Kells Nollenberger grew up on the shores on Lake Superior in Duluth, MN. He started his musical training with piano lessons from Sister Rose Cecil (a nun from the local conservatory) from a young age. By the age of 11, he realized that he would get more gigs as a bass player and quickly switched. He soon discovered the music of the great jazz trios such as Oscar Peterson, Ahmad Jamal, and Bill Evan. This music stands as his main inspiration to date.
Kells has lived and worked as a musician in Chicago, Denver, and New York. While in Chicago, he studied music with Rob Kassinger of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. From 2014-2016, Kells performed as a member of the Stephane Wrembel Band. In addition to his extensive jazz career, he has performed with professional orchestras, broadway shows, and touring rock bands. From Kells currently lives in Brooklyn, NY as a freelance performer and private educator.