Norman Kelsey is a singer-songwriter originally from Cleveland, OH. A family move took him to Jacksonville, FL, as a teenager where his musical career began in a band formed with high school friends before moving to Los Angeles. His current project is a full-circle revival of his turn-of-the-century band Bat Country, a fixture of the L.A. indie/power pop scene in which he sings lead vocals and plays bass guitar. Bat Country is on Southern California stages again and back in the recording studio, picking up where they left off.
Norman grew up listening to The Beatles, Michael Jackson, and the Bee Gees. As a budding performer, he began to draw influences from Prince, David Bowie and Mick Jagger; and as an early adopter of MTV, he was entranced by Second British Invasion bands like ABC, Duran Duran and Culture Club. Norman's goal with each record became to create sonic art that evoked a time when Top 40 radio spun pop, rock, disco, new wave, and soul back-to-back.
In the late-1990s, he was the bass player and second vocalist in the Idle Kings, one of L.A.'s top unsigned acts. When that group disbanded, he formed Bat Country which drew inspiration from harder rock and alternative music than the previous band, drawing comparisons to Elvis Costello and Lenny Kravitz. Bat Country morphed further into a style dubbed California sunshine funk as it became a three-piece known as Rush Hour Soul which barnstormed the UK in the Spring of 2006.
October 2nd, 2012, Norman released On The Rebound, the follow-up to his 2008 solo debut A Talent For Loving, filled with brass-laden soul-pop tunes and heart-stopping ballads. The album was highlighted by all-star appearances from musical legends Evie Sands, DJ Bonebrake (X) and Rahmlee Michael Davis (Earth, Wind & Fire). Norman supported the CD with full band performances and intimate acoustic sets. His live band, dubbed the Inimitables, featured Adam Marsland (keyboard); Evie Sands (guitar); Teresa Cowles (bass) and Kevin Jarvis (drums).
The second single from On The Rebound, the rootsy, 70's flavored ballad "Huckleberry Finn," debuted on July 30, 2013. It was accompanied by a music video directed by Andrew Shuford.
After a health-related sabbatical, Norman returned to music in 2015, collaborating with Adam Marsland and Teresa Cowles under the banner of Pacific Soul Ltd. The trio recorded and subsequently toured the UK in May, 2015. Their EP featured several well-received tracks including "Blue Summertime." The group returned to the studio to complete a full-length LP. The Dance Divine, featuring Norman's vocal and writing contributions, dropped October 21st, 2016.
In August 2018, he dropped a three song digital-only EP featuring the single "Sun Rose." The tracks were once again produced by Adam Marsland at Karma Frog. The video for "When I Say I Love You," directed by Mike Schnee, debuted for Valentine's Day, 2019. Norman's latest solo release dropped December 26, 2021; a spectral, electric swamp cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Commotion" for a tribute album of the same name.
Norman, an active voting member of the recording academy (NARAS), publishes his music through his own company, Mighty Ohio Music (BMI). He is married and enjoys record collecting.
Photo credit: Adam Hendershott