Wilbert Thirkield "Big Chief" Ellis[1] (November 10, 1914 – December 20, 1977)[2] was an American blues pianist and vocalist.
Big Chief Ellis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Wilbert Thirkield Ellis |
| Born | November 10, 1914 Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | December 20, 1977 (aged 63) Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, piano |
Biography
editEllis was born in Birmingham, Alabama, United States,[3] and was an autodidact at piano. He played at local parties and dances in the late 1920s before leaving Alabama, traveling the United States and working odd jobs.[1] He served in the Army from 1939 to 1942, then moved to New York City, where he accompanied touring blues performers for their concerts there.[1] He recorded with Lenox Records in 1945, and recorded for Capitol Records with Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee in the 1950s.[4]
In 1972, Ellis moved to Washington, D.C., where he operated a liquor store. Towards the end of his life, Ellis began recording for Trix Records,[1] where he played again with McGhee as well as Tarheel Slim and John Cephas.[3]
Ellis died in Birmingham, Alabama, of heart failure aged 63.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Big Chief Ellis Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio". AllMusic.
- ^ a b "The Dead Rock Stars Club – The 1970s". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
- ^ a b Pearson, Barry Lee (2005). Jook right on: blues stories and blues storytellers (1st ed.). Knoxville, Tennessee, United States: University of Tennessee Press. p. 196. ISBN 1-57233-431-2.
- ^ Colin Larkin, ed. (1995). The Guinness Who's Who of Blues (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 123. ISBN 0-85112-673-1.
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