John Ellison facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Ellison
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Ellison at the 2010 Greenbelt Harvest Picnic
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Willie John Ellison |
| Born | 11 August 1941 Montgomery, West Virginia, United States |
| Origin | Rochester, New York, United States |
| Occupation(s) | Writer, composer, musician |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1960s-present |
| Associated acts | Soul Brothers Six |
John Ellison is a talented American and Canadian musician. He is famous for writing the song "Some Kind of Wonderful." John was born on August 11, 1941, in Montgomery, West Virginia. He grew up in Landgraff, West Virginia, a small coal mining village. John is a citizen of both the United States and Canada, having received his Canadian citizenship in 2006.
Contents
John Ellison's Early Life and Music Career
Joining the Soul Brothers Six
John Ellison's birth name is Willie John Ellison. His parents were Joseph Ellison and Ella Mae Leonard. In the mid-1960s, John moved to Rochester, New York. There, he met the members of a group called the Soul Brothers Five. John became the sixth member of the band. Because of this, the group changed its name to the Soul Brothers Six. The other band members were Charles Armstrong, Harry Armstrong, Vonnell Benjamin, Lester Pelemon, and Joe Johnson. The group soon signed a record deal with Atlantic Records.
Writing "Some Kind of Wonderful"
John Ellison was the lead guitarist, singer, and songwriter for the Soul Brothers Six. In 1967, while traveling to a recording session, John wrote "She's Some Kind of Wonderful." This song became a hit, reaching number 91 on the US Billboard chart.
In 1987, a book called Sweet Soul Music recognized the Soul Brothers Six. It said they greatly influenced modern music. The famous bass line from "She's Some Kind of Wonderful" has been used by many other artists. More than 50 different musicians have recorded their own versions of the song. This makes it one of the most recorded songs ever. In 1995, John Ellison received an award for writing the third-most played song in the world.
Solo Career and Later Achievements
Continuing to Perform and Record
The Soul Brothers Six broke up in the 1970s. However, John Ellison continued to make music and perform. In 1993, he released his first solo album, Welcome Back. He followed this with Missing You in 2000. His third solo album, Back, came out in 2007. John often performs at the Nice Jazz Festival in France. He also plays concerts across Europe, Asia, and North America.
Awards and Recognition
In November 2008, John Ellison was nominated for two awards. These were Male Vocalist of the Year and R&B/Soul Recording of the Year for his album Back. These nominations were at the Hamilton Music Awards in Hamilton, Ontario. He also performed at the awards ceremony. On December 6, 2009, he received the Arcelor Mittal Dofasco Lifetime Achievement Award. He performed at the Hamilton Music Awards again that night.
Autobiography and Museum Plans
In July 2012, John Ellison released his autobiography. It was titled Some Kind of Wonderful: The John Ellison Story. The book talks about the challenges he faced. It also explains how these experiences influenced his songwriting.
In July 2013, a special project began near his childhood home. Boy Scouts and volunteers cleared a site in Landgraff, West Virginia. They plan to build a replica of his boyhood home there. This building will become a museum. It will celebrate John Ellison's music and his early life in the coal mining community.
Recent Music and Honors
In October 2015, John Ellison was inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame. This was a great honor for his contributions to music.
In 2020, Ellison released a song called “Wake-Up Call (Black Like Me).” This song was co-composed and produced by Roger Heijster. It received good reviews from magazines like Rolling Stone and Forbes. The song was nominated for “Song of the Year 2021” by Pop Awards.
On August 11, 2023, John Ellison released a new version of "Some Kind of Wonderful." This song is the title track for his album, which features eleven new songs. These songs were also written by Ellison and produced by Roger Heijster. The single was considered for a Grammy Award nomination. On December 29, 2023, he released a second single, "If I Had Just One Wish." This song has a happy reggae feel and promotes love and peace. The full album was released digitally, on CD, and on vinyl on January 26, 2024.
On May 5, 2024, John Ellison was inducted into the Rochester (NY) Music Hall Of Fame.
