Jimmy "Preacher" Ellis
James "Jimmy" Ellis (August 17, 1934 – September 16, 2022)[1] was an American blues musician.[2][3] His recording career dated back to the mid 1960s.[4] On more than one occasion he played at the Dusk Til Dawn Blues Festivals.[5][6][7] In the 1960s he did some recordings that were released on the Jewel, Space, Kris and Romark labels. The type of music he recorded over the years ranged from blues and R&B to psychedelic funk and, in the 1970s, soul music from that era.[8]
Jimmy "Preacher" Ellis | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | James Ellis |
| Also known as | Preacher |
| Born | August 17, 1934 Foreman, Arkansas, United States |
| Died | September 16, 2022 (aged 88) Dallas, Texas |
| Genres | Blues |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, musician |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar |
| Labels | Jewel, Romark, Round, Kris, Tramp Records |
Background
He was born in Foreman, Arkansas in 1934 into a farming community.[9] His teenage years were spent in Seattle, Washington. In those years he was a member of the Mount Baker Baptist Church singing in the choir. He was asked by the Reverend F.F. Billups to join the group The Travelling Four to replace the group's baritone singer who had just left. By 1955 when he was around 20 years old the group broke up. He soon enlisted in the army. In the late 1950s he became more seriously involved in playing the guitar and with Tony Harris and Billy Marshall who were from The Travelling Four, he formed the Centuries. In 1964 and now a solo artist,[10] he headed to Los Angeles, hoping to record and later that year his first record single was released. Later in 1964, he met R&B songwriter 'Fats' Washington. Ellis recorded a couple of singles that were released on Washington's Movin' label. Later he had a couple more singles released this time on the Ride label which was another one of Washington's.[11]
1990s to 2000s
In the 1990s he appeared on stage with Peter Tork.[12] In 1996, his Red, Hot & Blues album was released. It featured songs such as "Sweet Dreams", "Every Day's A Holiday With The Blues", "(I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man" and "Rainy Night In Georgia".[13] Saxophonist Stemsy Hunter, drummer Richard Martinez and singer Suzie Cappetta contributed to the album.[14]
In 2002, he appeared at the Topanga Canyon Blues Festival.[15] In 2010, he played at a tribute concert for Blind Willie Johnson, marking the 65th anniversary of his death.[16] Other venues he has played at is the Littlefield in Brooklyn.[17] In 2013, a compilation album of his releases between 1963 and 1973 was released on Tramp Records. The album was called The Story Of Jimmy ‘Preacher’ Ellis.[18] In August 2013 he appeared at the D.C. Minner’s 23rd Annual Rentiesville Dusk til Dawn Blues Festival.[19] [20] In August 2015, he was at the Dusk 'til Dawn Blues Festival in Oklahoma.[21]
Death
He died in Dallas, Texas, on September 16, 2022, at the age of 88.[1]
Singles
| Artist title | Release title(s) | Label and cat | Year | Notes # |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jimmy "Preacher" Ellis | "I'm Gonna Do It By Myself" / "Go Head On" | Jewel 770 | 1966 | |
| Jimmy "Preacher" Ellis | Can't Work And Watch You" / "Tough Competition" | Romark RK-116 | 1970 | |
| Jimmie (Preacher) Ellis And The Odd Fellows | "Gotta See My Baby" / "Put Your Hoe To My Row" | Round 1036 | ||
| Jimmie "Preacher" Ellis | Work With What You Got" / "Fool For A Friend" | Ride 144 | ||
| Jimmie "Preacher" Ellis | "(C'Mon) Dance To The Drumbeat" / "Two Tenors A Tone And A Bone" | Kris 1679 | ||
| Jimmie "Preacher" Ellis | "That's The Way I Am" / "You Can't Pour Water On Me And Tell Me It's Raining" | Hip-Delic 313 | ||
| Jimmie "Preacher" Ellis | "Don't Tax Me In" / "Trouble All Over The World" | Space 45-306 | ||
| Jimmie Elis | "Lookin' Through The Eyes Of Love" / "Gotta See My Baby" | Hip-Delic 314 | ||
| Jimmie Ellis And The 13th Hour Band | "I Just Wanna Be Myself" / "13th Hour" | Space 45-305 | ||
| Jimmie Ellis And The 13th Hour Band | " Happy To Be (The Man You Like To See)" / "Looking Through The Eyes Of Love" | Century City CCR-511 | [22] | |
| Jimmy Ellis | "Heaven Has Blessed You" / "Puttin It On Your Mind" | Salem Records 1001 | ||
| Jimmy Ellis | "Outskirt Of Town, Part 1" / "Outskirt Of Town Part II" | Kris K 8115 | [23] | |
| Jimmy Ellis | "Party Time" Pt 1 / "Party Time" Pt II | Kris Records K-8121 | [24] | |
| Jimmy Ellis | "Baby I Love You" / "Kiddio" | Ride TR-155 | ||
| Jimmy (Preacher) Ellis | "Can't Work And Watch You" / "Work With It" | Kris K 8144 | [25] | |
Albums
| Release title | Label and cat | Year | Notes # |
|---|---|---|---|
| That's Why We All Have the Blues | 2002 | [26] | |
| Red, Hot & Blues | 1996 | [27] | |
| The Story of Jimmy Preacher Ellis | Tramp Records TR9020DDW | 2013 | [28] |
Appears on
| Release title | Label and cat | Song title | Year | Format | Notes # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Sound Of Funk Volume Ten | Goldmine Soul Supply GSLP97 | "I Gotta See My Baby" | 1996 | LP | Various artists comp as Jamie Ellis |
| Up All Night, Vol. 2: 30 Underground Soul Hits | Charly Records R 447756 | "I'm Gonna Do It By Myself" | 1999 | CD | Various artists comp |
| Kris Records ... Los Angeles' Showcase Of Soul | Kent Soul CDKEND 162 | "You" | 1998 | CD | Various artists comp |
| The Sound Of Funk Volume Ten | Goldmine Soul Supply GSCD 97 | "I Gotta See My Baby" | 2000 | CD | Various artists comp as Jamie Ellis |
| R'n'B Meets Northern Soul Volume 2 | Goldmine Soul Supply GSCD 188 | "Puttin It On Your Mind" | 2006 | CD | Various artists comp |
| R'n'B Meets Northern Soul Volume 2 | V.O.R. VORLP114 | "Puttin It On Your Mind" | 2009 | LP | Various artists comp[29] |
| President Johnson’s Blues | Agram Blues AB 2020 | "Don't Tax Me In" | 2009 | CD | Various artists comp[30][31] |
| Romark Records: Kent Harris' Soul Sides | Kent Soul CDKEND 397 | "Tough Competition" | 2013 | CD | Various artists comp [32] |
| For Dancers Only - Northern & Rare Soul Club - 10th Anniversary | (For Dancers Only Self Compiled & Released) | "Baby I Love You" | 2013 | CD-R | Various artists comp free give-away on the 10th anniversary nighter "For Dancers Only" on 2013-12-14 Hafenklang/ Hamburg -Germany |
| The Get It! Raw Funk Of '67 - '69! | Get-S-4003 | "Put Your Hoe To My Row" | Various artists comp | LP CD |
LP and CD have the same number[33] |
References
- Jimmy Ellis Obituary, Golden Gate Funeral Home. Retrieved April 21, 2023
- Paris Dj's on Sunday 20 January 2013 The Story Of Jimmy 'Preacher' Ellis 1963-1972 - out on Tramp Records
- DCMinnerblues.com Band BIOS
- Discogs Jimmy 'Preacher' Ellie* – Go Head On / I'm Gonna Do It By Myself
- NewsOK August 29, 2008 Blues festival pays tribute to late founder By George Lang
- Blues Festival Guide August 1, 2013 Minner’s 23rd Annual Rentiesville Dusk til Dawn Blues Festival Aug 30-Sept 1
- Checotah Oklahoma August 26, 2015 Dusk 'til Dawn Blues Festival 2015
- Paris Dj's on Sunday 20 January 2013 The Story Of Jimmy 'Preacher' Ellis 1963-1972 - out on Tramp Records
- Kudos Records Jimmy Preacher Ellis The Story of Jimmy Preacher Ellis
- Groove Attack Jimmy Preacher Ellis
- Traxsource The Story of Jimmy Preacher Ellis
- WorldCat Jimmy "Preacher" Ellis in concert : with special guest Peter Tork.
- Artist Direct Jimmy Ellis Red Hot and Blues, Red, Hot & Blues Track Listing
- Artist Direct Jimmy Ellis Red Hot and Blues, Credits of Red, Hot & Blues
- Central Valley Blues Society 2002 Archive June 1
- Cash Edwards For Immediate Release: May 13, 2010, Texas Blues Legend, Blind Willie Johnson’s Burial Site Found. Tribute Show with Ruthie Foster, Jon Dee Graham and many more
- Littlefield Dig Deeper Presents Jimmy "Preacher" Ellis (backed by the Brooklyn Rhythm Band) Sat, February 8, 2014
- Monkeyboxing JIMMY ‘PREACHER’ ELLIS: The Story Of Jimmy ‘Preacher’ Ellis (2013)
- Blues Festival Guide August 1, 2013 Minner’s 23rd Annual Rentiesville Dusk til Dawn Blues Festival Aug 30-Sept 1
- Red Dirt Nation August 2013 Vol. 10 No. 8 Rentiesville fest keeps blues roots running deep By Michele Schmidt Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine
- Checotah Oklahoma August 26, 2015 Dusk 'til Dawn Blues Festival 2015
- 45Cat Jimmie "Preacher" Ellis - Discography
- Discogs Jimmy Ellis (3) – Outskirt Of Town Part I / Outskirt Of Town Part II
- Discogs Jimmy Ellis (3), Singles & EPs
- 45Cat Jimmie "Preacher" Ellis - Discography
- Artist Direct Jimmy Ellis - That's Why We All Have the Blues
- Artist Direct Jimmy Ellis - Red, Hot & Blues
- Traxsource The Story of Jimmy Preacher Ellis
- Discogs Jimmy Ellis (3) Discography
- Rate Your Music President Johnson's Blues
- Discogs Jimmy Ellis (3) Discography
- Living Blues December 2013 Page 71 Reissues, Lee Hilderbrand
- Discogs Jimmy Ellis (3) Discography