JIMMY "PREACHER" ELLIS

 

James "Jimmy" Ellis (August 17, 1934 – September 16, 2022)  was an American blues musician. His recording career dated back to the mid 1960s.On more than one occasion he played at the Dusk Til Dawn Blues Festivals. 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.

Background

He was born in Foreman, Arkansas in 1934 into a farming community. 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, 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.

1990s to 2000s

In the 1990s he appeared on stage with Peter Tork. 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". Saxophonist Stemsy Hunter, drummer Richard Martinez and singer Suzie Cappetta contributed to the album.

In 2002, he appeared at the Topanga Canyon Blues Festival.In 2010, he played at a tribute concert for Blind Willie Johnson, marking the 65th anniversary of his death. Other venues he has played at is the Littlefield in Brooklyn. 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. In August 2013 he appeared at the D.C. Minner’s 23rd Annual Rentiesville Dusk til Dawn Blues Festival. In August 2015, he was at the Dusk 'til Dawn Blues Festival in Oklahoma.

Death

He died in Dallas, Texas, on September 16, 2022, at the age of 88.