Kelli Trontell and co-writer Don Gatlin's song "Right Here With Me" was selected out 25,000 submissions as American Idol's Top 20 finalists for the first-ever American Idol Songwriter: a songwriting contest. Finalists in the contest were chosen by American Idol Executive Producer Simon Fuller and 19 Entertainment. Although "Right Here With Me" did not make the final cut for the Season 6 finale, Trontell and Gatlin believe there is still a greater potential and home for their song. "Ive been outrageously blessed with the great talent and mentors in my life," Trontell said. "Music is where it starts and ends for me. This is the beginning. My dreams are laid out before me."
It doesn't take long for Kelli Trontells sultry vocals to infiltrate the soul. Intriguing, engaging and warm, Trontell creates music from an emotional palette that is as relevant as it is entertaining. From the ripe age of six, where her love of music was first sparked through singing hymns in church and an appearance on the original Star Search in 1993, Trontell has been destined for a long, fulfilling career in the entertainment industry.
A born and bred Californian, she received a Bachelors degree in Communication from Azusa Pacific University in May 2000 before packing her bags and heading to Phoenix, Arizona for a change of scenery. It didn't take long for her to become a popular artist on the local music scene as a regular performer at high-traffic clubs Handlebar J's and Mr. Lucky's. Trontells growing popularity resulted in an invitation from Alice Cooper to perform for his annual Christmas Pudding night of entertainment on two occasions no small feat considering she was one of a handful of artists on the bill that hadn't already been a superstar or recorded for a major label.
Perhaps even she couldn't have imagined that one day she would be able to say she has shared the same stage with such legendary rockers as Cooper, Peter Frampton and Nils Lofgren or that she would perform the National Anthem in front of thousands for MLB's Anaheim Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, the NBA's Phoenix Suns and for the Professional Bullriders Association.
Not one to rest on an already lengthy list of accomplishments, Trontell set out for Nashville, Tennessee, poised to take her career to the next level following an introduction to songwriting by Gin Blossoms guitarist Scott Johnson ("Hey Jealousy) and well-noted singer/songwriter Greg Barnhill ("Walkaway Joe").
Upon her arrival in Music City, Trontell has fine-tuned her artistry, having spent several hours in recording studios with some of the worlds top studio musicians working on a new project. She has collaborated with hit producers/songwriters Rory Lee Feek (Some Beach) and Tim Johnson (I Let Her Lie), songwriter Jamie Teachenor (How Do You Get That Lonely), alternative country great Walt Wilkins and engineer Bill McDermott (Blaine Larsen).
