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JanetB - Posted - 11/03/2017: 15:00:39
It's been exciting to discover the soft and gentle picking of Tony Ellis. Beginning with lessons from Don Reno, it's fascinating that Tony was a Bluegrass Boy when just turning 20 in the 1960's and that he came to evolve a style all his own when he later moved to Ohio and there weren't many pickers there. He remembered his grandmother's style of banjo, which was clawhammer and 2-finger and used various tunings, but he didn't learn her style once he heard Earl Scruggs. In fact, Tony received a bit of help from Earl behind the stage at the Grand Old Opry. Another interesting fact is that in the Steve Martin interview of Tony Ellis, Steve admitted that it was hearing Tony's tune The Wild Fox played in double C tuning that he began exploring the tuning, too, and ended up writing The Crow. There's much to learn about Tony Ellis and there are several great youtube videos to learn from. I'm going to begin by ordering a CD many recommend from the 1990's called Farewell My Home.
Here are two waltz tunes: Cherry Blossom Waltz and Wind Chimes and Nursery Rhymes. Though Tony still plays 3-finger style, it's said that many of his tunes are clawhammer friendly. I worked out Cherry Blossom Waltz in double C tuning, but after trying that tuning with Wind Chimes and Nursery Rhymes decided to go with open G tuning. When played on the cello banjo it could come out to the key of C, though here I'm playing the short-scale Doc's Banjo.
The next 3/4 time tune I'm trying is Father's Pride, and, indeed, Tony is very proud of his guitar-playing son. His wife, Louise Adkins, plays piano with the family band. I haven't found current information about them and hope someone else can help me out here. There are older interviews and articles on-line, but I'd like something current. I just sent him a friend request on Banjo Hangout and wonder if he's at all active here. Thanks for any insights.
A final thought, I came to know of Tony Ellis through the seminal and exciting work of Stephen Wade. It's the last track in his new CD, Across the Amerikee, and he says that it's so pretty it's been played at weddings. Stephen actually picks it on a banjo once owned by Tony.
Edited by - JanetB on 12/20/2017 21:24:20
JanetB - Posted - 11/10/2017: 10:30:19
Now I'm up to three tunes by Tony Ellis and am working on three more! I was gratefully treated to direct communication with him last night via email. He's the gentle and generous man I've heard about whose passion remains in music and family. One thing I discovered is that two of his favorite tunes are the ones I originally posted. Also that he gave his Bluegrass Boys belt buckle to his son, Bill, the talented guitar player who is named after Bill Monroe. It is always a thrill for me to get to personally know the resource musicians whose work I admire so much. His passion these days takes him into his shop at home where he collects and repairs fiddles. Look for Tony Ellis to be featured one day in my old-time Tune of the Week research projects.
This original tune by Tony is called Rain on the Water and features one of his beautiful cascading melodies. The timing takes you a bit by surprise, both with its simplicity and resemblance to the title's meaning. Tony plays it 3-finger style; I arranged it for clawhammer and continue to find that it's true what is said about many of his compositions -- they're clawhammer-friendly!
Edited by - JanetB on 11/10/2017 10:33:23
JanetB - Posted - 11/28/2017: 22:17:15
Father's Pride is a tender waltz dedicated to William Ellis, Tony's son, named for Bill Monroe. I needed to re-upload Rain on the Water and figure out what happened to the video.
JanetB - Posted - 11/29/2017: 10:16:49
Thanks, Rick and Larry. I've just become aware of Tony Ellis' wonderful music and even contacted him successfully. I'd like to make him the feature on a future old-time Tune of the Week. Though he plays bluegrass so well, his original tunes are more old-timey. He likes to think of his grandmother's frailing style as an influence. The tab book looks to be a valuable resource. I like learning by ear and arranging my own clawhammer tabs, but sometimes another tab is a good shortcut to understanding how the tune was played. Thanks again for your comment, Larry.
JanetB - Posted - 12/19/2017: 19:08:45
Tony Ellis music remains in my learning radar. I have fond memories of listening to the Chieftains play five minutes worth of Fox Hunter's Reel (called The Foxhunt) when I was first learning banjo in college. I'd put it on at bedtime and by the time the fox had gotten away I was asleep. It seemed too difficult to ever think about learning, but Tony Ellis playing it on fiddle inspired me, and so I put on the slow-downer and worked on it. When I contacted Tony via email to ask him tunes to learn he discouraged me from this one, but I've liked it for so long and he plays it so well, it was hard to pass by. The next tune I'm working on is much easier -- Quaker Girl -- one he recommended to learn.
Here's a link to my "jukebox" with the tunes I've learned so far. His music continues to entrance me....mybanjoworld.com/tony-ellis-tunes
JanetB - Posted - 12/20/2017: 21:37:08
Another incredibly moving tune Tony Ellis wrote is called Trail of Tears. He was thinking of the Cherokee nation who was forcefully displaced from their homeland. Another double C tune, I found that when I played it another song came to mind, so I put the two together. Both have sad, sad themes. Coventry Carol is a lullaby written in the 1500's and performed during nativity plays in Coventry, England. It refers to the horrific Massacre of the Innocents written of in the book of Matthew in the bible. It was the reason that Jesus' parents took him to Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod. I play Trail of Tears at the beginning and end of this medley.
maryzcox - Posted - 12/21/2017: 07:20:39
Hello Janet
Could have swore that tune was heart in hand but maybe not. Its the only one I play. Is Tony Ellis still alive ? I would not mind recording that tune on my new Missing Link baritone banjo :) Its tone would fit his music well :)
maryzcox - Posted - 12/23/2017: 14:23:38
Hello Janet,
Yes Hand in Hand is the tune I know. Glad to hear Tony is doing well. I've often thought of recording that tune but never have. It would sound really pretty on the baritone :) Maybe someday--its very pretty :)
Congrats on tune of the week maestro--I'm sure you'll do a great job. It is quite a feat to come up with new traditional tunes that have not already been done. :)
Merry Christmas & happy new year,
Mary Z Cox
JanetB - Posted - 12/27/2017: 18:00:36
I found Hand in Hand to be as lovely as Tony Ellis' other waltz time tunes. The transition in the middle of the B part was unexpected, but simple once I understood. The tune reminds me of Turlough O'Carolan's melodies, many of them also in 3/4 time. The minor chordal sound gives it a nice flavor, too. I'm still working on more of his originals and am grateful to Stephen Wade for having worked with Tony for a long time, even producing at least one of his CDs.
JanetB - Posted - 01/03/2018: 19:24:19
Tony Ellis and Stephen Wade are good friends, with Stephen having produced at least one of Tony's CDs. The tune "Stephen" I understand was written for him by Tony. It's another beauty. It uses syncopation in the last parts, which is something I understand Tony learned about from Earl Scruggs. I hope to learn more from Tony himself about these tunes and am researching one for a future old-time Tune of the Week.
The tuning I used isn't the one Tony composed with, as I hear a higher 5th string than I'm using. Soon I'll have Tony's tab book and perhaps will see first hand how he arranged Stephen, as well as several others I've worked on. I think it's okay to adapt a tune in an inventive way and it's more fun than memorizing somebody else's playing. Do you agree?
Edited by - JanetB on 01/03/2018 19:26:39
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