Ellis Hooks

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

Biography Hooks was born in Bay Minette, Alabama, United States, 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, who produced Hooks debut album, Undeniable. 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.

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

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

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

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

Festival work In May 2004, Hooks performed at Memphis in May.

Hooks appeared at the Kitchener Blues Festival in August 2014.

Other recordings In 2003, Hooks recorded his cover version of "Bulbs" for the Van Morrison tribute album, Vanthology: A Tribute to Van Morrison. In addition, Hooks recorded as a backing vocalist on Frank Black's 2005 album, Honeycomb. He performed similar duties in helping Little Milton record his album Think of Me in 2005. 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; whilst Deborah Coleman had earlier recorded Hooks' co-penned song, "Undeniable", for her What About Love? (2004) release.

Discography

Studio albums 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 HeatChris Bergson / Ellis Hooks