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 was born on August 11, 1941. He is a talented musician from both America and Canada. John is most famous for writing the hit song "Some Kind of Wonderful." He was born in Montgomery, West Virginia, USA. He grew up in Landgraff, West Virginia, a small coal mining village. In 2006, John became a citizen of Canada as well.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
John Ellison's full birth name is Willie John Ellison. He was born in Eagle, West Virginia. In the mid-1960s, John moved to Rochester, New York. There, he met a band called the Soul Brothers Five.
John joined the group as the sixth member. Because of this, they changed their name to the Soul Brothers Six. The band signed a deal with Atlantic Records. John was the lead guitarist, singer, and songwriter for the group.
The Hit Song "Some Kind of Wonderful"
In 1967, John Ellison wrote "She's Some Kind of Wonderful." He wrote it while traveling to a recording session. This song became a big hit for the Soul Brothers Six. It reached number 91 on the US Billboard chart.
The song's special bass line has been used by many other artists. More than 50 different musicians have recorded "She's Some Kind of Wonderful." This makes it one of the most recorded songs ever. In 1995, John received an award for writing the third-most played song in the world.
Solo Career and Awards
The Soul Brothers Six band broke up in the 1970s. John Ellison then started his solo music career. He continued to record and perform his own music. His first solo album, Welcome Back, came out in 1993.
Later, he released Missing You in 2000 and Back in 2007. John often performs at the Nice Jazz Festival in France. He also plays concerts across Europe, Asia, and North America.
In 2008, John was nominated for two awards. These were Male Vocalist of the Year and R&B/Soul Recording of the Year. Both nominations were for his album Back at the Hamilton Music Awards. In 2009, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the same event.
Autobiography and Recognition
In July 2012, John Ellison released his autobiography. It is titled Some Kind of Wonderful: The John Ellison Story. This book shares his life experiences. It also explains how these experiences influenced his songwriting.
In 2013, a special project began near his childhood home. Boy Scouts and volunteers cleared a site in Landgraff, West Virginia. There are plans to build a museum there. It will look like his boyhood home. The museum will celebrate John's music and early life.
In October 2015, John Ellison was honored. He was officially added to the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame.
Recent Music and Achievements
In 2020, John Ellison released a new song. It was called “Wake-Up Call (Black Like Me).” This song was co-written and produced by Roger Heijster. It received good reviews from magazines like Rolling Stone and Forbes. The song was even nominated for "Song of the Year 2021" by Pop Awards.
On his 82nd birthday, August 11, 2023, John released a new version of "Some Kind of Wonderful." This song is also the title track for his new album. The album features eleven new songs written by John. These songs were produced by Roger Heijster.
His single was considered for a Grammy Award nomination. On December 29, 2023, he released another single. It was called "If I Had Just One Wish." This song has a happy reggae style. It calls for more love, peace, and harmony. The full album was released digitally, on CD, and on vinyl in January 2024.
On May 5, 2024, John Ellison received another great honor. He was inducted into the Rochester (NY) Music Hall Of Fame.
