By Kevin Jackson—
PRODUCER Tony Kelly is responsible for a number of major hit songs which have made Jamaican and Billboard charts.
The older brother of producer Dave Kelly, he got his start as an engineer at the Shocking Vibes studio in the early 1990s.
Today, Kelly has shifted his focus to commerce as a director of K Licious Sweet Treats Ltd. The ice cream business, which opened in December, is located at 96C Molynes Road.
This is not Kelly’s first non-music venture. While residing in Florida, he operated a trucking company which transported goods across the United States for chain stores Walmart and Costco.
“My partners and I knew we definitely wanted to do something in food and beverage, as that fuses well with the entertainment/music business. This is my first business outside of music in Jamaica,” Kelly told Splash, adding:
“We are very encouraged so far. Our client base is growing fast as the word gets around, and this is in the context of us yet to do our grand opening.”
K Licious is located in the Washington Boulevard area, one of the most populous in the Kingston Metropolitan region. Kelly said he and his partners are looking to attract persons from communities in the vicinity of their establishment.
“Our location makes us easily accessible to people in Hughenden, Ziadie Gardens, Pembroke Hall, and just about anyone who commutes along the Washington Boulevard/Molynes Road area. We get a lot of support from people in the entertainment industry as well,” he said.
The K Licious ‘menu’ appeals to lovers of traditional ice cream as well as the health-conscious. There are various popular flavors and nutritional shakes for fitness buffs.
“When we receive some additional equipment from the States we will also offer natural fruit juices, ice cream cocktails and a much wider array of pastries and beverages, including coffee/cappuccino/espresso,” Kelly disclosed.
Kelly, who is in his mid-40s, is one of contemporary dancehall’s most successful producers. His hits include the all-star Anything For You by Snow and Friends; Deport Dem and Like Glue (Sean Paul); King of the Dancehall and Oysters and Conch (Beenie Man); Church Heathen (Shaggy); and Everyone Falls in Love by Tanto Metro and Devonte.
He has not done any productions for some time, as he concentrates on establishing K Licious.
“I deliberately haven’t been working on anything in regards to ‘riddims’ as I’ve been focusing my energy on growing this new venture. I’ve worked on a couple of artiste projects, including Shaggy, Ky-Mani Marley, Gentleman, Matisyahu, Marla Brown (daughter of Dennis Brown), among others,” he said. “I’m also working with a producer and my best friend Dean Thomas on his new artist who is a rapper name Que. He’s phenomenal.”
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