Herb Ellis

Herb Ellis, a native of Texas, has been plying his Charlie Christian-influenced jazz wares on receptive audiences since he broke into prominence in 1944 with the Casa Loma Orchestra, and then with Jimmy Dorsey's Orchestra from 1945 to 1947. After a few years with the Soft Winds and freelancing around the east coast, Mr. Ellis joined the Oscar Peterson Trio and toured and recorded with them from 1953 to 1958. In the sixties he moved to Southern California and worked in television and recording studios and occasionally area nightclubs. He appeared with Don Trencher's band on the "Steve Allen Show" from 1964 to 1965, then on the "Joey Bishop" and "Merv Griffin" shows. In 1973 Mr. Ellis began an association with Concord Records“making over thirty albums with this label. In 1974 he joined The Great Guitars, a trio with Kesell and Charlie Byrd that played a variety of jazz music to appreciative audiences worldwide.
Mr. Ellis currently resides in Arkansas. He tours both as a solo artist and with the Grammy Award-winning Oscar Peterson Trio. His recent album Texas Swings is his second release for Justice. He is joined on the album by former members of Bob Wills' Texas Playboys, Austin and Nashville session players, and Willie Nelson.

   Ellis Discography

The artist profiles on these pages were excerpted from the Carnegie Hall Tribute program. We present them here in an effort to recognize the artists that keep the music of Lady Ella alive through their repertoire.