News

Hi Everyone,

I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving. I certainly did–good food, good people and good music.

Just a brief warning. My FB page was apparently hacked. If you get a friend request–something supposedly from me about some kind of grant (Or anything else uncharacteristic of me), don’t click the link–it is a hack. If you clicked already, you may want to change your password.

If you get one of these and are suspicious, you should probably check to see if we are already friends–if we are, it is a hack. Also, like most people I know, I have several hundred Facebook friends, so if it shows 0 or very few friends, that’s a tip off that it was a hack.

Be safe, be well, be you.

Gordon

Hi Everyone,

Just a quick reminder: The Gordon Ellis Ensemble will be performing at Phat Bites in Donelson next week, Thursday, 11/16 from 7-8 P.M. We will be opening for the Jim Martin Band, doing a set of my original Americana/Country music. This will be our 4th time there, so they must like us. There is no cover charge, but there is a tip jar on the stage and tips are always welcome.

Phat Bites has some great sandwiches with generous portions, in case you want to have dinner there.

Meanwhile, before Phat Bites (This Sunday, 11/12), I will be the Guest Performer at the CSLN Sunday Service, doing 3 of my songs with their great

house band. Rosemary Cathcart will be the speaker.

Finally, I want to thank Holly Bruce for inviting me to do a 25 minute solo set at the Bowery Vault last Saturday as part of her “Music As Medicine” show. It went very well!

Okay, I promised to keep it brief, so that’s it for now.

Be safe, be well, be you.

Gordon

Hi Everyone.

I just wanted to send a quick reminder that I will be performing a 25 minute set this Saturday, 11/4/23 at the Bowery Vault, 2905 C Gallatin Rd. This is part of Holly Bruce’s monthly “Music As Medicine” show and I will be playing from 7 – 7:25 p.m. with two acts following me. Note: You can’t see the Bowery Vault from Gallatin Rd. because it is behind the Italian Kitchen–take the driveway to the back. Hope you can make it.

Thanks,

Gordon

Hi Everyone,

Hope you are enjoying the fall weather, wherever you are. It’s been beautiful here, though bone dry.

Sometimes, it’s feast or famine with gigs. I had nothing for nearly 2 months, and now I have four in the space of two and a half weeks. This evening, (Thursday), I will be in a one hour round with Antoinette Oleson and Buddy Farler at the Millenium Maxwellhouse Hotel on Rosa Parks Blvd. We play from 8 – 9 p.m.

On Saturday, Nov. 4th, I will be doing a 25 minute solo set at the Bowery Vault, as Part of Holly Bruce’s monthly “Music As Medicine” show. The Bowery Vault is at 2905 C, Gallatin Pk. You cannot see it from the street, but it is behind the Italian Kitchen on Gallatin just south of Trinity Lane. I play at 7 p.m., followed by Justice Amy and then Holly. While there is no cover, there is a “Two Item” minimum purchase. It can be for anything from a croissant to a bottle of soda or a pizza, etc. There is also a tip jar that is available as gratuities for each act.

On Sunday, Nov. 12th, I will once again be the Guest Performer at the CSLN Sunday Service, doing 3 of my songs with their great House Band.

But wait–there’s more! On Thursday, Nov. 16th, The Gordon Ellis Ensemble will be back at Phat Bites in Donelson, opening for the Jim Martin Band from 7 – 8 p.m. It’s at 2730 Lebanon Pike B, Nashville, TN 37214. All original Americana/Country music with Arnie Reed on Keyboards, David Johnson on Lead Guitar, and Cupper Reese on Bass. No cover–just a tip jar for gratuities, and great sandwiches. We’ve gotten great responses at Phat Bites–hope you can make it out. Since this one is still about two and a half weeks out, I will probably send a reminder via this newsletter when it gets closer .

By the way, Robin Ruddy will be having her CD release party on Friday, Oct. 30th at the Commodore Lounge at 7:30. The songs center around her journey back, after the passing of her husband Larry a couple of years ago. I plan on going.

If you have seen the news at all lately, it has been pretty hard to watch with all the horrors in the Middle East, as well as Ukraine. In the U.S., too. It’s easy to take sides and assume we know the answers. My prayer is that something greater than we are, yet is who we are knows the answers, and is finding a long term solution that will lead to peace.

That’s all for now.

Be safe, be well, be you.

Gordon

Hi Everyone,

Wow, it’s been almost two months since my last edition–didn’t realize it had been that long. Well, at least no one can accuse me of spamming them (LOL).

I think it was partly due to not having enough that was noteworthy to share, and maybe a bit of laziness. I have played a couple of solo writers night gigs in the past two months. While my performances were good, the turnouts were low. I am waiting to see how those nights develop before booking another one.

And last Sunday, I got to perform 3 of my songs at the CSLN Sunday Service. I love doing that because the band does a great job backing people and the audience is very receptive. I always find, when watching the video online afterwards, that there are always things I could still have done a little better– in this case due to allergies slightly affecting my voice (Hey, we tend to be our harshest critics, right?), but all in all, it went well and I got a lot of positive comments after the service.

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Moving forward, this Thursday, Sept. 14th, The Gordon Ellis Ensemble will be performing again at Phat Bites in Donelson. We will be playing as a 4 piece (Me: Acoustic Guitar and vocals, David Johnson: Lead Guitar, Arnie Reed: Keyboards, and Cupper Reese: Bass). Still looking for the right drummer, but we decided that we sound good enough to play without one for now, just to get out again. The gig is from 7 – 8 P.M. and Phat Bites is located at 2730 B Lebanon Pike, Donelson, Tn. (Nashville, 37214). Phat Bites makes great sandwiches and they give you a lot, should you want to have dinner. I’d love to see you there.

Meanwhile, this is still about 7 weeks away, but I thought I would mention that on Saturday Evening, Nov. 4th, Holly Bruce has invited me to be part of her “Music As Medicine” show at the Bowery Vault on Gallatin Rd. There will be two other acts (Don’t know who, but they have all been great so far, including Holly), and we will each be performing a 25 minute set of original music. More on that when we get closer.

Well, the oppressive heat and humidity (We hit 100 degrees two days in a row in August) has given way to pleasant temps and drier air for now. Hope it’s nice where you are, and that you all had a great summer.

Be safe, be well, be you.

Gordon