Review Fix Exclusive: Ellis Hall Talks Career, New Album, ‘What in the world?

Review Fix chats with legendary soul performer Ellis Hall, who discusses his career and new album.

A little more about Ellis Hall:

In addition to his years with Tower of Power, Ellis Hall fronted the Ellis Hall Group in the 70s, has written over 4000 soul, gospel, blues and pop songs, performed with the likes of Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, Herbie Hancock, George Benson and Maurice White and recorded with John Klemmer, George Duke and Kenny G, among countless others. He has also written and performed on many film soundtracks including The Lion King 2Shrek 2Invincible and Bruce Almighty. He also sang a Louis Armstrong tune in the Steven Spielberg film Catch Me If You Can

Review Fix: How did you get your nickname, “The Ambassador of Soul”?

Ellis Hall: At rehearsal for a symphony in Rochester, I teased Maestro Jeff Tyzik that I was working hard on my Ambassadorship to which Jeff replied…”THATS IT! YOU ARE THE AMBASSADOR OF SOUL”!!!!

Review Fix: What does it mean to you?

Hall: Being this vessel I have to infuse into whatever I play and sing with my heart and SOUL, no matter what style of music.

Review Fix: What gives Soul music its soul?

Hall: How it touches you or anyone else inside or out.

Review Fix: Talk about your new project with George Whitty. What makes it unique?

Hall: What makes it unique for me is working with someone like George who knows how to arrange/derange the music to reach into the very depths, or core of someone’s existence.

Review Fix: Who do you think will enjoy it the most?

Hall: Everyone! It has elements for everyone – even if it’s just to make one’s hands, feet or hips move about.

Review Fix: What do you think is the difference between your newest work and the tunes people know you for?

Hall: The recognition of TRUE collaboration and to bring THIS music to the world. 

Review Fix: Do you feel like your childhood has helped make you the musician you are today?

Hall: Absolutely! Listening and learning from and to everyone who has touched and sent me on this wonderful journey.

Review Fix: What’s next?

Hall: Bringing it to you LIVE!

Review Fix: Anything else you’d like to add?

Hall: Enough talk about PLAY WHAT!!!!

Review Fix: Where can people find out more?

Hall: www.whittyhall.com

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About Patrick Hickey Jr. 14545 Articles
Patrick Hickey Jr. is a full-time Assistant Professor of Communication & Performing Arts and Director of the Journalism program at Kingsborough Community College and is the chairman of the City University of New York Journalism Council. He is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of ReviewFix.com. He's also a former News Editor at NBC Local Integrated Media and National Video Games Writer at Examiner.com where his work was mentioned in National Ad campaigns by Disney, Nintendo and EA Sports. Hickey was also the Editor-In-Chief of two College Newspapers before he received his BA in Journalism from Brooklyn College. Hickey's work has been published in The New York Daily News, The New York Times, Complex, The Hockey Writers, Yahoo!, Broadway World, Examiner, NYSportScene Magazine, ProHockeyNews.com, GothamBaseball.com, The Syracuse Post-Standard, Scout.com and the official sites of the Brooklyn Aces and New York Islanders. His first book, The Minds Behind the Games: Interviews With Cult And Classic Video Game Developers was released in April 2018 and is chock full of interviews with legendary developers. His second book in the series, The Minds Behind Adventures Games, was released in December 2019. His third book, The Minds Behind Sports Games, was released in September 2020. His fourth book, The Minds Behind Shooter Games, was released in March 2021. The Minds Behind Sega Genesis Games and The Minds Behind PlayStation Games were released in 2022 and The Minds Behind PlayStation 2 was published in January 2023. Hickey is also a contracted comic book writer, currently penning his original series, "Condrey," as well as "The Job," "Brooklyn Bleeds" "Dem Gulls" and "KROOM" for Legacy Comix, where he serves as founder, owner and Editor-in-Chief. Hickey Jr. is also a voice actor, having starred in the 2018 indie hit and 2019 Switch, PS4 and Xbox One release, The Padre (also serving as English language Story Editor), from Shotgun With Glitters. The sequel, The Padre: One Shell Straight to Hell was released in February 2021- Hickey also served as a Story Editor and Lead Voiceover performer. He has also done narration and trailers for several other titles including The Kaiju Offensive, Relentless Rex and Roniu’s Tale. Hickey is also the lead voiceover performer on Mega Cat Studios’ upcoming title WrestleQuest, responsible for nearly 90 characters in the game, as well as Skybound's Renfield: Bring Your Own Blood, where he voices both Dracula and Renfield, as well as several other characters. He also stars in Ziggurat Interactive’s World Championship Boxing Manager 2, where he performs the VO of nearly every male character in the game. He also worked on the Atari VCS’s BPM Boy.

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