Lauren Ellis

Highlight Reel

Live Performance

Plaque Award Winner – Outstanding Guitarist at 9th annual LA Music Awards

Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Lauren Ellis has a rich background as a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter, especially known for her soulful expressions on slide guitar.

Moving to Los Angeles, she found road work with Rita Coolidge, Nell Carter, Peter Tork of the Monkees, and legendary R&B duo Don and Dewey. There were also stints in various country bands around the southland and work with the wonderful late Zydeco accordionist Joe Simien. She was also guitarist with the great soul band “Boo-Boo Fine Jelly” and later “The Scarletts.” Lauren was flown back to the Bay Area to audition for the Post-Garcia version of the Grateful Dead, “The Other Ones”.

In Los Angeles, Lauren wrote and recorded her first independent release “Push The River”. On this CD, Lauren showcases her skills on acoustic and electric guitars, Dobro, lap steel, and even electric sitar, but perhaps most important are the songs: heartfelt, memorable, and hook-laden. The record was picked up by label Farren Records, and was distributed throughout Europe.
She is accompanied on “Push the River” by musicians Roy Bittan of the E Street Band, session guitar wizard Dean Parks (also co-writer of the track “Real Love”), Neil Stubenhaus on bass guitar, and Herman Matthews on drums. Through this recording, Lauren won top honors as Outstanding Guitarist at the Los Angeles Music Awards.

Lauren has opened shows for Bonnie Raitt, Patti Griffin, Etta James, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, James Brown, The Texas Tornadoes, Jimmy Thackery, John Mayall, Marty Stuart, the Kentucky Headhunters, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Dave Mason, and many more. Her slide guitar music was used as the opening theme for CMT’s “Crossroads” for five years, and is licensed with music services such as Muzak and Trusonic.

After relocating to Nashville, Tennessee, she began work on her second record: “Feels Like Family,” featuring stellar players Tony Joe White, Viktor Krauss, Dean Parks, and Kenny Malone. The CD was picked up by Los Angeles based label “Silverline Records”, and was remixed in 5.1 Surround Sound by Jake Niceley, where it won for best mix at the 2005 Surround Music Awards in Los Angeles.

In 2011, Lauren moved to Austin, Texas, and is loving the music scene and city. The Lauren Ellis Band is playing local and road dates, and she is working as a side-person on bass, pedal steel and guitar.

When she isn’t writing or performing, her other passion is the repair and restoration of fine stringed instruments. She has toured The States and abroad as guitar technician for The Monkees, the Knack, and the Eagles. You can find her at her shop at MusicMakers, near downtown Austin.

Lauren has just joined up with amazing singer/songwriter Johanna Divine on guitar and lap steel. Johanna is currently from Austin, Texas, via Knoxville, TN and Lafayette, L.A. . Check her out! www.johannadivine.com