ABOUT KELLY ORCHARD

Kelly Orchard is a second-generation broadcaster who began her career at the young age of 16 when her father launched their first of five radio stations. From the 1980s through the late 1990s, Kelly and her family built, owned, and operated several stations, including KLLY FM 95.3 ("Kelly95") in Bakersfield, California, a station her father named after her. 

In 1999, Kelly co-founded an FCC consulting firm with her father, where they conducted 'mock' FCC inspections for radio and television stations. Over the next 20 years, they visited thousands of broadcast facilities across the country.

The inspiration for Dead Air: The Day the Music Died emerged during Kelly’s work inspecting radio stations. After her father's passing in 2023, this novel became a deeply personal passion project, dedicated to honoring his legacy and their shared career in broadcasting.

In addition to Dead Air, Kelly is the author of five non-fiction self-help books, including Heart Lessons, a prescriptive memoir on overcoming heart failure, and the Apple A Day series, which offers daily wisdom for personal growth and success.

Kelly is also a licensed psychotherapist, having contributed extensively to topics like psychology, mental health, organizational leadership, and FCC compliance in various radio trade publications.