The Kelly Family is a European-American music group made up of a multi-generational family, usually nine siblings who were sometimes joined on stage by their parents in their early years. The group performs rock, pop and folk music in English, Spanish, German and Basque. It achieved chart and concert success mainly in continental Europe, and it has sold over 20 million albums since the early 1980s. Although its members are American in origin, the group is virtually unknown in the United States.
Early years
The family began performing in Spain in the 1970s as the Kelly Kids, first busking and then playing at parties and local events. After touring in Italy, West Germany and the Netherlands, they moved to Ireland and travelled in a double-decker bus. Their first major chart hit, "Who'll Come With Me (David's Song)", came in 1980, with John Kelly singing the solo, and it reached number one in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Peak and breakup
The group had its greatest success in the 1990s, when their 1994 album Over the Hump sold millions of copies across Europe. They headlined stadium tours and bought a castle near Cologne in 1998. Disagreements over professional matters began in 2000, and the group gradually broke up, with its members afterwards performing as soloists or in smaller combinations.
Criticism
The family faced criticism over its image, its lack of success in English-speaking countries and its management. Some critics called the group a cult, and several members later criticized their father for limiting their formal education and for the loss of much of the family's earnings.