Kelley Jakle is an actress and singer/songwriter from Sacramento, CA.
As the only girl in a family with two older brothers, Kelley held her own playing competitive soccer, basketball and swimming. However, it was acting and singing that eventually consumed her interest, beginning with The Sacramento Children’s Chorus. She soon started giving impromptu performances of the National Anthem at swim meets and local parades, which turned into solo performances for the Sacramento River Cats and the NBA’s Sacramento Kings. After competing against hundreds of contestants from around the country, Kelley was also selected to sing in front of thousands of fans and a national television audience for the SF 49ers.
In high school, Kelley starred in stage productions that varied from satirical comedies such as Urinetown (as Hope Cladwell) and The Princess Bride (as Princess Buttercup), to poignant and thought-provoking works like The Laramie Project (as Catherine Connolly). Her music development flourished, as she wrote songs inspired by the likes of Andrew McMahon, Michelle Branch and Sheryl Crow, while accompanying herself on the piano. By her junior year Kelley produced her first self-titled CD, Spare Change, containing five original songs. This was followed by a self-titled album with her band, By the Way.
As the founder of her high school a cappella group, it was no surprise when Kelley chose to attend the University of Southern California and become a member of the SoCal VoCals – USC’s premiere a cappella group. The VoCals won the coveted International Competition of collegiate Acappella in New York City twice during her time in the group.
The national television spotlight soon found Kelley when the SoCals were chosen to appear on the first season of the NBC vocal competition series, “The Sing-Off”. Kelley was back again for season two, this time making it to the finals a member of the Backbeats, a group comprised of vocal performers from USC, UCLA and BYU.
After graduating with honors, Kelley remains in Los Angeles pursuing a career in music as well as in television and film. In addition to her debut role as a member of the Barden Bellas in the 2012 mega-hit ‘Pitch Perfect,’ she appeared in Warner Brothers/Legendary Pictures ’42’, the Jackie Robinson biopic helmed by Oscar winner Brian Helgeland. She has appeared on Comedy Central’s “Workaholics” and “Adam Devine’s House Party.”
