Thursday, March 28, 2024

Ellis Hall: Blind Master Musician ‘Loves Funking It Up’ (EUR Exclusive)

*For singer, musician and recording artist, Ellis Hall, it doesn’t matter whether he’s performing in front of 10,000 people on stage, or sitting on his Southern California porch serenading a few neighbors, he always brings his pulsating brand of pure soul, R&B and funk songs and music to the forefront.  EURweb’s Lee Bailey found this to be true when he interviewed Hall recently at the recording artist’s home.

While the smell of Portuguese chicken being cooked in the kitchen by Hall’s wife filled the house in Pasadena, Hall and Bailey sat at the dining room table, where the singer/musician talked, laughed, sang, and played acoustic guitar, as he told much of the Ellis Hall story.

“When I’m in the studio at home, I try to be out by 6:00 p.m., and by 7, I’m sitting out on the porch playing and practicing,” said Hall, who plays guitar, keyboards, bass, drums, and a multiplicity of other instruments.  “The neighbors always listen and give some comments, but I just love to sit out there and play my guitar.  I always say the guitar is the cheapest therapy.”

For more than 40-plus years, Hall, who is blind, has given the world some of the most soulful and funky songs/music ever recorded or performed this side of everywhere. A few of his recorded songs are, “Back it Up (and Try it Again),” “Some Days Were Meant for Rain,” “What Does it Take,” (Kenny G., featuring Ellis Hall),” “Every Little Bit Hurt,” “Willing and Able” and more.  Actually, Hall, who is called “The Ambassador of Soul” has written almost 4,000 songs.

While Hall may not be a household name, per se, true music fans know his body of work with some of the music industry’s top musicians and singers, including the soul/funk/rock legendary band, “Tower of Power.”

“From 1984 to 1988, I was the lead vocalist of ‘Tower of Power,’ ” said Hall, who has a five-octave vocal range. “ I also played keyboards, and was an all-around utility man (musician).  I tell everybody to go get and listen to ‘Tower of Power’s’ 40th Anniversary DVD and CD that came out a few years ago.  It’s an amazing piece of history and music.  I’m featured on four cuts as lead singer.  I also co-produced the group’s album ‘Power,’ which actually had six of my tunes on it.”

Over his “funking” career, Hall has also worked alongside such music greats as Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, Natalie Cole, Pattie LaBelle, Toby Keith, Herbie Hancock, George Benson, Bobby Womack, George Duke, Sheila E., Kenny G, and Ray Charles.

ellis hall3

Hall remembers meeting his idol, Ray Charles, in 2001 at West L.A. Music store. Hall and his band were playing for a party.

“I was told that Mr. Charles was going to come through,” said Hall.  “When he did, ironically, the song that I was singing as Mr. Charles walked in was, ‘I Can See Clearly Now.’  As my band is playing and I’m about to do my solo, my production manager at the time tapped me on the shoulder and said, ‘Mr. Charles is here and was grooving on you, and he wants to meet you right now.”

Hall said he almost killed himself getting over to meet Charles, promptly giving him a hug and a CD.  Charles called Hall the next day and said…

“Who are you, and why have I not heard of you until now?  I’m going sign you; people need to know about you.”

Charles became Hall’s mentor, passing on valuable advice about succeeding in the music business.  In 2002, Charles signed Hall to his Crossover Records label, but died before Hall’s 2004 album was released.

“Papa Ray died in June, 2004,” Hall recalled.  “In fact, he died the week my record on his label came out. He wasn’t able to push my record, but he did believe in what I do, and I was honored to have that happen.”

Yet, Charles’ earlier advice convinced Hall to begin performing with symphony orchestras.  Hall would ultimately blend and perform R&B, soul and funk music with such symphonic ensembles as the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestras, Boston Pops Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, and others.

While touring nationally can be a grind, Hall maintains an acute sense of humor, and is never afraid to tell blind jokes.

“When people ask me about my blindness, I tell them I didn’t pay the electric bill on time,” Hall said with a laugh.  “So they cut the lights out on me.”

Born in Savannah, Georgia, but lived a short while in Claxton, Georgia, Hall, as a young child was diagnosed with congenital glaucoma, a condition doctors determined would eventually leave him blind.  Hall’s family moved to Massachusetts, where young Ellis attended The Perkins School for the Blind.  Although faced with pending blindness, it didn’t deter the youngster from honing his singing abilities, and learning to play piano, upright bass, guitar and drums.

ellis hall (guitar)

Hall was so serious about playing his instruments, he practiced in the dark to become accustomed to playing sight unseen in preparation of the day doctors had warned him would come.  While in his teens, Hall played the upright bass so well that jazz vibraharpist, Milt Jackson, used the teen on local gigs in Boston.

At 18, Hall completely lost his sight.  However, he was already locked in musically, and knew music, as a career, was his destiny.

Hall’s made his recording debut in 1971, when he played bass and provided background vocals for rocker Paul Pena for Capitol Records.  Hall ultimately formed “The Ellis Hall Group,” which opened in 1973 for an early version of Maurice White’s “Earth, Wind & Fire.”  Hall’s group also opened for the “Temptations” and the “Spinners.”

Hall is currently touring the United States and Canada with his two distinctly-titled shows for symphony orchestras:  Fans can catch either, “Ellis Hall:  Ray, Motown and Beyond” or “Ellis Hall:  “Soul Unlimited.”

Hall on his “Ray, Motown and Beyond” show, which features songs of Ray Charles, Motown Records, “Tower of Power, and other artists.

“People will very quickly learn that I’m not doing emulations or imitations, but celebrations of the soul within,” said Hall.  “I don’t imitate anyone, and that’s why Ray Charles signed me.  I just celebrate the musical colors, and celebrate the amazing soul.  I arrange and I ‘Ellis-ize’ the songs and music to make them mine.”

 

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