It was during this time that Kelly developed his unique "ringing" guitar sound, which raised his profile among members of Chicago's blues community.
[1] Kelly's tenure with this group influenced his vocal style, while allowing him to refine his guitar skills, and provided him with road experience.
Kelly's urge to leave Reed's band also stemmed from his desire to adapt his blues playing to the perceived tastes of a particular audience.
Members of Kelly's band included John Primer on guitar;[1] David Honeyboy on harmonica; Eddie Shaw on the saxophone; Erskine Johnson on the keyboard; and Johnny Reed playing bass.
As with Kelly's debut outing, Joyriding in the Subway also included the guitarwork of John Primer, bass playing of Johnny Reed, and keyboard music of Erskine Johnson.
Kelly has worked steadily since these two hit releases of the 1990s, producing a string of well-received albums that showcased his signature mix of blues, soul, and funk styles.