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On November 2, 2012, the Oakland Public Conservatory of Music honored the memory, life, music and contributions of Ed Kelly, a legendary musician and teacher from Oakland. OPC has named its main concert hall Ed Kelly Hall in honor of Mr. Kelly's deep roots in the community and his commitment to teaching and mentoring young musicians. During his more than 50-year career, he performed with such Jazz legends like John Handy, Cecil McBee, Michael White, Pharoah Sanders, Bobby Hutcherson and Ray Drummond.

Ed Kelly was a professor of music at Laney College for over 25 years and mentored scores of developing musicians at jazz camps and workshops. Pharoah Sanders, a close friend and musical collaborator of Kelly's summed up his life this way: "He's a genius and a great person. He could have been a superstar if he wanted, but he chose to help other musicians here. I'm one of them. He's why I'm here."

To celebrate his life and the principles he lived by, Angela Wellman, founding director of OPC, commissioned award-winning visual artist, James Gayles, to create a mural that celebrates Kelly's life in music in Oakland, the city he loved and to which he dedicated his work in music.