Ellis Paul
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After years of non-stop touring and writing, Ellis' hard work is paying off. He is a seven-time winner at The Boston Music Awards, winner of the prestigious Kerrville New Folk Award, winner of the Acoustic Underground Competition, and the recent subject of a glowing review in USA Today, tagging him as a "Best Bet for Stardom." His Carnival of Voices on the Rounder/Philo label charted at the top of national radio polls, including #3 on CMJ's AAA chart and #4 on Gavin's AAA chart. Ellis also received SESAC's award for the "Highest Charting AAA Artist in 1996.
Ellis was raised in Presque Isle, a small town in northern Maine. He hails from a family whose past generations earned their living from potato farming. This background has greatly influenced his perception of the modern world in which he now travels. While attending college in Boston on a track scholarship, Ellis was sidelined with a sports injurty. Recuperation allowed time to study the guitar and write, which eventually led to his appearing in the many open-mike nights held in the Boston area. Within a short time he began selling out venues on his own, including a recent standing-room-only performance at the historic 900-seat Somerville Theatre in Massachusetts. Ellis' strong national following resulted from an aggressive touring schedule that has taken him all over the country, including special appearances at the Newport Folk Festival, Carnegie Hall, The Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, the MIDEM Festival in France, South by Southwest, and the Kerrville Folk Festival.
Ellis has released 3 albums, and a fourth is on the way. The first is 1993's Say Something, produced by songwriting luminary Bill Morrissey. Rounder Records signed Ellis and released 1994's Stories, which was produced by guitar hero Duke Levine and features Jonatha Brooke of The Story, Johnnie Cunningham, Martin Sexton, and Patty Griffin. Carnival of Voices came out in 1996, produced by drumming great Jerry Marotta, and featuring Tony Levin, Bill Dillon, Duke Levine, Jennifer Kimball and Patty Griffin. His fourth album, Translucent Soul, will see a summer release of his most personal and powerful songs to date.
Says Performing Songwriter Magazine, "Ellis Paul is a master storyteller. He combines the sensibilities of Bob Dylan, Bill Morrissey and John Gorka and delivers it with a passion that sets him apart in the company of a new breed of songwriters." The Woody Guthrie tattoo on his right shoulder may speak of Ellis' influences, but he's found his own voice and it sounds like no other.
