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Jimmy "Preacher" Ellis

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Jimmy "Preacher" Ellis
Birth nameJames Ellis
Also known asPreacher
Born(1934-08-17)August 17, 1934
Foreman, Arkansas, United States
DiedSeptember 16, 2022(2022-09-16) (aged 88)
Dallas, Texas
GenresBlues
Occupation(s)Singer, musician
InstrumentGuitar
LabelsJewel, Romark, Round, Kris, Tramp Records

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]

Background

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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

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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

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He died in Dallas, Texas, on September 16, 2022, at the age of 88.[1]

Singles

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List
Artist title Release title(s) Label and cat Year Notes #
Jimmie "Preacher" Ellis "Work With What You Got" / "Fool For A Friend" Ride R-144 1965
Jimmie Ellis "Baby I Love You" / "Kiddio" Ride R-146 1965
Jimmy "Preacher" Ellis "Go Head On" / "I'm Gonna Do It By Myself" Movin' M-136; Jewel 770 1966
Jimmy "Preacher" Ellis "Nobody Knows" / "Cry No More" Movin' M-141 1966
Jimmy "Preacher" Ellis and the Odd Fellows "Two Tenors – A Tone and A Bone" / "(C'mon) Dance to the Drumbeat" Kris K-1679 1968
Jimmy Ellis "Heaven Has Blessed You" / "Puttin' It on Your Mind" Salem 1001 1969
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 1970
Jimmie Ellis "I Gotta See My Baby" / "Looking Through the Eyes of Love" Hip-Delic 314 1970
Jimmie Ellis and the 13th Hour Band "I Just Wanna Be Myself" / "13th Hour" Space 45-305 1970
Jimmie "Preacher" Ellis "Don't Tax Me In" / "Trouble All Over the Land" Space 45-306 1970
Jimmie Ellis "Happy To Be (The Man You Like To See)" / "Looking Through the Eyes of Love" Century City CCR-511 1970 [22]
Jimmie "Preacher" Ellis "I Can't Work and Watch You" / "Tough Competition" Romark RK-116 1971
Jimmie (Preacher) Ellis and the Odd Fellows "I Gotta See My Baby" / "Put Your Hoe (To My Row)" Round 1036 1971
James Ellis "Ain't Gonna Cry No More" / Ain't Gonna Cry No More (Instrumental)" Cotillion 44121 1971
Jimmy Ellis "Why I Sing the Blues, Part 1" / "Why I Sing the Blues, Part 2" Kris K-8114
Jimmy Ellis "Outskirt of Town, Part 1" / "Outskirt of Town, Part 2" Kris K-8115 [23]
Jimmy Ellis "Party Time, Pt. 1" / "Party Time, Pt. 2" Kris K-8121 [24]
Jimmy (Preacher) Ellis "Can't Work & Watch You" / "Work With It" Kris K-8144 [25]

Albums/CDs

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List
Release title Label and cat Year Notes #
Red, Hot & Blues Kris K-8147 1996 [26]
That's Why We All Have the Blues Victoria Underground VCD-011 2002 [27]
The Story of Jimmy Preacher Ellis Tramp TR-9020 2013 [28]

Appears on

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List
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 part number[33]

References

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  1. ^ a b Jimmy Ellis Obituary, Golden Gate Funeral Home. Retrieved April 21, 2023
  2. ^ Paris Dj's on Sunday 20 January 2013 The Story Of Jimmy 'Preacher' Ellis 1963-1972 - out on Tramp Records
  3. ^ DCMinnerblues.com Band BIOS
  4. ^ Discogs Jimmy 'Preacher' Ellie* – Go Head On / I'm Gonna Do It By Myself
  5. ^ NewsOK August 29, 2008 Blues festival pays tribute to late founder By George Lang
  6. ^ Blues Festival Guide August 1, 2013 Minner’s 23rd Annual Rentiesville Dusk til Dawn Blues Festival Aug 30-Sept 1[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ Checotah Oklahoma August 26, 2015 Dusk 'til Dawn Blues Festival 2015
  8. ^ Paris Dj's on Sunday 20 January 2013 The Story Of Jimmy 'Preacher' Ellis 1963-1972 - out on Tramp Records
  9. ^ Kudos Records Jimmy Preacher Ellis The Story of Jimmy Preacher Ellis
  10. ^ Groove Attack Jimmy Preacher Ellis
  11. ^ Traxsource The Story of Jimmy Preacher Ellis
  12. ^ WorldCat Jimmy "Preacher" Ellis in concert : with special guest Peter Tork.
  13. ^ Artist Direct Jimmy Ellis Red Hot and Blues, Red, Hot & Blues Track Listing
  14. ^ Artist Direct Jimmy Ellis Red Hot and Blues, Credits of Red, Hot & Blues
  15. ^ Central Valley Blues Society 2002 Archive June 1
  16. ^ 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
  17. ^ Littlefield Dig Deeper Presents Jimmy "Preacher" Ellis (backed by the Brooklyn Rhythm Band) Sat, February 8, 2014
  18. ^ Monkeyboxing JIMMY ‘PREACHER’ ELLIS: The Story Of Jimmy ‘Preacher’ Ellis (2013)
  19. ^ Blues Festival Guide August 1, 2013 Minner’s 23rd Annual Rentiesville Dusk til Dawn Blues Festival Aug 30-Sept 1[permanent dead link]
  20. ^ 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
  21. ^ Checotah Oklahoma August 26, 2015 Dusk 'til Dawn Blues Festival 2015
  22. ^ 45Cat Jimmie "Preacher" Ellis - Discography
  23. ^ Discogs Jimmy Ellis (3) – Outskirt Of Town Part I / Outskirt Of Town Part II
  24. ^ Discogs Jimmy Ellis (3), Singles & EPs
  25. ^ 45Cat Jimmie "Preacher" Ellis - Discography
  26. ^ Artist Direct Jimmy Ellis - Red, Hot & Blues
  27. ^ Artist Direct Jimmy Ellis - That's Why We All Have the Blues
  28. ^ Traxsource The Story of Jimmy Preacher Ellis
  29. ^ Discogs Jimmy Ellis (3) Discography
  30. ^ Rate Your Music President Johnson's Blues
  31. ^ Discogs Jimmy Ellis (3) Discography
  32. ^ Living Blues December 2013 Page 71 Reissues, Lee Hilderbrand
  33. ^ Discogs Jimmy Ellis (3) Discography
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