- published: 29 Jul 2011
- views: 57046
Don Ellis (July 25, 1934 – December 17, 1978) was an American jazz trumpeter, drummer, composer and bandleader. He is best known for his extensive musical experimentation, particularly in the area of unusual time signatures. Later in his life he worked as a film composer, among other works contributing a score to 1971's The French Connection and 1973's The Seven-Ups.
Ellis was born in Los Angeles, California, on July 25, 1934. His father was a Methodist minister and his mother a church organist. He attended West High School in Minneapolis, MN. After attending a Tommy Dorsey Big Band concert, he first became interested in jazz. Other early inspirations were Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie. He graduated from Boston University in 1956 with a music composition degree.
Ellis' first job was with the late Glenn Miller's band, then directed by Ray McKinley. He stayed with the band until September 1956, when he joined the U.S. Army's Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra and the Soldiers' Show Company. Ellis was transferred to Frankfurt, Germany for duty. In the Army band, Ellis met pianist Cedar Walton, and saxophonists Eddie Harris and Don Menza. While in that band Ellis had his first opportunity to compose and arrange for a big band.
Don Ellis 1977 (01) Open Wide
Don Ellis Whiplash
Don Ellis - Strawberry Soup
Don Ellis 1977 (10) Pussywiggle Stomp
Don Ellis - Indian Lady - Tanglewood (Full)
Don Ellis Tribute Orchestra feat. Thomas Gansch, Live 2013
Don Ellis - Soaring - Invincible
Don Ellis Orchestra - 33 222 1 222
Don Ellis - Turkish Bath
Darryl Ellis, Don Ellis - No Sir
Actors: Astrid Allwyn (actress), Guy Usher (actor), James Burke (actor), Al Hill (actor), Gilbert Emery (actor), Barton MacLane (actor), Fredric March (actor), William Collier Sr. (actor), Bruce Mitchell (actor), Dennis O'Keefe (actor), Edgar Kennedy (actor), George Raft (actor), Jason Robards Sr. (actor), Harry Stubbs (actor), Blanche Friderici (actress),
Genres: Drama,He stuck that knife right into her gut
I want to tell you she was lucky with what she got
But what she got was not enough
She played around
Don't play around
I tried to tell her he was not so dumb
I tried to warn her there was something wrong
She wouldn't listen, she continued on
She played around
If you give your love to someone and someone treats you bad
If you give your love to someone and someone makes you mad
If you give your love to someone it can be so sad
Don't play around
Don't play around
He left her dying in the pool of blood
And she was crying oh my god oh my god
But she was no good, she was no good
She played around
Don't play around
She'd be laughing and dancing the night away
She'd be laughing and dancing with every man that came away
But as her life's blood slipped away
I thought I heard her say
Don't play around