| Chris Ketley | |
|---|---|
 Chris Ketley performing live in 2017 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1985-01-29) 29 January 1985 (age 39) |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, arranger, musical director, composer, producer |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, piano, bass |
| Website | chrisketley |
Chris Ketley (born 29 January 1985) is a British, London-based multi-instrumentalist, musical director, arranger, composer and producer.
He is most well known for being a pop session musician playing guitar and piano for multi-platinum selling British artist Ellie Goulding and has previously worked with a variety of bands and artists such as Bryan Ferry, Zendaya, Banks, The Rakes, Dua Lipa, Markus Feehily (Westlife), Martin Luke Brown, Betsy, DJ Fresh, Christophe Willem, Conor Maynard, Rumer and The X-Factor Australia, The Moons & The on Offs.
He has made TV appearances with CeeLo Green, Katherine Jenkins, Cher, Gary Barlow, Alfie Bow, Barry Manilow, Donny Osmond and LeAnn Rimes.
In addition to his live experience, Chris composes and produces music for placement on advertising campaigns, TV, short films and other bespoke media. His clients have included The BBC, 20th Century Fox, Biscuit Filmworks (Noam Murro), Pantene, Universal Music and Grey London.
Some of his live career highlights include a headline show at Madison Square Garden, The Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival, Saturday Night Live, Jools Holland, Coachella Festival and a headline show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
Early career
His career started in his late teens playing for UK bands such as The on Offs whilst touring the UK & Europe. By the age of 21 he was touring the world with UK post punk band The Rakes. By his mid-twenties Chris was playing with Ellie Goulding on some of the world's biggest stages, TV shows and open-air festivals the music industry has to offer.
Bryan Ferry at the Hollywood Bowl
Chris composed orchestral arrangements for Bryan Ferry's headline show at the Hollywood Bowl on 26 August 2017. The full orchestra was conducted by Thomas Wilkins. Chris worked closely with Bryan and his team to compose 18 new scores for the concert for a full size Symphony Orchestra. He worked closely with Jessica Dannheisser who assisted in orchestrating.
String arrangement
Chris has arranged, recorded and produced strings at Abbey Road Studios, Air Studios & British Grove Studios. His arrangements have been used live at the Royal Albert Hall, Hollywood Bowl & Carnegie Hall.
He arranged the strings and group vocals across multiple tracks on Ellie Goulding's album 'Delirium' in addition to live recordings and special acoustic releases of singles such as "Love Me like You Do", from the soundtrack for the film 'Fifty Shades of Grey'.
Royal wedding
Chris Ketley accompanied Ellie Goulding when she was asked to sing at The Royal Wedding reception in 2011. The Duke of Cambridge and Duchess of Cambridge asked Ellie Goulding to sing her cover version of Elton John's "Your Song" for their first dance.
Live career
| Artist | Instrument | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Ellie Goulding | Lead guitar, keyboards | 2010–2018 |
| The Rakes | Guitar, piano, backing vocals | 2007–2010 |
| Dua Lipa | Guitar, keyboards | 2015 |
| Markus Feehily | Guitar | 2015 |
| Christophe Willem | Guitar, keyboards, bass, backing vocals | 2013–2014 |
| Conor Maynard | Guitar, keyboards, programming | 2015 |
| Rumer | Guitar, keyboards | 2011 |
| The Moons | Guitar, backing vocals | 2009–2011 |
| The On/Offs | Guitar, piano | 2006–2007 |
T.V. appearances
| Artist | Instrument | TV Show |
|---|---|---|
| LeAnn Rimes | Bass | The Graham Norton Show |
| Donny Osmond | Bass | Strictly Come Dancing (Not house band) |
| Barry Manilow | Guitar | Strictly Come Dancing (Not house band) |
| Alfie Bow | Ukuele | Alan Titchmarsh Show |
| Gary Barlow | Guitar | The X Factor |
| Cher | Piano | The X Factor/Graham Norton Show |
| Katherine Jenkins | Bass | Lorraine Kelly |
| CeeLo Green | Bass | Strictly Come Dancing |
| Ellie Goulding | Guitar, bass, keyboards | The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent, Saturday Night Live,
Conan, The Jonathan Ross Show, Top of the Pops, Jools Holland, Graham Norton, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Jimmy Fallon, Alan Carr, Blue Peter, The One Show, among others |
Discography
| Artist | Year | Project | Album | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Rakes | 2009 | "You're in It", "That's the Reason", "The Loneliness of the Outdoor Smoker", "1989", "Shackleton", "The Light from Your Mac", "The Final Hill" | Klang | Guitar | |
| "Muller's Ratchet" | Guitar, Piano | ||||
| "Bitchin' in the Kitchin'", "The Woes of the Working Woman" | Piano | ||||
| The Moons | 2010 | "Don't Go Changin'", "Chinese Whispers", "Let It Go", "Torn Between The Two", "Nightmare Day", "Promise Not To Tell", "How Long", "The Ragman", "Everyday Heroes", "Lost Soul", "Wondering", "Last Night On Earth" | Life on Earth | Guitar | |
| Ellie Goulding | "The Writer" (Live Acoustic Version) | An Introduction to Ellie Goulding | Piano, Acoustic Guitar | ||
| "Lights" (Live), "This Love (Will Be Your Downfall)" , "The Writer" (Live) | iTunes Festival: London 2010 - EP | Keyboards, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, Bass | |||
| "Guns and Horses" (Live), "Salt Skin" (Live), "Starry Eyed" (Live) | Keyboards, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar | ||||
| 2012 | "Figure 8" (Live), "My Blood" (Live), "Explosions" (Live), "I Know You Care" (Live), "Anything Could Happen" (Live), "Starry Eyed" (Live) | iTunes Festival: London 2012 - EP | Guitar | ||
| 2013 | "My Blood" (iTunes Session), "Burn" (iTunes Session), "Anything Could Happen" (iTunes Session), "How Long Will I Love You?" (iTunes Session), "Starry Eyed" (iTunes Session), "Lights" (iTunes Session) | iTunes Session - EP | Keyboards, Guitar | ||
| "How Long Will I Love You?" | Halcyon Days | Piano, Arranger | |||
| 2014 | "All I Want" (Kodaline Cover) | Non-album single | |||
| "Love Me Like You Do" | Delirium and Fifty Shades of Grey (Soundtrack) | Arranger | |||
| 2015 | "Intro (Delirium)" | Delirium | Arranger, Strings, Production, Writer | ||
| "Holding On For Life" | Choir, Vocal Arranger, Additional Producer | ||||
| "Scream It Out" | String Arranger, Choir Arranger, Vocal Producer | ||||
| "The Greatest" | Choir Arranger, Vocal Producer | ||||
| "Paradise" | String Arranger | ||||
| 2016 | "O Holy Night" | Songbook for Christmas | Keyboards, Guitar, Strings Arranger, Vocal Arranger, Producer | ||
| "Army – Abbey Road Performance" | Army - EP | Producer, Piano, Arranger, Strings | |||
| "Love Me Like You Do – Abbey Road Version" | Non-album single | Piano, Guitar, Arranger, Strings, Production | |||
| 2017 | "Avail" | Arranger, Strings, Production, Writer | |||
| Zendaya | 2017 | "Rewrite The Stars" (Acoustic) | The Greatest Showman | Guitar, Piano, Arranger, Producer | |
| Ellie Goulding | 2020 | "Love I'm Given" (Apple Music Home Session) | Apple Music Home Session: Ellie Goulding | Producer, String arranger, Guitar, Bass, Hammond Organ, Rhodes Piano | |
| Himself & Carlos García Valenica | 2023 | "Cloak & Dagger", "Last Man Standing", "Ready Aim Desire", "No Contest", "Cuts & Bruises", "Final Drive" | Abbey Road Masters: Heavy On The Riff | Lead Credits, Composer, Producer, Guitar Programming, | |
| Himself | 2024 | "Come Of Age", "Time Of Your Life" | Abbey Road Masters: Folky Pop | Lead Credits, Performer, Writer |
Awards
His work on a piece of music called "Avail", which was used in an online advert to raise awareness about domestic violence, was awarded a Cannes Lions award in 2017. The piece of music was set to picture by Biscuit Filmworks production company, directed by Noam Murro, commissioned by Victim Support, choreographed by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui.
The piece of music was co written by Chris Ketley, Joe Kearns and Ellie Goulding, arranged By Chris Ketley, and co-produced by Chris Ketley and Joe Kearns.
Endorsements
- Gretsch Guitars
- Hofner Guitars
- Blackstar Amplification
References
- Jones, Tamlyn (8 August 2016). "Digbeth tech firm signs up Michael Jackson's guitarist for online lessons". Birmingham Post. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
- Winter, Kevin (21 November 2011). "Ellie Goulding Performs Private Show at the CW Network". Zimbio.com.
- "The Mighty Fallen feature on BBC Introducing". BBC Northampton. 1 April 2011.
- Gourley, Dom (5 February 2009). "Dis Meets The Rakes". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 3 February 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
- "Ellie Goulding Delirium Credits". AllMusic.
- Hereford, Worcester (22 November 2012). "Ellie Goulding Sings Live at the Royal Wedding". BBC News.
- The Rakes - Klang, Discogs, 23 March 2009, retrieved 7 December 2024
- The Moons - Life On Earth, Discogs, 15 March 2010, retrieved 7 December 2024
- The Writer (Live Acoustic Version) by Ellie Goulding on Apple Music, 1 January 2010, retrieved 7 December 2024
- iTunes Festival: London 2010 - EP by Ellie Goulding on Apple Music, 1 January 2010, retrieved 7 December 2024
- iTunes Festival: London 2012 - EP by Ellie Goulding on Apple Music, 1 January 2012, retrieved 7 December 2024
- iTunes Session - EP by Ellie Goulding on Apple Music, 1 January 2013, retrieved 7 December 2024
- Halcyon Days (Deluxe Edition) by Ellie Goulding on Apple Music, 1 January 2013, retrieved 7 December 2024
- Ellie Goulding - All I Want (Kodaline Cover), Soundcloud, retrieved 7 December 2024
- Love Me Like You Do by Ellie Goulding on Apple Music, 7 January 2015, retrieved 7 December 2024
- Delirium by Ellie Goulding on Apple Music, 6 November 2015, retrieved 7 December 2024
- Delirium (Deluxe) by Ellie Goulding on Apple Music, 6 November 2015, retrieved 7 December 2024
- Songbook For Christmas - EP by Ellie Goulding on Apple Music, 1 December 2023, retrieved 7 December 2024
- Army - EP, 29 January 2016, retrieved 7 December 2024
- EllieGouldingVEVO (7 November 2015). Ellie Goulding - Love Me Like You Do (Abbey Road Performance). Retrieved 7 December 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Ellie Goulding Awarded Silver at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2017". Music News. 29 June 2017.
- Atlantic Records (14 December 2017). Zendaya - Rewrite The Stars (from The Greatest Showman) [Acoustic]. Retrieved 7 December 2024 – via YouTube.
- Apple Music Home Session: Ellie Goulding by Ellie Goulding on Apple Music, 7 August 2020, retrieved 7 December 2024
- Abbey Road Masters: Heavy On The Riff by Chris Ketley & Carlos Garcia V. on Apple Music, 27 January 2023, retrieved 7 December 2024
- Abbey Road Masters: Folky Pop by Various Artists on Apple Music, 4 October 2024, retrieved 7 December 2024
- Gretsch, Guitars (11 November 2017). "Chris Ketley Gretsch Guitars Artist Page". gretscgguitars.com.
- Hofner, Guitars (11 November 2017). "Chris Ketley Hofner Guitars Artist Page". hofner.com.
- Blackstar, Amplification (11 November 2017). "Chris Ketley Artist page Blackstar Amplification". blackstaramps.com.