Mark Kelley (bassist)

Mark Kelley is an American bass guitar player and member of the hip hop band The Roots, joining the band in 2011. Kelley plays with The Roots in the house band for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. He occasionally appears in games and sketches on The Tonight Show.

Kelley has toured with Meshell Ndegeocello, John Scofield, Mos Def, Christian McBride, Jason Moran, and Roy Hargrove.

Early life
Mark Kelley was born in Houston, Texas. His father was a classical pianist and his mother was a physician. He played cello and guitar, before taking up the bass at age 13. He attended Houston's Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.

Education
Kelley attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. While at Berklee, he started playing at venues in Boston including the jazz club Wally's Cafe.

In 2003, Kelley left Berklee just 20 credits shy of graduating at Berklee, to play bass for guitarist John Scofield’s Überjam tour. He completed his degree through Berklee Online in 2023, while The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon was off the air during the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike.

Career
Kelley moved to New York in 2005. He joined The Roots in 2011, replacing Owen Biddle. He got the job with the Roots after subbing in Mo’ Meta Blues, backing Michael McDonald and Sara Bareilles at the 2011 Roots Picnic.

He is the longest serving bass player for The Roots.

With The Roots

 * ...And Then You Shoot Your Cousin (2014), Def Jam Recordings
 * Wise Up Ghost (2013), Blue Note
 * Undun (2011), Def Jam Recordings

As featured on

 * Monk Studies - Chihiro Yamanaka (2017), Blue Note/Universal
 * Cruisin' Smokey Robinson – Smokey & Friends (2014), Verve Records