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Ellis Hooks

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Ellis Hooks
Ellis Hooks, 2003
Ellis Hooks, 2003
Background information
Born1974 (age 49–50)
Bay Minette, Alabama, United States
GenresSoul blues, electric blues[1]
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
InstrumentVocals
Years activeMid 1990s–present
LabelsEvidence, Artemis, Zane

Ellis Hooks (born 1974) is an American soul blues and electric blues singer and songwriter, who has released six albums to date.[1]

The Allmusic journalist, Thom Jurek, noted that Hooks " touches upon Wilson Pickett, Sam Cooke, and Otis Redding, but feels like one of the gritty New York streets Hooks has busked upon."[2]

Biography

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Hooks was born in Bay Minette, Alabama, United States,[1] to a Cherokee mother and an African American father, who was a Baptist raised sharecropper. He was the thirteenth of sixteen children. By the age of fourteen, Hooks had heard secular music on the radio and left his strict upbringing.[3] Subsequently hitchhiking across the United States, Hooks also travelled around Europe, residing in Paris and Amsterdam, before relocating to New York in his mid-twenties. After busking on the streets of the city, by accident he met the record producer, Jon Tiven,[4] who produced Hooks debut album, Undeniable.[5] Hooks secured headline status at the BBC's World Music Festival in 2003, and opened for Terence Trent D'Arby. Hooks also performed with Carla Thomas at the Montreux Jazz Festival. His 2003 album, Up Your Mind, was nominated for a Blues Music Award.[6]

Uncomplicated (2004) was noted by one reviewer as "somehow both connects with the past while pointing ahead to the future".[7]

The Hand of God (2005) was recorded in New York City and Nashville, Tennessee, and had five of its tracks mixed by Dan Penn.[8]

His next recording, Godson of Soul, was also produced by Jon Tiven, and included contributions from Steve Cropper and Wayne Jackson.[9]

Hooks' next release was Another Saturday Morning, issued in July 2007.[10]

Festival work

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In May 2004, Hooks performed at Memphis in May.

Hooks appeared at the Kitchener Blues Festival in August 2014.[11]

Other recordings

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In 2003, Hooks recorded his cover version of "Bulbs" for the Van Morrison tribute album, Vanthology: A Tribute to Van Morrison.[12] In addition, Hooks recorded as a backing vocalist on Frank Black's 2005 album, Honeycomb.[13] He performed similar duties in helping Little Milton record his album Think of Me in 2005.[14] In 2006, Hooks backing vocals were part of Frank Black's release, Fast Man Raider Man.

Hooks' co-composed song "40 Days" was recorded by Howard Tate on his 2008 album, Blue Day;[15] whilst Deborah Coleman had earlier recorded Hooks' co-penned song, "Undeniable", for her What About Love? (2004) release.[15]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Year Title Record label Additional credits
2002 Undeniable Zane
2003 Up Your Mind Evidence
2004 Uncomplicated Artemis
2005 The Hand of God Zane
2005 Godson of Soul Evidence
2007 Another Saturday Morning Evidence
2015 Needle in a Haystack Blues Boulevard
2019 Live in Normandy Continental Blue Heat Chris Bergson / Ellis Hooks

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Thom Jurek. "Ellis Hooks | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  2. ^ Thom Jurek (October 1, 2002). "Undeniable – Ellis Hooks | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  3. ^ "Ellis Hooks – Another Saturday Morning". Insurgentcountry.net. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  4. ^ "Ellis Hooks". LA Phil. September 17, 2012. Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  5. ^ "Undeniable – Ellis Hooks | Credits". AllMusic. October 1, 2002. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  6. ^ "An Overdose Of Fingal Cocoa: Ellis Hooks". Overdoseoffingalcocoa.blogspot.com. April 19, 2004. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  7. ^ Kalet, Hank (n.d.). "Ellis Hooks: Uncomplicated". PopMatters. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  8. ^ "Artists : Ellis Hooks". Zanerecords.com. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  9. ^ "Ellis Hooks: Godson Of Soul | Music Review". Slant Magazine. August 10, 2005. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  10. ^ "Another Saturday Morning – Ellis Hooks | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. July 24, 2007. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  11. ^ "Ellis Hooks". Kitchener Blues Festival. April 22, 2012. Archived from the original on March 3, 2014. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  12. ^ "Vanthology: A Tribute to Van Morrison CD Album". Cduniverse.com. August 5, 2003. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  13. ^ "Honeycomb – Frank Black | Credits". AllMusic. July 19, 2005. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  14. ^ "Ellis Hooks | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
  15. ^ a b Hal Horowitz (May 25, 2004). "What About Love? – Deborah Coleman | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved February 16, 2014.
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