Wilbert Thirkield Ellis
b. November 10th, 1914 in Birmingham (Alabama)
d. December 20th, 1977 in Birmingham (Alabama)
FOLK BLUES
Continental
NEW YORK CITY BLUES
Flyright
DOWN HOME BLUES CLASSICS vol.6
Boulevard Vintage
1945
Fils de Lem Ellis et de Climmie Reddlery, Wilbert Thirkield Ellis quitte son Alabama natal en 1920. Il apprend le piano en autodidacte. Après trois années à l'armée pendant la seconde guerre mondiale, il s'installe à New York en 1942 et enregistre pour Lenox ("Dices dices", "I love you baby") en compagnie de Brownie Mac Ghee.
Son of Lem Ellis and Climmie Reddlery, Wilbert Thirkield Ellis left his native Alabama in 1920. He is self-taught on piano. After three years in the army during world war II, he moved to New York in 1942 and records for Lenox ("Dices dices", "I love you baby") with Brownie Mac Ghee.
SITTIN' IN WITH HARLEM, JADE & JAX vol.6
Time
Late 1948
Souvent sideman pour Allen Bunn (alias Tarheel Slim), Brownie Mac Ghee, Sonny Terry, il grave en leader pour le label Sittin' In ("Big Chief's blues").
Often sideman for Allen Bunn (aka Tarheel Slim), Brownie Mac Ghee, Sonny Terry, he cuts as a leader for the Sittin' In label ("Big Chief's blues").
WNYC JAZZ FESTIVAL
Jazz Unlimited
February 1949
BIG CHIEF ELLIS
Trix
September 1974 - June 1976
Ce disque recueille plusieurs séances organisées par Pete Lowry, Dick Spottswood et Joe Wilson entre 1974 et 1976. Autour de Big Chief Ellis, on a rassemblé les meilleurs guitaristes de la région : John Cephas, Tarheel Slim et Brownie Mac Ghee. Les trois musiciens procurent, d'ailleurs, un accompagnement appréciable. On trouve d'excellents morceaux comme "All down blues", "Louise", "Hey baby", "Blues for Moot". Très jolie dessin de couverture de Raoul Vezina.
This disc collects several sessions organized by Pete Lowry, Dick Spottswood and Joe Wilson between 1974 and 1976. Around Big Chief Ellis are gathered best guitarists of the region : John Cephas, Tarheel Slim and Brownie Mac Ghee. The three musicians provide, indeed, a significant accompaniment. There are excellent songs like "All down blues", "Louise", "Hey baby", "Blues for Moot". Very nice cover artwork of Raoul Vezina.
CLASSIC PIANO BLUES
Smithsonian - Folkways
CLASSIC APPALACHIAN BLUES
Smithsonian - Folkways
August 1976
Dans ces deux recueils publiés par Smithsonian - Folkways, on entend les derniers morceaux gravés par Big Chief Ellis : une nouvelle version de "Dices dices" et une superbe lecture de "Louise" en compagnie de John Cephas et Phil Wiggins (excellent à l'harmonica). Avec sa femme Mootie, il décide au milieu des années 70 de retourner vivre dans son Alabama natal à Birmingham. Le promoteur Norbert Hess avait prévu de faire tourner Big Chief Ellis en Europe en 1978. Mais, malheureusement, Ellis décède dans les derniers jours de l'année 1977 d'une crise cardiaque.
In these two collections published by Smithsonian - Folkways, we can hear the last tracks engraved by Big Chief Ellis : a new version of "Dices dices" and a superb reading of "Louise" with John Cephas and Phil Wiggins (excellent on harmonica). With his wife Mootie, he decided in the mid 70's to return to live in his native Alabama in Birmingham. The promoter Norbert Hess had planned a tour with Big Chief Ellis in Europe in 1978. Unfortunately, Ellis dies within the last days of 1977 of a heart attack.