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Tinsley Ellis

World renowned Southern blues-rock guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Tinsley Ellis — like every other musician — was caught off-guard when the pandemic shutdown hit in March 2020. Ellis was forced to cancel the tour promoting his just-released album, Ice Cream In Hell, only six weeks into the 60-date run. This would be the first time in 40 years he’d be off the road, and as he drove the 2400 miles home from Reno to Atlanta, he was already formulating his future plans.

Ellis resolved to dedicate his pandemic-forced downtime to creating new songs and growing as a songwriter. To get back to his musical roots, he began composing on amps and guitars that he hadn’t used for decades. He explored obscure studio and live recordings from some of his greatest musical heroes, such as the Allman Brothers, Freddie King, Michael Bloomfield, B.B. King and beyond, and was inspired by his favorite artists all over again. Eighteen months later, Ellis had written an astonishing 200 new songs.

Explains Ellis, “There was a lot of time to experiment. In my downstairs studio I set up every guitar and amp that I owned, plus a Leslie cabinet, an old wooden Wurlitzer electric piano, an old Maestro Echoplex tape delay and 30 or 40 glass, steel and brass slides. Experimenting with different gear set ups inspired the songwriting. Plus, I was able to listen to more music than I had since the 1970s. My imagination was fired up!”

As early as April 2020, he began regularly releasing his new material online, keeping his thousands of fans engaged and soaking up their comments and responses. He knew, thanks to the reactions of his fans to his new songs, that he needed to make a record and get back on the road as soon as possible. Ellis whittled his massive song list down to ten, enlisted his friend and co-producer, keyboard master Kevin McKendree, and headed for Franklin, Tennessee’s famous Rock House recording studio. The result is Ellis’ new Alligator album, Devil May Care, a record Ellis says “is for the fans as much as for me.”

Born in Atlanta in 1957, Ellis was raised in southern Florida. He acquired his first guitar at age seven, soon after seeing The Beatles perform on the Ed Sullivan Show. He took to it instantly, developing and sharpening his skills as he grew up. Ellis discovered the blues through the back door of British Invasion bands like The Yardbirds, The Animals, Cream and The Rolling Stones as well as Southern rockers like The Allman Brothers. One night in 1972, he and a friend were listening to Al Kooper and Michael Bloomfield’s Super Session record when his friend’s older brother told them if they liked that, they should really go see B.B. King, who was in town that week.

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Performance / Tour

Blues Rocker Tinsley Ellis to Perform in Sellersville

Blues Rocker Tinsley Ellis to Perform in Sellersville

Source: Chris M. Slawecki

Blues-rocking guitarist/vocalist Tinsley Ellis will perform at the Sellersville Theater in Sellersville on Wednesday, February 1, 2012. Ellis will be performing songs from his latest Alligator release, Speak No Evil. Over the course of 11 albums and literally thousands of live performances, Ellis is one of today's most electrifying guitarists and vocalists. Rolling Stone says he plays “feral blues guitar...non-stop gigging has sharpened his six-string to a razor's edge...his eloquence dazzles...he achieves pyrotechnics that rival early Jeff Beck and Eric ...

137

Performance / Tour

Rock / Blues Guitarist / Vocalist Tinsley Ellis to Perform in Bethlehem

Rock / Blues Guitarist / Vocalist Tinsley Ellis to Perform in Bethlehem

Source: All About Jazz

ROCK/BLUES GUITARIST/VOCALIST TINSLEY ELLIS TO PERFORM LIVE IN BETHLEHEM!

“Feral blues guitar...non-stop gigging has sharpened his six-string to a razor's edge...his eloquence dazzles... he achieves pyrotechnics that rival Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton." - Rolling Stone

Hard-rocking blues-soaked guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Tinsley Ellis will celebrate his return to Alligator Records with his first-ever live CD, Live-Highwayman, and a performance in Bethlehem. The CD is an Ellis fan's dream-come-true, because as great as he is in the studio, it's the stage ...

60

Performance / Tour

Tinsley Ellis Celebrates Return to Alligator With New CD and Live Performance in Doylestown

Tinsley Ellis Celebrates Return to Alligator With New CD and Live Performance in Doylestown

Source: All About Jazz

ROCK / BLUES GUITARIST / VOCALIST TINLSEY ELLIS CELEBRATES RETURN TO ALLIGATOR WITH NEW CD AND LIVE PERFORMANCE IN DOYLESTOWN!

“Feral blues guitar...non-stop gigging has sharpened his six-string to a razor's edge...his eloquence dazzles... he achieves pyrotechnics that rival Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton." - Rolling Stone

Hard-rocking blues-soaked guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Tinsley Ellis will celebrate his return to Alligator Records with his first-ever live CD, Live-Highwayman, and a performance in Doylestown. The CD is an Ellis fan's dream-come-true, because ...

65

Performance / Tour

Blues Artist Tinsley Ellis Celebrates Return to Alligator Records with Live Performance in Doylestown

Blues Artist Tinsley Ellis Celebrates Return to Alligator Records with Live Performance in Doylestown

Source: All About Jazz

"Feral blues guitar...non-stop gigging has sharpened his six-string to a razor's edge...his eloquence dazzles...he achieves pyrotechnics that rival Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton." -- Rolling Stone

Hard-rocking blues-soaked guitarist / vocalist / songwriter Tinsley Ellis will celebrate his return to Alligator Records with his first-ever live CD, Live-Highwayman, and a performance in Doylestown. The CD is an Ellis fan's dream-come-true, because as great as he is in the studio, it's the stage where Ellis really fires it up. Concert information ...

"Incendiary...Scalding guitar and banshee solos. Ellis mixes soul and fire." –Premier Guitar

"Rugged, burning and riveting...Tinsley Ellis is a powerful and commanding presence, both on guitar and as a gruff, full-throated vocalist. He’s the hardest-working man in blues-rock...It’s impossible to not enjoy the ride." –Blues Music Magazine

Concerts

Apr 15 Mon

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