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Ellis Hooks "Uncomplicated" In stores today

Posted by Artemis Records News on 3/23/2004, 6:54 pm
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Newcomer Ellis Hooks is a young but very well traveled blues/soul/R&B singer/songwriter. Hooks has already generated a major European buzz with two UK releases ("Undeniable" on Zane Records and "Up Your Mind" on Evidence Records). Time Out UK named his debut, "Undeniable," the best soul album of the year. In addition, The London Times deemed "Undeniable," one of the strongest debut albums of the year. He recorded his Artemis debut, "Uncomplicated," with Grammy nominated producer Jon Tiven.
Born in Bayminette, Alabama, he was the thirteenth of sixteen children to an African-American sharecropper and his Cherokee/African-American bride. Hooks left home at the age of fifteen. Like a modern day Woody Guthrie, he hitchhiked around America performing odd jobs and often times relying on just his voice and acoustic guitar for meals and a place to spend the night. After three years, Hooks ended up in New York City playing music in Central Park with the occasional club gig on Bleecker Street.
In 2002, with producer Tiven on board, Hooks began recording his debut, "Undeniable" The London Times listed "Undeniable" as one of the strongest albums of the year, and described Hooks as "a young Wilson Pickett." Hooks followed up his excellent debut with "Up Your Mind" in 2003 (Evidence Music) which featured a duet with soul king Freddie Scott. The record earned a four and a half star rating from Thom Jurek in All Music Guide which stated that Hooks may be a newcomer but carries in his voice the authority and lineage of the entire Southern soul and blues tradition.
His Artemis Records debut, Uncomplicated is a modern record forging a style which Ellis likes to call Americana Soul. It recalls the Stax-Volt and Muscle Shoals production style that Ellis grew up on. The fifteen songs also conjure comparisons to Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, and Little Richard as easily as the obvious soul prototypes. Ellis says that "Uncomplicated is all about remembering to live for today, not caring about tomorrow, and just enjoying life."
Hooks is set to play a series of residency dates at The Tin Angel in Philadelphia. He will play for three consecutive Tuesdays beginning April 13th. Ellis also taped a performance for NPR's Mountain Stage that is set to air in May. Check http://www.mountainstage.org/ for more information about when the performance will air in your area.
Upcoming Ellis Hooks Tour Dates
Mar 23 2004 New York NY The Living Room
Apr 13 2004 PHILADELPHIA PA Tin Angel Club
Apr 20 2004 PHILADELPHIA PA Tin Angel Club
Apr 24 2004 PHILADELPHIA PA Tin Angel Club
Apr 29 2004 Memphis TN Memphis Cook Convention Center
May 1 2004 Memphis TN Blues Tent
May 2 2004 Nashville TN 3rd and Lindsley
Jul 10 2004 KALAMAZOO MI Kalamazoo Blues Festival
"Uncomplicated" will be released on March 23, 2004
Listen to the first single "40 Days and 40 Nights"
http://www.artemisrecords.com/media/ellishooksaudio.ram
Order "Uncomplicated" from Barnesandnobel.com
http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?userid=2YRMN14JNV&ean=699675150228
You can now listen and purchase the Artemis Records catalog via your favorite digital store. The entire Artemis Records catalog, including Ellis Hooks' "Uncomplicated," is available on Apple ITunes, AudioLunchBox, Emusic, Liquid Audio, Musicmatch, Napster, Next Radio Solutions and Real Network's Rhapsody.
Sincerely,
The Artemis Records Team