MOTHER Kelli Baker

• 1 Bad Mother 03:44
• 2 The Broken Baby Blues 04:17
• 3 Broken Bones 04:51
• 4 American Running 03:18
• 5 Sawdust & Stones 05:49
• 6 Wasp 04:44
• 7 Rats 03:17
• 8 A Pen Is A Gun 04:04
• 9 Madman 05:25
• 10 Hymn 05:30
• Total Runtime 44:59

Info for MOTHER

With MOTHER, Kelli Baker delivers the defining statement of her career to date. Recorded at the legendary Ocean Way Nashville and produced by three-time GRAMMY-winning producer Zach Allen, whose acclaimed work with Keb' Mo', Buddy Guy, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, and the GRAMMY-winning TajMo project brings a wealth of experience to the album, MOTHER draws from soul, blues, rock, and Americana to create her most personal and powerful collection of songs to date. GRAMMY-winning blues icon Keb' Mo' also contributes to "American Running," while acclaimed keyboardist Peter Levin, whose credits include Gregg Allman, Bonnie Raitt, Marcus King, and Dolly Parton, and the legendary McCrary Sisters, whose unmistakable gospel harmonies have graced recordings with Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Stevie Wonder, and Isaac Hayes, add remarkable depth and soul throughout the album.

At its heart, MOTHER is both a tribute and a reflection. Inspired by the women who helped shape her life and career, Kelli Baker explores the strength, vulnerability, resilience, and grace passed from one generation to the next, while reflecting on her own journey as an artist, woman, and mother. Her commanding voice carries every emotion with honesty, delivering songs that feel both deeply personal and universally relatable.

Rich with soulful performances, blues grit, and Americana storytelling, MOTHER celebrates the women who came before us, the lessons they leave behind, and the courage to embrace our own path without apology. It's an album filled with heart, conviction, and a voice that leaves a lasting impression long after the final note fades.

Kelli Baker, vocals, backing vocals
Noe’ Socha, harmonica, acoustic & electric guitar
Rob Mcnelley, electric guitar
PJ Lamariana, bass
Tom Curiano, drums, percussion
Peter Levin, keyboards
Guest musicians:
Zach Allen, acoustic guitar (track 3), shaker (track 2)
Keb’ Mo’, congas (track 4)
Tommy Perrotta, backing vocals (track 3)
Ann Mccrary, backing vocals (track 10)
Regina Mccrary, backing vocals (track 10)
Alfreda Mccrary, backing vocals (track 10)

Produced by Zach Allen
Executive Producers: Guy Hale, Mike Zito & Oliver Overton

Kelli Baker
Known in some circles as “The Phoenix,” Kelli Baker, was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. She moved to New York in 2012, quickly becoming a vibrant presence in the city’s music scene. Her journey began in the church choir, later evolving into fronting a hard rock band, forming a folk duo, and finally, honing her craft in New York’s renowned blues jams.

Kelli was featured on the esteemed WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour, a historic and highly respected program filmed at the Lyric Theatre in Lexington, KY, which reaches 2 million listeners weekly.

Recently, she supported Mike Zito on a week of shows in Florida and took first place in Nashville’s “Blues Revival 615”, judged by Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Albert Cummings, and Derek St. Holmes. She also achieved the #1 Blues Song on the Roots Music Report with her rendition of “Dr. Feelgood (Love is a Serious Business)” and won the Long Island/Brooklyn/Queens division of the International Blues Challenge.

Kelli was recently honored by National Women in Blues in Memphis. She headlined the Women of the Blues Fest in McIntosh, MN, and the Paxico Blues Fest in Paxico, KS, which attracted 5,000 attendees. This September, she returned to Paxico to open for GRAMMY-nominated artist Danielle Nicole.

A regular performer at prestigious blues clubs, Kelli has taken the stage at The Rhythm Room in Phoenix, AZ, and The Sand Dollar in Las Vegas, NV. In New York City, she frequently performs at iconic venues such as The Bitter End and The Cutting Room.

Kelli has swiftly moved through the ranks of New York’s bristling music scene to become a nationally known name and formidable player in the game. She has been featured in Relix Magazine, Guitar Girl Magazine, and countless others.

Kelli Baker has recorded at VUDU Studios with producers Mike Watts and Frank Mitaritonna, Cove City Sound Studios with Richie Cannata (Billy Joel, Lords of 52nd Street) and John Arbuckle (Justin Bieber, Jon Bellion), Milk House Studios with multi-platinum producer Philip A. Jimenez (Wheatus, Teenage Dirtbag) and Blokhed Studios with Grammy-nominated producer Tommy Stiegler. Susan Aquila (recorded and worked with Led Zeppelin, Paul McCartney, Steven Tyler) appears on “Cathedral”. Kelli is endorsed by Monster Products, Fret37, ADV, Westone Audio, and Modern Vintage Guitars. She resides in New York City.

This album contains no booklet.