Scott Ellison

"A traditionalist that captures the energy I saw in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where I shared the stage with him. A great CD - I love it."
-- Levon Helm

Scott Ellison isn't one to waste time. Signed by Burnside Records in the spring of 2001, his label debut, Cold Hard Cash, exposed Scott's versatility as a singer, songwriter and talented guitar player. In 2003 the Oklahoma native delivers Bad Case Of The Blues a mature and distinctly progressive outing full of melody, grace and blues. Recorded at Ellison's own Home Front Studios in Tulsa, OK, the disc displays a maturity that is best described as capturing his melodic songwriting with the fire of his live set. "I feel this is more my baby," says Ellison "Cold Hard Cash was produced by Dennis Walker (Robert Cray) and though I really enjoyed the process, I wanted this record to have more of my stamp on it."

Ellison's influences are clearly apparent in the phrasing of Bad Case Of The Blues. The Steely Dan texture of "Fantasy" radiates his passion for hook-filled melodies. "Pain Full Love," pays tribute to the energy of Stevie Ray Vaughan where "Whiskey and Rum" highlight his love of Muddy Waters. Then there's the Elmore James inspired roadhouse "Voodoo Curse" - a rowdy foot-stomper now famous at the end of Ellison's live set. "I write a lot of songs and play them live before I commit to recording them," expresses the guitarist. "I also record a lot before I pick just the right numbers to put on a CD."

Surrounding himself with top musicians, Ellison hand selected Tulsa's highest rated session men including Eric Clapton's organist Dick Simms and percussionist Jimmy Karstein. Also featured on several of the record's tracks are local greats, Mike Turner (rhythm guitar), Jim Pugh (Hammond B3 organ), Jim Strader (bass) and Bill Belknap (drums). "I wanted a record that had peaks and valleys," says Ellison. "One that would breathe, moving easily from song to song. I spent as much time milling over the running order as I did selecting the songs."

Ellison caught the music bug at an early age - February 13, 1964, to be exact - and just like every other 9-year-old that was watching the Beatles on Ed Sullivan that night, he fell in love with the guitar. During the '70s, Tulsa was a hotbed of musical talent. Eric Clapton and Freddie King's bands were both based out of Tulsa, as well as Leon Russell's label, Shelter Records. Electrified by the British Invasion as well as the sounds of Motown and touched by the soulfulness that was rhythm & blues, Ellison formed his own band in 1977. He began touring with country singer Jessica James (Conway Twitty's daughter), and by 1981, veteran bluesman Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown plucked the energetic guitarist as rhythm player for his own band.

A move to Los Angeles during the mid-'80s found Scott playing and touring with the likes of The Box Tops, The Shirelles, The Coasters and Peaches and Herb. By the 1990s, Scott formed his own blues band and opened up shows for such legends as Joe Cocker, Roy Orbison, The Fabulous T-birds and Buddy Guy. Writing constantly, Scott was able to compose enough material to record and release his first two solo efforts, Chains of Love (Quicksilver Records) and Live at Joey's (Red Hot Records). Both records reflected his love for the blues and his talent as a writer. Returning back to his home in Tulsa, Scott teamed up with longtime friend Terry Lupton to write 10 more original tunes for his next release, Steamin' (Fishhead Records), which garnered much critical acclaim. Ellison then co-wrote and recorded One Step from the Blues (JSE), a Tulsa sound rhythm & blues record featuring a number of well-known Tulsa musicians.

As a songwriter, Scott has had his songs featured on the hit TV shows 'Sister Sister,' 'Eye on L.A.' the steamy soap opera 'Santa Barbara' and 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer.' Burnside Records is proud to release Bad Case Of The Blues available at all fine record stores, by mail-order through Burnside Records or online at www.burnsiderecords.com. Scott is currently touring across the U.S., Canada and Europe with accompanying radio and retail in-store performances.