Melissa Ellis Music, Crossville, TN
Melissa Ellis possesses a voice and style that is unmatched by any other. A vocal power that packs a serious punch, add in her opulent tone and texture reminiscent of jazz's golden age, her distinctive growl of the blues, and soulful delivery, she has concocted an unforgettable signature blend of blues, jazz, and blue-eyed soul that many refer to as "jazzacana". Her spicy, yet charming southern accent is only the cherry on top for this siren.
Having dabbled in almost every mainstream music genre out there, the well-rounded Melissa Ellis found her natural talent as a toddler singing gospel in church until she was signed on as a professional singer/actress/dancer in musical theater at the age of 16 for the show Smoke on the Mountain, the hit gospel-grass musical. She went on to study classical and jazz music at Roane State Community College and Tennessee Technological University as a vocalist while pursuing a short-lived country music career and working in a few regional theater tours.
In 2009, Melissa released her debut album Crossville, lending her talent to the world of bluegrass. Her self-penned single, “Crossville,” was adopted by her hometown as the official city song in 2010. While promoting her bluegrass album, she found new inspiration and started writing more original songs. With new songs came a new sound that evolved into a more soulful genre. Melissa's sophomore album, Just Me, was released in 2011 and as a multi-instrumentalist, the album showcased her musicianship on guitar and piano, as well as some of her original material.
Her latest musical journey, according to Melissa, is where she was “always meant to be”–bringing out the raw, emotional sounds of blues and her love of jazz. Her repertoire includes her original songs mixed with re-imaginings of familiar classics that are presented in fresh new ways. Notably, in 2018 Melissa landed the opportunity to tour Europe and perform during Nashville's acclaimed CMAfest—her jazzy, southern style among a sea of country twang.
