Kelly Nelon Clark

Kelly Nelon Clark
Kelly Nelon Clark
	Nelon Clark in 2016
Born	Kelly Nelon; December 1, 1959; Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Died	July 26, 2024 (aged 64); Campbell County, Wyoming, U.S.
Occupation(s)	inspirational Christian and southern gospel vocalist
Years active	1977–2024
Known for	The Nelons, Gaither Homecoming
Spouse(s)	Jerry Thompson (m. 1979; div. 1998); Jason Clark (m. 2001; their deaths 2024)
Children	2 (including Autumn Nelon Streetman)
Parent	Rex Nelon (father)
Awards	Singing News Fan Award for Favorite Female Singer (1980, 1981, 1982, 1988) Singing News Fan Award for Favorite Alto (1987, 1990) GMA Hall Of Fame (2016; as a member of The Nelons)

Kelly Nelon Clark (December 1, 1959 – July 26, 2024) was an American inspirational Christian and southern gospel vocalist.

Nelon was the head of the family singing group known as the The Nelons. The group was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2016. She had continued the Nelon singing name after her father, gospel singer Rex Nelon. ^[1]

Nelon won Singing News Fan Awards in the categories of Favorite Alto and Favorite Female Vocalist in 1980, 1981, 1982, 1987, and 1990.^[2]She was associated with Bill Gaither's Homecoming events. In 2017, she released a memoir titled “Coffee with Kelly; Reflections of Hope and Humor”. ^[3]

Life and career

The daughter of Gospel music singer Rex Nelon and his wife Shirley (née Reeves),^[4] Kelly Nelon and her brother, Todd Nelon, were raised in Smyrna, Georgia.

When she was a teenager, Nelon Clark was invited to join the southern gospel group The LeFevres. When the group disbanded in the late 1970s, she became part of her father's Southern Gospel group, the Rex Nelon Singers. Following his death in 2000, she remained with the group, singing alto, and changing the group's name to The Nelons. At the time of her death, Nelong had been with the group for more than 40 years.

She recorded solo albums while traveling with The Nelons, including Her Father's Child in 1983, Praise Him Now in 1985, Called By Love in 1988, KNT in 1990, and Steadfast Heart in 1992.

Nelon Clark appeared on television in Resurrection and Homicide Hunter, where she played the role of Carol Parmer.^[5] She also starred in the movies The Old Rugged Cross^[6] and His Love Is Blind.^[7]

Personal life

Nelon Clark was married to Jerry Thompson,^[8] the former lead singer of The Nelons, for almost 20 years. The couple divorced in 1998. Together, they had two daughters, Amber and Autumn. Nelon Clark remarried in 2001 to Jason Clark, who became the new lead singer of The Nelons.^[9]

Both of Nelon Clark's daughters became members of The Nelons, with Amber singing soprano beginning in 2002 and Autumn singing alto, as well as 2nd soprano, beginning in 2014.^[9]

Death

Kelly Nelon Clark, her husband Jason, her daughter and son-in-law Amber and Nathan Kistler, were among the seven people killed in a plane crash on Friday, July 26, 2024, in a remote area of Campbell County, Wyoming, just north of Gillette, Wyoming. The plane and passengers were enroute to Seattle, Washington to embark on a Gaither Homecoming cruise to Alaska. Also killed in the crash were Nelon Clark's assistant, Melodi Hodges, pilot Larry Haynie and his wife, Melissa Haynie.^[10]^[11]

At the time of their deaths, Nelon Clark and her husband lived in the Atlanta area. ^[12] There, she and her husband owned and operated "Venue 1074", a farm with a wedding and event location in Roopville, Georgia.^[13]

Discography

Solo albums

1983: Her Father's Child^[14]
1985: Praise Him Now^[15]
1988: Called By Love
1990: KNT
1992: Steadfast Heart

With The LeFevres

1975: Experience The LeFevres
1976: Gospel Music U.S.A.
1977: Sing Your Request
1977: Singing 'Till He Comes

With The Rex Nelon Singers

1977: I've Never Been This Homesick Before
1977: The Sun's Coming Up
1978: Live
1979: Feelings
1980: Expressions Of Love
1980: One More Song
1980: Sing the Gospel
1981: One Step Closer
1982: Feeling at Home
1983: We Shall Behold the King
1984: The Best & A Whole Lot More

As The Nelons

1985: In One Accord
1986: Journeys
1987: Thanks
1988: Get Ready
1989: Let The Redeemed Say So
1990: The Best of Times
1991: One Less Stone
1991: A New Generation
1992: Right On Time
1993: Kelly Nelon Thompson & The Nelons
1994: A Promised Reunion
1994: He's My Comfort
1994: Triumphant
1995: Hallelujah Live
1996: We're Glad You're Here
1997: We've Got To Praise Him
1997: Thanks Live
1997: All Rise Live
1998: Peace Within The Walls
1999: A Journey
2000: Following After
2001: Season of Song 1 Nelon Classics
2002: United for Christ
2003: Season of Song 2
2004: The Light of Home
2008: You Are God
2010: Beside Still Waters
2011: Come On Home
2012: Evening in December
2014: Hymns: The A Capella Sessions
2016: Stronger Together EP
2016: Family Harmony
2016: A Nelon Family Christmas
2017: The Americana Sessions
2018: A Winter Carol
2020: Peace At Last
2022: We Need A Little Christmas
2023: Beautiful

Guest appearances on other albums

1985: First Call - An Evening In December, song "Evening In December"^[16]"

References

^ Savage, Jeff (February 8, 2016). "The Nelons To Be Inducted Into The Gospel Music Hall Of Fame". Singing News Magazine. Salem Communications. Archived from the original on May 13, 2016. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
^ "S / Singing News Fan Awards". Southern Gospel History. November 10, 2015. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
^ [1]
^ [2]
^ Joy, Melissa (July 29, 2015). "Southern Gospel Musings". Southern Gospel Minute. Retrieved May 23, 2016.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ Scoops, SGN (May 13, 2016). "Faith Based Films Archives". Southern Gospel News SGN Scoops Digital. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
^ "Nelon to appear in 'His Love Is Blind'". Homecoming Magazine. December 31, 2014.
^ [3]
^ ^a ^b "N / Nelons". Southern Gospel History. May 12, 2016. Retrieved May 22, 2016. Cite error: The named reference "Southern Gospel History 2016" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
^ "Beloved Gospel Family The Nelons Involved in Fatal Plane Crash". CCM Magazine. 27 July 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
^ Sammons, Jake (26 July 2024). "Tragedy Strikes The Nelon Clark Family". Singing News Magazine. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
^ https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/three-members-atlanta-family-gospel-group-georgia-official-killed-wyoming-plane-crash
^ Venue1074 Infoaccessed 07/29/2024
^ "Christian Music Archive". Retrieved May 22, 2016.
^ "Christian Music Archive". Word Records. 1985. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
^ Savage, Jeff (1985). "All Music Guide". AllMusic.com. Sony. Retrieved May 22, 2016.

External links

Kelly Nelon Clark at IMDb
Kelly Nelon Clark discography at Discogs
Nelons Official Website

[1] Savage, Jeff (February 8, 2016). "The Nelons To Be Inducted Into The Gospel Music Hall Of Fame". Singing News Magazine. Salem Communications. Archived from the original on May 13, 2016. Retrieved May 22, 2016.

[Southern_Gospel_History_2015-2] "S / Singing News Fan Awards". Southern Gospel History. November 10, 2015. Retrieved May 22, 2016.

[3] [1]

[4] [2]

[5] Joy, Melissa (July 29, 2015). "Southern Gospel Musings". Southern Gospel Minute. Retrieved May 23, 2016.^{[permanent dead link]}

[Scoops_2016-6] Scoops, SGN (May 13, 2016). "Faith Based Films Archives". Southern Gospel News SGN Scoops Digital. Retrieved May 22, 2016.

[7] "Nelon to appear in 'His Love Is Blind'". Homecoming Magazine. December 31, 2014.

[8] [3]

[Southern_Gospel_History_2016-9] "N / Nelons". Southern Gospel History. May 12, 2016. Retrieved May 22, 2016. Cite error: The named reference "Southern Gospel History 2016" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).

[10] "Beloved Gospel Family The Nelons Involved in Fatal Plane Crash". CCM Magazine. 27 July 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2024.

[11] Sammons, Jake (26 July 2024). "Tragedy Strikes The Nelon Clark Family". Singing News Magazine. Retrieved 27 July 2024.

[12] ttps://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/three-members-atlanta-family-gospel-group-georgia-official-killed-wyoming-plane-crash

[13] Venue1074 Infoaccessed 07/29/2024

[14] "Christian Music Archive". Retrieved May 22, 2016.

[15] "Christian Music Archive". Word Records. 1985. Retrieved May 22, 2016.

[16] Savage, Jeff (1985). "All Music Guide". AllMusic.com. Sony. Retrieved May 22, 2016.

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Kelly Nelon Clark
Nelon Clark in 2016
Born	Kelly Nelon (1959-12-01)December 1, 1959 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Died	July 26, 2024(2024-07-26) (aged 64) Campbell County, Wyoming, U.S.
Occupation(s)	inspirational Christian and southern gospel vocalist
Years active	1977–2024
Known for	The Nelons, Gaither Homecoming
Spouse(s)	Jerry Thompson (m. 1979; div. 1998) Jason Clark (m. 2001; their deaths 2024)
Children	2 (including Autumn Nelon Streetman)
Parent	Rex Nelon (father)
Awards	Singing News Fan Award for Favorite Female Singer (1980, 1981, 1982, 1988) Singing News Fan Award for Favorite Alto (1987, 1990) GMA Hall Of Fame (2016; as a member of The Nelons)