Jamie Records is thrilled to announce John Ellison's induction into the West Virginia Music Hall Of Fame. John has been named one of the six honorees in the Hall's sixth induction class. The induction ceremony will take place October 24, 2015 at the Culture Center Theater, and will be broadcast live on WV PBS.
Grand Funk Railroad guitarist Mark Farner will present the award and be part of the backing band when Ellison performs. In 1975, Grand Funk Railroad scored a No. 3 hit with “Some Kind of Wonderful,” which was was written by Ellison and originally recorded by his band the Soul Brothers Six in 1967. In 2012 the song was recognized as one of the five most covered pop/rock songs of all time.
John Ellison's improbable rise from an impoverished family in a small coal mining town in West Virginia, through numerous hardships and the racist environment of the 1950's and '60s, to worldwide acclaim as a respected songwriter and performing artist, only serve to make his star shine even brighter and his life story all the more compelling.
"I'm truly thrilled to receive this honor," Ellison commented on his induction to the Hall. "If you don't lose sight of your vision, you will eventually reach your destination. Be a dreamer. Everything on this earth started with a dream."
"The inductees for 2015 continue the Hall of Fame’s mission to recognize outstanding artists who were born or raised in the Mountain State,” said WV Music Hall of Fame Director Michael Lipton at a press conference announcing this year's honorees. “Our sixth class honors six unique West Virginia artists who have made lasting contributions to American music."
“In addition to the impact these musicians have made nationally, there is also a special connection to West Virginia. I think everyone - both in-and out-of-state - is consistently amazed at the diversity of the musicians who have come from our home state,” Lipton added. “And it’s always exciting to discover artists who have made their marks in unique ways. Of course, that kind of singular and homegrown creativity is something we have come to expect and admire from West Virginians.”
The three living inductees*, Ellison, steel guitarist Russ Hicks, and jazz pianist Bob Thompson, will be present to accept their awards and will perform during their induction segment. Other presenters, performers and acceptors T.B.A.
*(Deceased inductees are fiddler Ed Haley, country music pioneer Buddy Starcher and piano legend Harry Van Walls.)
