Shirley Ellis (born Shirley Marie Elliston, circa 1941, The Bronx, New York) is a soul music singer and songwriter of West Indian origin, and is best known for her novelty hits "The Nitty Gritty", which reached the top ten in 1963, "The Name Game", which peaked at number four R&B and number three pop in 1965, and "The Clapping Song", which reached number 16 R&B, but also represented the end of the creative line for the trend.
By 1954 she had written two songs which were recorded by The Chords. Ellis was originally in the group, The Metronomes, and she went on to marry the lead singer, Alphonso Elliston. All her solo hits were written by her and her manager, producer, and songwriting partner Lincoln Chase.
Ellis had recording contracts with the Kapp Records subsidiary, Congress, and later Columbia and Bell Records, but retired from the music industry in 1968.
Cover versions of her hits have been recorded by Madeline Bell, The Belle Stars, Laura Branigan, Aaron Carter, Gary Glitter, Ricardo Ray, Pia Zadora, and Gladys Knight and the Pips (a version of "The Nitty Gritty", produced by Norman Whitfield).
In addition, her song "Soul Time" was sampled by the U.K. band, The Go! Team for their single "Bottle Rocket". Find out more about her musical career at http://keepkey.yochanan.net/shriley1.htm
Research info gathered at: www.wikipedia.org
Visit my ezine at: http://www.concelebratory.blogspot.com/
and personal blog: http://www.copyat5.blogspot.com/
By 1954 she had written two songs which were recorded by The Chords. Ellis was originally in the group, The Metronomes, and she went on to marry the lead singer, Alphonso Elliston. All her solo hits were written by her and her manager, producer, and songwriting partner Lincoln Chase.
Ellis had recording contracts with the Kapp Records subsidiary, Congress, and later Columbia and Bell Records, but retired from the music industry in 1968.
Cover versions of her hits have been recorded by Madeline Bell, The Belle Stars, Laura Branigan, Aaron Carter, Gary Glitter, Ricardo Ray, Pia Zadora, and Gladys Knight and the Pips (a version of "The Nitty Gritty", produced by Norman Whitfield).
In addition, her song "Soul Time" was sampled by the U.K. band, The Go! Team for their single "Bottle Rocket". Find out more about her musical career at http://keepkey.yochanan.net/shriley1.htm
Research info gathered at: www.wikipedia.org
Visit my ezine at: http://www.concelebratory.blogspot.com/
and personal blog: http://www.copyat5.blogspot.com/
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