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DOLAN ELLIS
In February, 1966,
Dolan Ellis was appointed Dolan was an original member of the famous 1960s folk group, The New Christy Minstrels®. He was the handsome one with the thick, wavy blonde hair, the 12-string guitar, and the versatile baritone voice that could be romantic (as in his solo on "Jimmy Grove and Barbara Ellen" or raspy (as in his solo in "Hallelujah I'm a Bum"). Dolan was known as the comedian of the Christies. Randy Sparks, the founder of the group, has been quoted as saying: "Dolan had always been counted on to fire up the deadest of audiences." Today, in addition to his Folklore Preserve shows, Dolan is performing again with The New Christy Minstrels® .
Dolan still has all of those qualities
he had as a Christy, and more. His voice has become more powerful and
resonant while retaining its romantic quality. He has become the
complete master of his 12-string Guild guitar. He is a storyteller and
comedian extraordinaire. As a songwriter, he is unequalled, with an
astonishing 300+ songs about
My songs belong to the sun and rain Forget my face forget my name Just call me The Balladeer" Dolan Ellis has a Grammy and gold records, was the first inductee when "Arizona Culture Keepers" was established in 2003, is a member of the Arizona Tourism Hall of Fame, and was read into the Congressional Record by Senator John McCain. He has traveled to nearly 20 countries as a musical ambassador, and has appeared on the most prestigious concert stages in this country. And yet, to Dolan, his greatest achievement, the title of which he is most proud, is The Balladeer, something he has been since 1966.
Dolan was the first Balladeer in the state of Arizona, and Arizona was the first to have a Balladeer. He has done well by the title, writing more than 300 songs based on his extensive travel, mostly in his 4-Wheel Drive Jeeps, but also in the air, on horseback, and on foot. Dolan has interviewed hundreds of people and through his music we've all had a chance to "meet" people like Alice Greenough, George Kline, Denzel Carter, T. E. Wiley and Bart Begay (Many Cherry Canyon Boy.) Dolan has also studied many historical Arizona characters, both famous and not-so-famous, and written songs about Geronimo, General George Crook, Jesus Garcia (a hero who lived and died in Sonora, Mexico), Frank Murphy, and Patrick Murphy.
Dolan is Founder and Resident Artist of the Arizona Folklore Preserve. Visit his web site, www.dolanellis.net, to learn about his performance schedule and more. Click here to go to Dolan's "Original Songs" web page for video clips of him singing excerpts from some of the songs he's written. Many of these clips were filmed here at the Arizona Folklore Preserve.
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"I write the
songs but not for fame
Dolan's songs about
Arizona scenic beauties include Lake Powell, Camino del Diablo, Hummingbird
Canyon (Ramsey Canyon), and Nature's Children (Havasupai). Dolan also
writes and sings about Arizona events, such as Wildfire, about the
Rodeo-Chediski fires of 2002. He uses his incredible imagery to
describe the experience of Arizona, as in Wind Bells, Wind Chimes, Song of
Spring,