Award-winning, GRAMMY®-nominated musician and recording engineer Kevin Kelley returns this holiday season with a heartfelt new single, "What Christmas Means To Me," a warm, family-centered song that captures the nostalgia, joy, and deeper meaning of Christmas. The single is available now on all digital platforms.
Known for his versatility as both a professional drummer and sound engineer, Kelley's career has placed him alongside an impressive list of iconic artists, including Yolanda Adams, Tony Bennett, Shirley Murdock, Erykah Badu, Ramsey Lewis, and The Temptations, among many others. Following the release of his 2017 holiday album A Soulful Christmas, Kelley continues his seasonal musical legacy with this original Christmas offering.
"Christmas holds so many meanings-from the birth of Jesus Christ, the greatest gift, to family and giving," says Kelley. "It was a blessing to write this song with two of my greatest gifts, my kids Cyan and Lil Kev, along with some of my amazing friends Ben Tankard, Phil Hugley, Byron 'Mr. Talkbox' Chambers, and Pat Bergeson."
"What Christmas Means To Me" was recorded at Kevin's Studio 2024 and features Kelley's daughter Cyan Kelley on lead vocals and his son Kevin Martin William Kelley on background vocals. The song was co-written by Kevin Kelley, Cyan Kelley, Kevin M.W. Kelley, and Phil Hugley, making it a true family collaboration infused with love and authenticity.
Adding to the song's nostalgic charm, acclaimed guitarist and harmonica player Patrick Bergeson delivers a warm harmonica melody. Bergeson is widely known for his work with Michael McDonald, Chet Atkins, Lyle Lovett, Chuck Loeb, and Alison Krauss, as well as his contributions to film soundtracks such as Diary of a Mad Black Woman and Ratatouille: What's Cooking?
GRAMMY®-nominated R&B, funk, and gospel artist Mr. Talkbox (Bruno Mars, Kendrick Lamar) brings his signature Talkbox flair to the track, while platinum-selling jazz icon Ben Tankard lays down smooth, soulful keyboard textures that elevate the song's festive atmosphere.
"There is nothing better than family and getting to spend time with the best people, and also being creative is something that is just unmatched," shares Cyan Kelley. "Christmas means love, rest, but also joy, and I got so much joy while making this song with my dad and my brother."
In addition to his latest release, Kelley continues to be recognized for his outstanding contributions to music. He is a 2025 Gospel Music Hall of Fame Inductee, a 2024 Avidity Award Mix Engineer of the Year recipient, and holds GRAMMY®-nominated credits for his work as mastering engineer on "Lord Do It For Me (Live)" by Zacardi Cortez, as drummer on "Church Doors" by Yolanda Adams, and as engineer on DOE's Heart of a Human album.
"What Christmas Means To Me" is available now on all digital outlets. Add this warm holiday single to your Christmas playlist and have a Merry Christmas!
