Down By The River

BRENDA & ELLIS, since winning the 1999 Arkansas Times Musicians Showcase, have performed at over 150 wedding receptions, over 300 private events and clubs across the U.S., and toured Alaska, Europe and the Caribbean. They are active songwriters, and are both members of ASCAP. They have their own publishing company, Breli, and record company, Natasha Records. BRENDA was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. She grew up listening to every kind of music, but her favorite was always the blues. She also loves to sing jazz, pop, rock, rhythm and blues, and country. No matter what the style, Brenda truly delivers each song, reaching into her soul to let you experience what she is feeling. ELLIS was also born in Little Rock, Arkansas. He began playing professionally when he was 17. He has toured with the B.J. Thomas band, and performed with L.C. Davis, Jimmy Reed, Billy Joe Royal, and David Ruffin of the Temptations. Ellis founded his own groups, the Right Track (which signed with Atlantic Records) and The House (which signed with Liberty Records). BRENDA & ELLIS first joined musically in Houston, Texas, basing their group out of Houston, Denver, San Francisco, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Little Rock. In Los Angeles, they were the musical opener for Joan Rivers' comedy act, as well as performing at the Troubadour, Madame Wong's, and Studio One. In Palm Springs, they were part of a long-running rock 'n roll show at the Americana Canyon Hotel, featuring the Del Vikings, Little Dion, Bobby Day (of Rocking Robin fame), and The Hollywood Flames. Brenda & Ellis moved back to Little Rock in 1998, shortly after which they entered and won the 1999 Arkansas Times Musicians Showcase. In 2001-2002, they toured Alaska, Canada, Italy, France, Croatia, Monaco, Spain, Gibraltar, Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia, the Canary Islands, and 15 islands in the Caribbean, from St. Thomas down to Barbados. In the Best of Arkansas 2006' issue of the Arkansas Times, Brenda & Ellis was named First Runner Up as the Best Local Band in Arkansas. Brenda & Ellis' first CD was Down by the River, released in 2000. Their second CD, 'We Done Paid Our Dues', was released in 2007. The Brenda & Ellis Christmas CD, 'Light Up Our Christmas Tree' was also released in 2007. A fourth CD is due out in 2009. Brenda & Ellis are currently working on their 2010 European tour.