‘Red’ Kelly, 76; Bassist, Restaurateur Made a Mock Run for Governor

Thomas “Red” Kelly, 76, the jazz bassist and restaurateur who made a satirical run for governor of Washington state in 1976, died Wednesday of cancer in Tacoma, Wash.

A native of Shelby, Mont., who was brought up in Seattle, Kelly traveled widely as he toured with Chubby Jackson, Charlie Barnet, Red Norvo, Claude Thornhill, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton and Harry James. He played with such stars as Frank Sinatra, Charlie Parker and Billie Holiday.

Returning to the Northwest, Kelly owned restaurant-clubs, where he also performed. He was operating the Tumwater Conservatory in Olympia, Wash., when he turned a joke into the mock campaign for governor. He created the OWL party, standing for either “Out With Logic” or “On With Lunacy,” and used such slogans as “Unemployment Is Not Working.” He got 8% of the vote.

From 1986 until September 2003, he operated Kelly’s in Tacoma, performing until illness overtook him.