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 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 (of Westlife), Martin Luke Brown, Betsy, DJ Fresh, Christophe Willem, Conor Maynard, Rumer, the Moons, and 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, Ketley 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, Later with Jools Holland, Coachella Festival and a headline show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
Early career Ketley's career started in his late teens playing for UK bands such as the On Offs whilst touring the UK and Europe. By the age of 21, he was touring the world with UK post-punk band the Rakes. By his mid-twenties, Ketley was playing with Ellie Goulding on some of the world's biggest stages, TV shows and open-air festivals.
Bryan Ferry at the Hollywood Bowl Ketley 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. Ketley worked closely with Ferry 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.
Strings arrangements Ketley has arranged, recorded and produced strings at Abbey Road Studios, Air Studios, and British Grove Studios. His arrangements have been used live at the Royal Albert Hall, Hollywood Bowl, and 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 of the film Fifty Shades of Grey.
Royal wedding 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 Goulding to sing her cover version of Elton John's "Your Song" for their first dance.
Live career
Artist InstrumentDatesEllie GouldingLead guitar, keyboards2010–2018The RakesGuitar, piano, backing vocals2007–2010Dua LipaGuitar, keyboards2015Markus FeehilyGuitar2015Christophe WillemGuitar, keyboards, bass, backing vocals2013–2014Conor MaynardGuitar, keyboards, programming2015RumerGuitar, keyboards2011The MoonsGuitar, backing vocals2009–2011The On/OffsGuitar, piano2006–2007
Television appearances ArtistInstrumentTV ShowLeAnn RimesBassThe Graham Norton ShowDonny OsmondBassStrictly Come DancingBarry ManilowGuitarStrictly Come DancingAlfie BowUkueleAlan Titchmarsh ShowGary BarlowGuitarThe X FactorCherPianoThe X Factor/Graham Norton ShowKatherine JenkinsBassLorraine KellyCeeLo GreenBassStrictly Come DancingEllie GouldingGuitar, bass, keyboardsThe 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
Discography ArtistYear Project AlbumRole Ref.The Rakes2009"You're in It", "That's the Reason", "The Loneliness of the Outdoor Smoker", "1989", "Shackleton", "The Light from Your Mac", "The Final Hill"KlangGuitar"Muller's Ratchet"Guitar, piano"Bitchin' in the Kitchin'", "The Woes of the Working Woman"PianoThe Moons2010"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 EarthGuitarEllie Goulding"The Writer" (live acoustic version)An Introduction to Ellie GouldingPiano, acoustic guitar"Lights" (live), "This Love (Will Be Your Downfall)" (live), "The Writer" (live)iTunes Festival: London 2010 - EPKeyboards, bass guitar, electric guitar, bass "Guns and Horses" (live), "Salt Skin" (live), "Starry Eyed" (live)Keyboards, bass guitar, electric guitar2012"Figure 8" (live), "My Blood" (live), "Explosions" (live), "I Know You Care" (live), "Anything Could Happen" (live), "Starry Eyed" (live)iTunes Festival: London 2012 - EPGuitar2013"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 - EPKeyboards, guitar"How Long Will I Love You?"Halcyon DaysPiano, arranger2014"All I Want" (Kodaline cover) scope="row" "Love Me Like You Do"Delirium and Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrackArranger2015"Intro (Delirium)"DeliriumArranger, strings, production, writer"Holding On for Life"Choir, vocal arranger, additional producer"Scream It Out"Strings arranger, choir arranger, vocal producer"The Greatest"Choir arranger, vocal producer"Paradise"Strings arranger2016"O Holy Night"Songbook for ChristmasKeyboards, guitar, strings arranger, vocal arranger, producer"Army – Abbey Road Performance"Army - EPProducer, piano, arranger, strings"Love Me Like You Do – Abbey Road Version" rowspan="2" Piano, guitar, arranger, strings, production2017"Avail"Arranger, strings, production, writerZendaya2017"Rewrite The Stars" (acoustic)The Greatest ShowmanGuitar, piano, arranger, producerEllie Goulding2020"Love I'm Given" (Apple Music Home Session)Apple Music Home Session: Ellie GouldingProducer, strings arranger, guitar, bass, Hammond organ, Rhodes pianoHimself and Carlos García Valenica2023"Cloak & Dagger", "Last Man Standing", "Ready Aim Desire", "No Contest", "Cuts & Bruises", "Final Drive"Abbey Road Masters: Heavy on the RiffLead credits, composer, producer, guitar programmingHimself2024"Come of Age", "Time of Your Life"Abbey Road Masters: Folky PopLead credits, performer, writer
Awards Ketley's 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 Ketley, Joe Kearns and Ellie Goulding, arranged by Ketley, and co-produced by Ketley and Kearns.
Endorsements Gretsch Guitars Hofner Guitars Blackstar Amplification
References
External links
Chris Ketley latest news SoundCloud