Kelly Wallin

… Is a Texas-based musician and singer-songwriter who has been writing and performing as part of acoustic duo Girls With Guitars (www.girlswithguitars.com) since 1995. The duo performs at venues, festivals, and events across Texas, and has released two studio albums of their original work thus far. Their song-writing has received recognition in national songwriting contests, including the Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Finals and the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest. 

 From Kelly:   “My parents were musicians and vocalists, so I was introduced to the magic that is music early on. I’ve been a musician nearly all my life, with formal training from childhood in piano, classical guitar, French horn, mellophone, and ensemble performance (including the University of Texas at Austin Longhorn Band – hook ‘em, Horns!). Along the way, I self-taught on mandolin, dulcimer, and ukulele. Growing up in a military family that moved frequently across both country and world, I was always ‘the new kid’ … music and my guitar became my most consistent best friend, therapist, confidante, and private voice teacher. At 12 years old, I wrote my first song on guitar, formed a band (‘Xavier’s Zodiac’ – the name just sounded cool at the time!) to sing it, and I’ve been writing songs ever since.  Big influences early on included Judy Collins, Bob Dylan, Crosby Stills & Nash, Cris Williamson, and John Denver. Later on, I couldn’t get enough of Mary Chapin Carpenter, Nanci Griffith, Indigo Girls, and just about every folky female singer-songwriter that came along … and still coming along! 

Called to a career as a registered nurse after college, music remained part of my life. In addition to partnering musically with my friend Ferryn in acoustic duo “Girls With Guitars,” I found ways to weave music into my healthcare work by writing and performing for patients, staff, and events whenever the opportunities arose. Since retiring from a 40-year pediatric nursing and healthcare leadership career in 2020 during the initial months of pandemic lockdown, I discovered the “Covid silver lining” of virtual songwriting retreats and singer-songwriter communities. Now, I’m even more fascinated with music's power to connect us all with each other and with ourselves in this wild and precious life. I strive to write songs that reflect my lived experience with honesty, hope, humor, humility, and – above all - humanity.”

Ferryn Martin

… Is a Texas-based musician and singer-songwriter who has been writing and performing as part of acoustic duo Girls With Guitars (www.girlswithguitars.com) since 1995. The duo performs at venues, festivals, and events across Texas, and has released two studio albums of their original work thus far. Their song-writing has received recognition in national songwriting contests, including the Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Finals and the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest. 

From Ferryn:   “My love of music happened pretty organically. As the fourth child in a musical family, I was surrounded by music from birth. My parents introduced me to musicals and the Kingston Trio, and my older brothers to The Beatles. I was also raised in a church with no instruments, so it was mandatory that everyone learn to sing four-part harmony. Hymnals in the car for driving trips were essential. In elementary school, I learned to play the ukulele, and my Dad and I played and sang at many Kiwanis luncheons. I transitioned to the guitar, so I could accompany myself and write music. However, it wasn’t until the late 1980’s when I met Kelly, that I grew beyond a few chords. High School and college were filled with choir, musicals, voice lessons and vocal groups, since singing was my first love. In the 90’s, I performed in a 5-member cabaret-style singing group/band “Five’s Company” until partnering musically with my friend Kelly in acoustic duo “Girls With Guitars.” 

Even more than music, teaching was my true passion, and I spent over thirty years teaching high school history. With two very demanding and important jobs, we had to squeeze the musical career into summers and weekends. The business part of doing music was daunting and uncomfortable to us both, and we soon began asking ourselves, ‘Is it either fun or meaningful or both? No? Then let’s not do it.’ Retirement from our “day jobs” brought new opportunities and reinvigorated our music. The amazing gift of retirement is time, and even though we have new time commitments (aging parents, new grandchildren, travel), we are finding more time to perform together. Social justice through song-writing has always been important to us. We look forward to playing near and far, and continue to work to change the world, one song at a time.”