Captain Kelly David Friesen, 57, an upright bassist, cellist, and commercial airline pilot died on November 20, 2024. He first joined Local 802 in 1994.

Born in Winnipeg, Canada, Kelly had a zest for life. He discovered his natural inclination for music at a young age, exploring multiple instruments including guitar, piano and saxophone, prior to his more formal training and professional work on upright bass. At the age of 20 he developed a love for flying and took his first solo flight shortly thereafter. Torn between his passion for aviation and music, he set aside his goals for one day becoming a commercial airline pilot to pursue his dreams of playing bass at the highest level.

Kelly played music ranging stylistically from straight ahead jazz and 1920’s Dixieland to classical, pop and R&B, with such notable performance groups as Woody Allen’s New Orleans Jazz Band (1997-2001), the Juilliard Symphony Orchestra, and Sister Sledge (“We Are Family”). His formal training included classical studies at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto for bass, piano, voice and theory. He also received four years of private instruction from the legendary jazz bassist Ray Brown and the prominent classical bassist Homer Mensch.

Upon moving to New York in 1993 he firmly established himself as a top sideman and leader, working with jazz greats Herb Ellis, Bucky Pizzarelli, Etta Jones, Dick Hyman, Jerome Richardson, Frank Wess and Joe Wilder, to name a few. Some of his credits include performances at Town Hall, the Blue Note, Birdland, the Jazz Standard, the 92nd Street Y Jazz Series, JVC Jazz Festival, the Iridium and the Rainbow Room.

An extremely dedicated and versatile musician, Kelly learned the books allowing him to sub on several Broadway shows, including “After Midnight,” “Bullets Over Broadway,” “Wicked” and even “Chicago,” a show which demanded that he double on the tuba.

Between the years of 1999 and 2012 Kelly began doing musical extra work, appearing in the CW series “Gossip Girl,” “Cadillac Records,” “August Rush” and “Sweet and Lowdown,” a film for which he can also be heard on the official soundtrack.

He can be heard on many other recordings including several albums he self-produced such as “Back In Time” and “Kelly Friesen Sings Songs of Love.”

In 2003, Kelly met the love of his life, Lisa Hearns and they began creating beautiful music together. They recorded the jazz album titled “I Got It Bad & That Ain’t Good,” produced by Grammy winning producer Elliot Scheiner. Kelly played upright bass and arranged the majority of the songs on that album. Kelly and Lisa married in 2009 and continued performing until 2015 when, at the age of 48, Kelly resumed his dream of pursuing a career in commercial aviation.

Kelly took the necessary steps to attain his licenses and eventually accomplished his dream when he was hired by Republic Airways as a first officer, based out of Newark. In 2021, Kelly and Lisa moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Shortly thereafter, Kelly was promoted to captain. He continued flying with Republic for several years while commuting to Newark. In 2023, Envoy Air hired Kelly as a captain and awarded him a Dallas base, allowing him to be closer to home.

Even while dedicating time and study to the demands of being a commercial pilot, the gift of music never left Kelly. He continued to enjoy playing piano and guitar while off duty. While visiting New York with Lisa in April 2024, Kelly made one final musical appearance, sitting in with the Grove Street Stompers at Arthur’s Tavern. “Kelly enthusiastically jumped in that afternoon, effortlessly holding down the rhythm section and not missing a beat,” remembers Lisa. “It was as if he had only stepped away from the scene for a day or two.”

But Kelly’s passion for flying and his drive to advance in his career as a pilot were ever present. Flight and passenger safety were always his primary concern.

Kelly died while doing what he loved. He experienced a medical emergency while on duty, and passed away shortly after attending to a maintenance issue.

He was deeply loved by his wife Lisa, his family, fellow musicians and pilot friends. The tremendous outpouring of love and many offers of support Lisa is receiving is a testament to just how much he will be missed.

Kelly is survived by his wife Lisa Hearns-Friesen, his brothers Michael and Daniel, and his sister Donna.

Obituary submitted by Lisa Hearns-Friesen.