Herb Ellis
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Herb Ellis | |
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Herb Ellis "Ellis in Wonderland" |
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Born | August 4, 1921 Farmersville, Texas |
Genre(s) | Jazz |
Notable guitars | Herb Ellis ES-165 |
Years active | 1953 – current |
Mitchell Herbert (Herb) Ellis (born August 4, 1921) is an American jazz guitarist.
He became prominent after performing with the Oscar Peterson Trio from 1953 to 1958. He was a somewhat controversial member of the trio because he was the only white person in the group in a time where racism was still very much widespread. Before that he had worked with Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra, Jimmy Dorsey, and Soft Winds. He toured with Jazz at the Philharmonic while he was with the Peterson Trio. Since leaving the Trio he has toured and recorded with a wide range of musicians, and also recorded his own sessions. He toured with Charlie Byrd and Barney Kessel as the Great Guitars. He also spent time leading the Steve Allen Show band in the late 1960's and early 1970's.