Pee Wee Ellis

Born Albert James Ellis in Bradenton, Florida on April 21, 1941, the jazz, soul, and funk saxophonist is better known by his nickname Pee Wee Ellis. While he released some impressive albums as a solo artist, he is best known as a sideman for James Brown and other artists including Van Morrison. He grew up in Lubbock, Texas before moving to Rochester, New York. In the mid-1950s, he performed in high school and took lessons from jazz legend Sonny Rollins. Pee Wee Ellis took courses at the Manhattan College of Music before meeting James Brown, who hired him from 1965 to 1970. Known as the JB Horns, Pee Wee Ellis played alongside trombonist Fred Wesley and saxophonist Maceo Parker. Co-author of 26 James Brown songs including "Say It Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud)” (1968), the saxophonist (alto then tenor) and musical director then worked as an arranger for the Kudu Records label. Pee Wee Ellis participated in a large number of sessions including some for Leon Thomas, Sonny Stitt, Hank Crawford, Brother Jack McDuff or Esther Phillips. Pee Wee Ellis then accompanied singer Van Morrison for twenty years (1979-1999). Married to an Englishwoman, he moved to Frome, England in 1992 and continued to perform with The JB Horns, who released three studio albums, as well as Maceo Parker. He also worked with artists such as Chris Isaak, Marianne Faithfull, The Meters, 10,000 Maniacs, George Clinton, Tom Jones, Cheikh Lô, Oumou Sangaré, Ali Farka Touré, Boy George and Robin McKelle. During his career, Pee Wee Ellis recorded 15 solo albums including Home in the Country (1977), Sepia Tonality (1994), What You Like (1997), Ridin’ Mighty High (2000), Tenoration (2011), and The Spirit of Christmas (2013). Pee Wee Ellis died on September 23, 2021, at the age of 80.

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