William Lee Ellis

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Free Showcase at IBC Memphis

February 3, 2009 in Eden Brent, Fiona Boyes, Mary Flower, William Lee Ellis, Yellow Dog Records

Five roots music masters… Thirteen Blues Music Award nominations… One lineup… Zero cover!

Yellow Dog Records presents an afternoon of blues excellence, this Friday Feb 6 2009 during International Blues Challenge weekend. We’ll be at King’s Palace, 162 Beale Street, downtown Memphis. It’s free to the public, so please join us as we present:

Eden Brent will perform songs from her 2008 album Mississippi Number One, nominated as “Acoustic Album of the Year” in the 2009 Blues Music Awards.

Rich Del Grosso and Fiona Boyes will perform songs from their 2008 album Live From Bluesville, also nominated as “Acoustic Album of the Year” in the 2009 Blues Music Awards!

And, Mary Flower and Fiona Boyes will each premiere songs from their upcoming albums Bridges and Blues Woman, set for spring releases from Yellow Dog Records.

See you there!

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Yellow Dog Records Featured by Voice Of America

April 28, 2008 in Eden Brent, The Bo-Keys, The Soul of John Black, Voice of America, William Lee Ellis, Yellow Dog Records

Voice of America gives some love to the Yellow Dog Records roster, which they note “boasts some of today’s best blues and Americana performers.” Read the article here, or listen to the audio of the piece:

Yellow Dog Records boasts some of today’s best Blues, Americana

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WLE on Mountain Stage this week

November 16, 2007 in Conqueroo, God's Tattoos, Mountain Stage, William Lee Ellis


William Lee Ellis appears on the nationally syndicated Mountain Stage radio program this week, as part of a star-studded lineup including Leon Redbone, Tracy Nelson, and Marie Knight. WLE performs songs from his critically acclaimed albums God’s Tattoos and Conqueroo. The program airs on NPR stations nationwide in a timeslot scheduled by each local station. Check here to see when the show airs in your town this week!

  • Reviews, sound samples, and more information about William Lee Ellis
  • Three albums by William Lee Ellis available! Visit our Order page to get yours
  • UPDATE:  NPR has posted audio from the set – hear it here.

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William Lee Ellis featured on Beale Street Caravan

December 6, 2006 in William Lee Ellis

Nationally syndicated radio show Beale Street Caravan is broadcasting a recording of a live performance by William Lee Ellis, recorded earlier this year. WLE was joined by a who’s who of musical Memphians, including Susan Marshall, Amy LaVere, Paul Taylor, and Reba Russell. Visit Beale Street Caravan to find a station near you broadcasting this rare performance.

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WLE featured in Vintage Guitar

November 4, 2006 in God's Tattoos, William Lee Ellis


What do Peter Frampton, Chris Smither, and William Lee Ellis have in common? They are all named on the cover of the new (Dec 06) issue of Vintage Guitar magazine. Ellis and Smither are described as “Futuristic Primitives” who use vintage instruments and stylings to create contemporary music rooted in tradition. Great quote about God’s Tattoos: “A unique and innovative album… may often cause listeners to scratch their heads and ask, ‘How did he do that?’”

WLE will also be featured on the nationally syndicated Beale Street Caravan radio show in the first week of December, with an all-new recording of live performance from earlier this year, featuring guests Amy LaVere, Paul Taylor, Susan Marshall, Reba Russell, Kim Richardson, and Andy Cohen.

We’ve posted a huge new batch of reviews for God’s Tattoos – check them out here.

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Muddy Nominations

September 18, 2006 in Mark Lemhouse, Terry Robb, William Lee Ellis


The Cascade Blues Association has announced their nominations for 2006 Muddy Awards – three Yellow Dog artists are included! Terry Robb is nominated for “Best Acoustic Guitar” while Mark Lemhouse gets a nod for “Best Regional Act”. And William Lee Ellis‘ new album God’s Tattoos is nominated for “National Recording of the Year” alongside new releases from Keb’ Mo’ and Watermelon Slim.

Thanks to Cascade Blues members for the recognition!

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William Lee Ellis nominated in The Americana Highway’s 2006 HEMI Awards

July 28, 2006 in William Lee Ellis

William Lee Ellis is among the nominees for “Future Male Artist” in the 2006 HEMI Awards, sponsored by The Americana Highway radio program, which airs Sunday evenings on WIVK-FM in Knoxville. Please drop by the show’s website at www.americanahighway.com to vote for WLE!

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God’s Tattoos advance copies now shipping!

June 16, 2006 in God's Tattoos, new releases, William Lee Ellis

God’s Tattoos, the latest album from William Lee Ellis, has arrived from the duplicator and we’re shipping advance copy orders now! Produced by Jim Dickinson at his North Mississippi Zebra Ranch, God’s Tattoos is an aural dreamscape where blues, gospel, acoustic pop, roots rock, and even a rhumba beat merge to explore “the indelible ink of experience”, or the psychic and emotional scars we all acquire in our lifetimes. Read the press release (PDF) here.

  • More details and sound samples
  • Mark your calendar… Memphis CD Release party 7/28/06
  • Album shipping now! Visit the Order page to get your copy.
  • Update! Giant list of reviews posted here…

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New Recordings from William Lee Ellis, Fiona Boyes in production

January 14, 2006 in Fiona Boyes, new releases, William Lee Ellis | 1 comment

We’re pleased to announce new recording deals with William Lee Ellis and Fiona Boyes!

William Lee Ellis, the son of banjo composer Tony Ellis, godson of bluegrass patriarch Bill Monroe, and former pop music critic for the Memphis Commercial Appeal, recently wrapped recording on his new album God’s Tattoos, his third for Yellow Dog Records. The album, recorded and produced by Jim Dickinson at his Zebra Ranch, is an eclectic mix of blues, Americana, gospel, world music, and even rock, that set out as a personal journey of the spirit (the title referring to psychic and emotional scars or “tattoos” we all wear inside.) The album is set for release this summer.

Australian Fiona Boyes is relocating to the US for a while to tour and record her new album for Yellow Dog Records. After winning the prestigious International Blues Challenge in Memphis in 2003, Fiona visited the US to play major festivals in New York, Chicago, Portland and Atlanta. Recognized by Blues Hall of Fame legend Pinetop Perkins as “the best gal guitar player I’ve heard since Memphis Minnie,” Fiona has gone on to play and record with some of the greats of Delta and Chicago blues, including Steady Rollin’ Bob Margolin from Muddy Waters’ band, and the immortal Hubert Sumlin, famed for his 28 year career as Howlin Wolf’s guitarist.

Fiona recorded her Yellow Dog Records debut, titled Lucky 13, in Austin in February for a planned August release – Grammy award-winning producer Mark “Kaz” Kazanoff was at the helm with special guests, including Bob Margolin and Marcia Ball, joining in.

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William Lee Ellis on national prime time television

May 17, 2004 in William Lee Ellis

Last week’s prime time special America’s Voices: Celebrating Life on the Travel Channel provided a “tour of the U.S. and a sampling of some of the country’s most extraordinary vocal talents.” William Lee Ellis appeared with his father, Tony Ellis, as one of 4 featured musical groups.

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