Shows

Ellis Hall, “The Ambassador of Soul” known for singing, songwriting and as a musician playing every instrument with a strong 5 octave vocal range and was the lead vocalist and keyboardist for the soul-funk band Tower of Power.

He performs with most elite symphony orchestras worldwide including: His first being the Hollywood Bowl under the direction of his mentor Ray Charles. Since then he has performed with prestigious 81-piece orchestras including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra with Marvin Hamlisch conducting to playing with the Boston Pops Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Rochester Symphony Orchestra, Hartford Symphony Orchestra and more.

Ellis is currently performing two orchestra concept shows “Ray, Motown and Beyond” features such hits as Motown’s Heard It Through the Grapevine and Tower of Power’s Some Days Were Meant for Rain. With the second half of the show paying tribute to Ray Charles featuring hit songs like, I Can’t Stop Loving You, Unchain My Heart, Hit the Road Jack, and Georgia on My Mind.

Ellis’ other show, “Soul Unlimited” (conducted by Jeff Tyzik) is where he “Ellis-izes” songs from David Bowie’s Let’s Dance to Something by George Harrison, Beatles along with Motown and other Soul hits.

Born in Savannah, Georgia and raised partly in Claxton, GA. Ellis has been blind since he was 18 years old, but that doesn’t stop him from is mission in life. In fact, it has been the driving force behind the creation of a 3,800 songs catalog full of Soul, Gospel, Blues and Pop compositions. Among these works is the official song for his hometown of Claxton Georgia. He has worked alongside other greats such as Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, Natalie Cole, Patti LaBelle, Toby Keith, Herbie Hancock, George Benson, Bobby Womack, George Duke, Sheila E., Kenny G and many more. In addition, he was one of the lead vocalists of the California Raisins.

Ellis has also successfully had his hand at Hollywood, recording and performing songs for live action and animated films such as “The Lion King 2,” “Shrek 2,” “Chicken Run,” “Invincible” and “Bruce Almighty”. The Ambassador has even taken acting roles in “Big Momma’s House” (Martin Lawrence) and the crime drama “Catch Me If You Can” (Leonardo DiCaprio) and “Revival” (Harry Lennix). Along with these amazing films, Mr. Hall was nominated for an Ovation Theater Award as “Best Lead Actor in a Musical” for his first stage role in “The Gospel at Colonus” where he not only sang and acted but also walked the stage and stair props with nearly no assistance.

Read less

Virtual Tips for Ellis Hall
Venmo: @Ellis-Hall-1
PayPal: ellis_hall@me.com

Ellis Hall on Radio Venice

Radio Venice – Ellis Hall from the Archives – October 17, 2021
Radio Venice 5 Year Anniversary Show – September 20, 2020
Radio Venice S13.E13 – April 12, 2020
Radio Venice S10.E02 – January 20, 2019

Follow Ellis Hall

Photo credit: Marie Gregorio-Oviedo, Photographer

From the Archives, Musical Guests

Stanley Behrens

October 15, 2021 Radio Venice 1 Comment

Stanley “The Baron” Behrens was born and raised in the Bronx, N.Y. started playing harmonica at the age of five. Stanley went to high school on Long Island. He played music with a blue eyed soul band back in the mid 60’s. Stanley was drafted into the US Army in May of 1967 and spent 2 years on active duty playing his harmonica during Vietnam era. Stationed at Fort Bragg NC Stanley played in a blues rock band 6 nights a week. Continue reading Stanley Behrens →

Musical Guests

Andy Kravitz

October 15, 2021 Radio Venice Leave a comment

Andy Kravitz is an American drummer and percussionist, audio engineer, record producer, and songwriter. He has been nominated for 14 Grammy Awards, winning several. Born in Philadelphia, Kravitz now lives in Venice, CA.

In 1992, Kravitz played with Kris Kross on Totally Krossed Out, and with former Fleetwood Mac guitarist and singer Rick Vito’s on his debut solo album, King of Hearts, on the songs “Desireé” and “Honey Love”. In 1993, he produced Urge Overkill’s fourth album, Saturation. In 1995, Kravitz played with Joan Osborne on her second album, Relish, and co-produced Dishwalla’s debut album, Pet Your Friends. In 1996, he played with Cypress Hill on their EP, Unreleased and Revamped. In 1998, Kravitz played with Imogen Heap on her debut album, iMegaphone. In 1999, he co-produced Simon Townshend’s album, Animal Soup.

In 2000, Kravitz co-produced Juliana Hatfield’s fourth album, Beautiful Creature. In 2010, he played with a local free jazz group formed by Warren Cuccurullo called Theoretical 5 in Mar Vista, Los Angeles with Frank Zappa alumni Arthur Barrow (bass), Tommy Mars (keyboards, vocals), and Larry Klimas (saxophone). In 2011, Kravitz collaborated with Michael Tearson and Tom Hampton on Tearson’s debut album, Stuff That Works.

from Wikipedia

Andy Kravitz on Radio Venice

Radio Venice – Ellis Hall from the Archives – October 17, 2021
Radio Venice S10.E02 with Ellis Hall – January 20, 2019
Radio Venice #21 – February 28, 2016

Shows

Radio Venice live from Abbey Road Institute Frankfurt

October 10, 2021 Radio Venice Leave a comment

Featuring The Slags, TaiAn, Andreas Keppler, and Michael Jost

Continue reading Radio Venice live from Abbey Road Institute Frankfurt →

Musical Guests

The Slags

October 8, 2021 Radio Venice Leave a comment

THE SLAGS have left their loudest days behind. After all, they have been unplugged for a few years. But they think that’s a good thing. And what does that mean? The three Frankfurt musicians radiate musical energy one way or another – with or without an amplifier. You can hear that in the songs of their new album BABYTREE. It is now their seventh studio work, a journey through the entire spectrum of the SLAGS universe. Poppy, punky, but also epic-loopy, bluesy, in a La-La-Land-style or deep inside – it shows all planets of the band’s own solar system. An acoustic journey of discovery, exciting to puzzle over who is actually doing what.

Actually, the ladies wanted to celebrate their 30th anniversary in 2020 – with film documentary, the new album, live concerts, festivals. Then, the virus intervened. So everything was quickly postponed to 2022 – new year, new game!

THE SLAGS have used the past twelve months to work on their rock’n’roll doc. Above all, this meant understanding memories, coping with them or rediscovering them in the first place. They viewed old videos, worked up basements full of material, got quotes from various companions, and developed storyboards. Lots to do under the radar. Lockdown time was used to compose, write and even play live in their own garden from time to time. In the end, eleven new songs were ready to be recorded and produced at the end of 2020 – again in collaboration with Oliver Rüger at the Bieber recording studio.

After three decades, THE SLAGS still consist of independent, expressive and strong characters, that work wonderfully even solo – each for herself. But they are always the strongest, when they join forces. For BABYTREE, the name of the game is diversity, versatility, and distinctness. Each of the three artists writes, composes and sings.

After thirty years, THE SLAGS have established themselves on the musical landscape – both as a band, and as individuals. With that confirmed, BABYTREE is their most mature and bold album to-date.

Virtual Tips for The Slags
PayPal: suse_michel@web.de

The Slags on Radio Venice

Radio Venice live from Abbey Road Institute, Frankfurt – October 10, 2021

Follow The Slags

Musical Guests

TaiAn

October 8, 2021 Radio Venice Leave a comment

Tony “TaiAn” Clark is a shakuhachi player of the Kinko lineage – he studied first with Dr. Dale Olsen Bai-o at Florida State University, later with the famous player Iwamoto Yoshikazu.

Tony plays traditional Zen pieces – “Honkyoku”, as well as classical and new music. He has performed with the Ensemble Online Vienna, the New Philharmonic of Nordrhein Westphalen, at the ECLAT Festival and März music, among others.

Tony also plays guitar and sings and is involved in many different projects, including Tony Clark and Killing Time.

Virtual Tips for TaiAn – Donate to Sathi – Friends for Nepal
PayPal.Me/SathiNepal

TaiAn on Radio Venice

Radio Venice live from Abbey Road Institute, Frankfurt – October 10, 2021
Radio Venice S15.E01 with Dan Bay – September 13, 2020

Follow TaiAn

Musical Guests

Andreas Keppler

October 8, 2021 Radio Venice Leave a comment

Andreas Keppler (Frankfurt, Germany) is a vocalist and percussionist on a life-long journey with music, bands and productions in live and studio productions. Several tours in Europe and the USA (eg with SAGA (CAN), Nazareth (GB), Fates Warning (USA), Scorpions (DEU / USA). Participation in various major events – eg Sturgis Bike Rallye, German Bike Week etc. Previous projects include La Mimosas, and he now tours with The Chain, a Fleetwood Mac cover band based in Germany.