Solo performer; also plays with banjo/fiddle composer dad Tony Ellis and duo partner Larry Nager (washboard, bass, mandolin)
Influences
Tony Ellis, Rev. Gary Davis, Blind Willie Johnson, Blind Willie McTell, Bukka White, Ry Cooder, Richard Thompson, Warren Zevon, Joseph Spence, Manu Chao
Born in Lynchburg, Va., William Lee Ellis is the son of banjo composer Tony Ellis and the godson of bluegrass patriarch Bill Monroe. An acoustic/blues musician and writer by profession, Ellis earned a Master of Music in classical guitar from the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music. He also spent nine years as the pop music critic for the Memphis daily paper, the Commercial Appeal. Among his recordings are Conqueroo, picked by Acoustic Guitar magazine as one of 2003’s best albums. In 2004, a House of Blues Radio Hour special on “New Voices of the Blues” spotlighted Ellis, and he has toured extensively from the Kennedy Center to a Norwegian whaling village north of the Arctic Circle. Recently, he accompanied his dad in concert in Havana, Cuba, for the U.S. State Department as well as the New Yorker Festival with actor Steve Martin. He also co-produced with musical partner Larry Nager the Handy-nominated album "Big Joe Jumps Again" by Cincinnati blues piano master Big Joe Duskin. Among Ellis's writing honors are a 2002 Keeping the Blues Alive Award for print media and a 2004 first place Arts & Entertainment win in the Missouri Lifestyle Journalism Awards, the oldest and best-known feature writing accolade for American newspapers. An avid world traveler, Ellis lived through much of the 1990s in Japan. He is currently pursuing a PhD in ethnomusicology at the University of Memphis and has just recorded his latest album, God’s Tattoos, with acclaimed producer Jim Dickinson. Ellis records for blues and roots indie Yellow Dog Records.
PEACE & MANY BLESSINS' ON YOUR PATH WILLIAM!! THANKS FOR KEEPING THE BLUES ALIVE!! MAY THERE BE FEW STONES IN YOUR PASSWAY MY FRIEND!! HOPE TO SEE YOU ON THE ROAD..TILL THEN.. KEEP MAKING IT DO WHAT IT DO... ~ RR
"DEVIL OFFERED A GOLD DOBRO~I SAID NO,I BE A HOBO!!" ~ RiYeN RoOtS
Thank you for being our friend. Mike Dollins & The Cruize Bros "Live" Hot Springs Blues Festival 2009 jamming Sissy Strut.
Guido Ciardetti – Born in Chicago, and was Buddy Miles Bass Player
Brad Messer – Born in Texas, and grew up with SRV
Mike Fraz – Born in New Orleans, playing same venues as Dr. John
Mike Dollins – From California & Arkansas Delta, played in the King Biscuit Blues Band, and with the great blues legends Big Daddy Rucker and Len Rainey on the west coast.
These veteran players love jammin’, and Sissy Strut is becoming a fan favorite on YouTube, AOL, MySpace and FaceBook. United as brothers in the roots of Blues, Jazz, R&B, Soul, Funk, Gospel and American Rock.
BLUES FESTIVAL LINE UP Hill Wheatley Plaza in downtown Hot Springs, Arkansas. Interstate 30 follow the signs to Hot Springs Details at www.bluesguitarnews.com
Friday, 9/4, 6:00 PM Mike Dolllins & The Cruize Brothers Undeground Blues Division 2blu Stella Vees.
Saturday, 9/5, 3:00 PM Ben "Swamp Donkey" Brenner, Unseen Eye Joe Pitts Band WSNB JP Soars and the Red Hots Shemekia Copeland
"Ticklin' The Strings" by Sweet Hollywaiians
Amazing Japanese hot string band playing 1920's, 30's, 40's style hawaiian, swing, calypso, blues, italian music and originals,featuring vintage instruments.3 songs with Robert Armstrong and Tony Marcus(from Robert Crumb and His Cheap Suit Serenaders)
"The Sweet Hollywaiians have probably the best feel for this 20's music of any string band working today. They manage the rare feat of sounding relaxed even when their playing is hot, are top notch musicians with tasteful arrangements and a full, rich, warm sound.Plus, they have a nice gamut of tunes, from King Nawahi to Giovanni Vicari to Bobby Leecan. See them live, if you can, for an unforgettable experience. If you can't, buy their Cds!" ~ Terry Zwigoff
Keep on jammin’ them blues, it’s music to my ears. The House is a Rockin’ at Odie’s House of Blues with host band Mike Dollins & The Cruize Brothers every Thursday Check out www.bluesguitarnews.ning.com an all blues network to list your gigs, videos and photos. See who has joined in the blues social network, and join the fun. Burn them 6L6's into little sizzling pools of melted glass brothers and sisters. Peace to the world through blues.
This Wed: Lil Wyte, DJ Crumbz, & Above Only - Wednesdays just got better than the weekend! Join us at The Hard Rock on Beale Street!! Doors at 9pm/ 18 & up/ $5 to enter
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