Featured Artist:
Ellis Hall, Vocals
Ellis Hall is a multi-instrumentalist
virtuoso who possesses a vocal style that commands attention
in its diversity and depth. Born in Savannah, Georgia,
Ellis moved to Boston at the age of five, where he began
his musical career, and has been on a direct course for
success ever since. His first release as a solo artist
was a version of the Motown smash from the 60's "Every
Little Bit Hurts." His talents were showcased nationally
and internationally with the Ellis Hall Group, opening
for many top performers such as the Temptations, Earth
Wind & Fire, Herbie Hancock, the Spinners and Natalie
Cole.
Ellis was featured as lead vocalist on
the debut hit single, "What Does it Take," from
the Kenny G. multi-platinum "Duotones" album
and joined the soul-stirring hit group Tower of Power
as lead vocalist and keyboardist, culminating that stint
with his co-production and song-writing prowess on their
album, "Power." He had enormous success as one
of the California Raisins with their platinum album, "The
California Raisins Sing the Hit Songs," and a gold
album, "Christimas With the California Raisins."
He has also lent his vocals and/or performed with such
diverse artists as James Taylor, Warren Hill, George Duke,
Michael Sembello, Huey Lewis and the News, Bo Diddley,
Taj Mahal, Freddie Hubbard, Bobby Kimball and ToTo, Jason
Scheff of Chicago, Bobby Womack, James Ingram and Stevie
Wonder.
Adding to his credits are a series of
movie and television soundtracks as well as a variety
of International radio and television jingles. He appeared
in the award winning ABC TV show, "The Wonder Years";
performed vocals in "New York Undercover", Fox
TV; "NYPD Blue", ABC TV; "Hercules",
a Disney feature film; "Lion King II", Disney
Home Video; DreamWorks animated feature film, "Chicken
Run", singing the title track "Flip, Flop and
Fly"; on screen as the organist in "Big Momma's
House", with Martin Lawrence, a 20th Century Fox
feature film; singing on screen in a scene with Tom Hanks
in the Steven Spielberg movie by DreamWorks, "Catch
Me If You Can", and his current films, "Bruce
Almighty", Universal, "A Day Without A Mexican",
Universal/BMG and "Polar Express", Warner Bros.
In 2003, for Camille Cosby's New Visionary
Leadership Project honoring Mr. Ray Charles, Ellis performed
"You Don't Know Me" at the Kennedy Center, Washington,
D.C. ÊEllis has also performed at The John F. Kennedy
Center for the Performing Arts, Millennium Stage, for
his Leadership in Arts and Disability. He also performed
a salute to Ray Charles at the Kennedy Center Honors Week-end.
At the Recording Academy's Inaugural
Grammy Jam, in 2004, Ellis was featured in a rousing salute
to Earth Wind & Fire and in 2005 he celebrated the
Music of Stevie Wonder . He was also a featured performer
in the Keb Mo Christmas Special, at Disney Hall, Los Angeles.
In January, 2005, on the Bob James Showboat Cruise to
Mexico, he was featured in several vocal duets with Michael
McDonald and sang lead vocals with Tom Scott's LA Jazz
All-Star Band.
In February 2005, Ellis Hall was featured
at Concord Records Grammy Party which was later shown
on the BET Special "Jammin' For Ray". In May
2005 he was featured along with Brian McKnight at The
Revlon Run/Walk For Breast Cancer at the Los Angeles Colliseum
and in August 2005, he performed with a host of stars
in a commemoration for the 75th birthday of Ray Charles
Ê"A Night With Concord Records" at the
Hollywood Bowl presented by the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Association's Jazz at the Bowl series.
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