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Life Arts    H4'ed 3/14/09

Ellis, a "Be Here Now" Folk Singer

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"Ellis was a standout at the Memphis Folk Alliance. Besides her obvious talent, youthful enthusiasm and charm she was a breath of fresh air in a business where record companies stifle creativity by promoting formulistic songwriting. Ellis follows her own muse and it has served her well as she is in the vanguard of youthful singer songwriters who have infused hope and optimism into what amounts to a rebirth of folk music. Folk is cool again."

 

-Georgianne Nienaber, member, Memphis Chapter of the Recording Academy (Grammy) and pro bono publicist and producer for NOLA musicians hit by Katrina, including Susan Cowsill and Kim Carson

 

*******

 

Who is Ellis?

Her full name, Ellis Grace Bergeron, didn't quite cut it on the concert circuit, too many mispronounceable syllables. So she simplified her performing name to Ellis, and the rest is history.

Raised in Texas but based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota since she was sweet sixteen, Ellis knew she was destined for the limelight, and began composing and singing her own songs at open mics while still in high school, even joining a rock band then and founding her own record label, Rubberneck. In 1996 at the age of 20 or so, she cut her first solo CD, Soft Day. I imagine Garrison Keillor must be in love with such a lethal combination of Texan, Minnesotan and songstress, guitarist, lyricist and composer, all rolled into one! I assume she must have been on his show, Prairie Home Companion, at least once by now.

She is hot locally, in Minneapolis that is, as well as nationally, her credits including the Club Passim, Caffe Lena, P.A.C.E., Outpost in the Burbs, to name just a few prominent gigs, and in 2006 she was voted "Most Wanted to Return" at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, no small feat. Other festivals have included the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival, the Michigan Women's Music Festival, the Loyalist City Folk Festival in Canada, and Telluride Bluegrass Festival.

 

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I am a student of history, religion, exoteric and esoteric, the Humanities in general and a tempered advocate for the ultimate manifestation of peace, justice and the unity of humankind through self-realization and mutual respect, although I am not (more...)
 
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