado, Georgia and Chicago, IL?

You know what? You can attribute the cause of guns to many things, but the single common denominator in all these acts of gun violence is simply one thing: the gun! That’s what “Because of You” addressed. Organizations like the NRA, and less than responsible gun sellers, have the blood of those innocent people killed by guns on their hands in most instances. Look, I’m not trying to take away anyone’s guns, or prohibit you from exercising your 2^nd Amendment rights. I’m saying that when a gun is easier to get than a driver’s license, than we, as a society, have to take another look at how guns fit into our world.

We also cannot forget to ask you about your powerful and timely single Police Brutality, a song dedicated to George Floyd and his family that calls for justice and change. What were you feeling when you wrote that?

While I obviously felt sadness, frustration, and anger at what happened, disturbingly I also felt a strong sense of déjà vu. I mean it’s like, “Wait a minute, didn’t this very same thing just happen yesterday, last week, last month and so on for too many years already?” I mean, come on, man—enough already!

We also hear you were in contact with Mr. Floyd’s brother, did he hear your song?

Of course, as did Derrick Scott’s mother when I wrote and recorded my eponymous song about the tragedy that befell her son.

The trial for George Floyd just kicked off and the nation is on the edge of their seats in anticipation in bringing him justice. How are you feeling and does putting a pen to paper help you get through these unimaginable times?

Writing, performing, and recording are my ways of channeling and coping when I feel disturbed by the events going on around me. Right now, as I’ve said previously, sadness, frustration, and anger are the words that best describe the way I feel about this ongoing case.

The music video for Police Brutality is so emotional to watch. What was it like to make this video?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0SsixU6bOE

It was cathartic, to say the least. It was also something I just; as a human being, and as a man of God, just something that I just had to do.

You started off in the world of Gospel before breaking into the secular music world. I know the crossover from Gospel to secular is something that other renowned artists such as Sam Cooke truly struggled with. What was your journey like and did you have any hesitancy in segueing into R&B and Hip-Hop?

For me it felt like a natural evolution. An active artist needs to evolve and grow if they want to keep things interesting not only for their audience, but equally as important, interesting for themselves.

Soul Delicious Grill and Buffet is a beloved restaurant that you established; Can we add gourmet chef to your already impressive list of credits?

Well, you may certainly say I always have something on one burner, or another, that I’m always cooking up—lol!

What can you tell us about a book you authored, The Book of UWGEAM?

There are 4200+ religions in the world and we are divided because of color, economics, and religion. The book talks about love, unity and acceptance, and it states that we should love each other regardless of what religion we are, what possessions we have, and where we come from.

Final – SILLY – Question: What’s your favorite cd to blast when you’re driving down the road?

That would be one of my earliest albums, titled “Unity.” It not only grounds me, but also reminds me of why I’m doing what I do.

Website: http://darrellkelleyofficial.com

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SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/user-792034936

Apple Music https://music.apple.com/us/artist/darrell-kelley/965281663