He was best known for his 1920s band Peck's Bad Boys, which included Jack Teagarden, and Pee Wee Russell.
[3] The group included several jazz musicians that would go on to forge successful recording careers of their own, players such as Jack Teagarden, Louis Prima, Terry Shand, Wingy Manone, Leon Roppolo and Pee Wee Russell.
[1] Early in his career he did perform in Missouri and Louisiana, but the politics of the worker's union at the time combined with the overall hassle of obtaining permits prompted him to return to Texas.
[2] Kelley joined the Dick Shannon quartet with Glen Boyd on Bass Fiddle in 1957, from which the only studio recordings from this musician survive.
[4] It is commonly accepted by jazz historians that the 1940s Will Bradley hit "Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar" is in reference and tribute to Kelley.