Blues-rock powerhouse from Tulsa
(Watch the video below)
Scott Ellison is an American electric blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He began his career in music in the 1970s and has released 13 albums since his debut, Chains of Love, in 1993. In addition to his successful music career, Ellison has also written songs that have been featured in various television programs and films, including Sister Sister, Santa Barbara, Nashville, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Joan of Arcadia, Saving Grace, and Justified, as well as the films Reindeer Games, Feast of Love, and Home Front.
Ellison was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and taught himself to play guitar at a young age. He formed his own band and gained a wider audience by backing Conway Twitty’s daughter, the country singer Jesseca James, in 1977 and touring as part of Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown’s backing band in 1980-81. In the mid-1980s, he moved to Los Angeles and found employment as a session player, working with various artists including the Box Tops, the Shirelles, Gary U.S. Bonds, the Coasters, the Marvelettes, J. J. Jackson, the Drifters, and Peaches & Herb.
Scott Ellison blues ensemble
In the early 1990s, Ellison formed his own blues ensemble and toured with artists including Joe Cocker, Roy Orbison, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Leon Russell, Levon Helm, Bobby Bland, and Buddy Guy. He released his debut album, Chains of Love, in 1993 and followed it up with Live at Joey’s in 1995. He returned to live in Tulsa in 1996 and released his third album, Steamin’, the following year. Over the years, he released several more albums and gained commercial success with Cold Hard Cash and Bad Case of the Blues. He played at various blues festivals in the US, Canada, and Europe and was inducted into the Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame in 2013.
Ellison continues to tour and perform around 200 shows a year and his latest album, There’s Something About the Night, was released on January 14, 2022. The album, which was recorded in Tulsa, features Ellison’s version of the Bobby Bland song, “Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City,” and was inspired by the centenary of the Tulsa race massacre. As of August 20, 2022, it was at number 48 on the Roots Music Report’s Top 50 Blues Album Chart.
Video
We appreciate your time and dedication to reading our article. For more of the finest blues guitar music, make sure to follow our Facebook page, “I Love Blues Guitar”. We share exceptional selections every day. Thank you once again for your continued support and readership.