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“I was born in England within cheering distance of the "Manchester United Football Grounds", raised by a single mother (Nora) and Sister Pat, if she ever got her way. I enjoyed my childhood, but it became extremely more difficult for my mother when my father (George) was mortally wounded in North Africa and never returned to British soil. I never met my dad and this loss still occupies a large empty place inside, it's probably how I’m able to creates these soulful impressions when I sing. I certainly have a way of transferring these deep felt emotions into the hearts and minds of audiences wherever I goes”. Listening to John sing his songs is a plain and simple human experience...

Attention all Ellis’ living in the Cleveland/Mogador area, if you know where the rest of my Ellis Clan is please leave a message at our website mailbox  It's been a long and lonely time away from the Auld Sod and we need to find you before all possibilities are lost.  Read more...

John, born in Greater Manchester in the UK in the small town of Firswood near Stretford, and has spent most of his life in a circle of musical friends anyone would envy. Immigrating to Canada in the late fifties it didn’t take long to get started with his tuneful folly, with early works with “Expos” (Pictured to the left) including Ron Clarkson, Kevin Knelman, Brian Walker & David Frankel. Appearing on shows like CBC “Take Thirty” with hosts Adrian Clarkson (former Lieutenant Governor of Canada) and Paul Soles. Leaving Rock Music for a while he tried Bluegrass with the group “The Orton Yahoos”, probably the name says it all. They released a début album “The Great Canadian Tragedy” recorded at Sound Path Studios in Oakville Ontario, with such memorable songs as “Trucker” (written by Orbitt Starr) “The Rabbit” (written by Bruce Good of  The Good Brothers) “Alberta Bound” (written by Gordon Lightfoot) and “Play It Again Sam” (written by Peter McBurnie).

The Orton Yahoos: These were heady times, rough bar gigs, lots of things that shouldn't have been done but we’re glad we did anyway. This is where all inhibitions where abandoned without any shame attached. Amid all that chaos we did manage to release an album called "The Great Canadian Tragedy". The name alone probably says all that needs to be said, the rest is locked into the grooves of the vinyl for all time and it was way too much fun. If you want to hear this wild bluegrass project there will be a re-mastering to CD in the near future. Visit http://www.myspace/ortonyahoos to listen to some tunes. Nino Martina was an original member of The Orton Yahoos and now is a successful cabinetmaker and resides in Vancouver BC. Wayne Tucker, another original member of the group is manager of an Electric car company in Florida. John Ellis, still messing around with musical notes and founding member of Melodeon Recording Studios in Victoria, BC. There have been quite a few requests for "The Great Canadian Tragedy", the Yahoos first and only recording. This vinyl release has not yet been transferred to digital, as soon as it is I will post some of the songs at www.musicborders.com Gordon Lightfoot’s “Alberta Bound” and that infamous weed eatin’ “Rabbit” penned by The Good Brothers are two of the popular titles you’ll find on this album. Lightfoot said that “it was the fastest anybody had ever traveled to Alberta on one of his songs”.

John met Peter Arthur (Recording Engineer) at Sound Path Studios and subsequently collaborated on an album titled simply “John Ellis” which was released on the RCA VIK label, benefiting from airplay and enjoying recognition around the world. Receiving awards from Australia and a nomination from the RPM Award (Predecessor to the Juno) for “Best New Male Vocalist Of The Year” 1980, along with Gino Vannelli and Bryan Adams. John & Peter had four top ten hits from their first efforts with the song title “You Are” (penned by Arthur & Ellis) climbing to #2 on the Canadian Pop Charts. Other song titles enjoying top ten chart action were “Eyes Of Love” “Captain Courageous” & Hypnotize Me” (also written by Arthur & Ellis). Currently John resides on Vancouver Island in Victoria where he lives with his wife Luba Dvortsova who is also an accomplished classical pianist.

After some years in the film industry John returned to his ever loved music and made countless albums with Will Millar from “The Irish Rovers”. Their first album together was “Lark in the Clear Aire”, consisting of old Irish melodies (found before they were lost), making a very listenable instrumental CD. There was instant acknowledgement for their recordings and this kind of meditation music, so both Will & John set to work on what would turn out to be a decade of laughter and tears spill over into more than eleven albums. “Celtic Revere”, “Season’s Of Enchantment”, “Rouges And Romancers”, The Irish Rovers First Thirty Years”, “The Keeper” (nominated for a Juno Award) “Celtic Evergreen” (Gold in New Zealand) and “Journey Of The Celts” (Winner of Best World Award US) just to name a few.

Hopefully there’ll be many more music projects in the works for John & Will’s collaborating. In the meantime John is recording more songs, this time leaning towards a Folk Blues Jazz encounter, with a little bit of country thrown in for good measure.

For more information about the recordings of John & Will please click on the links below...

 Lark In The Clear Aire    Celtic Reverie    The Keeper    Rouges And Romancers    Celtic Evergreen    Irish Gold

Season's Of Enchantment    Journey Of The Celts      

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