LEROY ELLINGTON
A Master Showman
Leroy started his career in the 80’s, playing with Ritchie & The Students, a 50’s Doo-Wop group with a few hit singles in the late fifties, including I’m So Young, which was covered by The Beach Boys and appeared in the soundtrack of Cry Baby.
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In the 90’s, Leroy joined Stacy Mitchhart in his band, on sax and backing vocals. Leroy is featured
on saxophone and also co-wrote a few of the songs on Stacy's album, Blues Transfusion.
In 1994 Leroy started his own band, Leroy Ellington & The E-Funk Band, and became a staple on the Cincinnati music scene for over 20 years, performing throughout the region. If there was a high profile event, Leroy and his band was the act they wanted! Leroy was honored to have a 20 year run as the Monday Night Headliner at The Taste Of Cincinnati.
Around 2010 Leroy realized that he really missed playing Blues. It seemed like the place he felt most comfortable musically, and in 2012, as a side project, Leroy started playing as The Leroy Ellington Band.
The scene became aware of them immediately as they placed 2nd at The Cincinnati Blues Challenge in 2012, and placing in the top 3 since 2012. Since 2013 they have also placed 2nd in The Dayton Blues Challenge!
In early 2018 Leroy started his latest recording project with a select group of Cincinnati’s best musicians,
Sanctified was released in February 2019.ï¾
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Throughout his career Leroy has had the honor to share the stage with folks like The Platters, Little Anthony,
The Commodores, War, Lonnie Mack, Bobby Blue Bland, Jr. Wells, Clarence Carter, Lonnie Brooks, Buddy Guy,
WHAT THEY HAVE SAID
BLUES BLAST MAGAZINE - Marty Gunther
Sanctified smokes in an attack that’s a little harder and distinctly different from what you might hear
out of Chicago, Memphis and parts south. If you’re a fan of soul blues, this one’s definitely worth a listen.
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DON & SHERYL'S BLUES BLOG
A great man once said, ALL ABOARD—The Night Train, and Leroy Ellington and Sacred Hearts
beckon you to the dance floor to get yo’self Sanctified!
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MARY4MUSIC - Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro
Like that skillful kid in school who lettered in football, baseball, wrestling, track, and band,
Leroy is about as diverse as one can musically be.
However, it is the blues community's gain that back in 2010 Leroy realized
how much he missed playing the blues.
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BLUES POWER - Gil Anthony
Leroy Ellington's Sanctified is definitely on holy ground when it comes to the sound of great blue eyed soul.
NOTEWORTHY
2015 - Featured vocalist with the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra in a tribute to the music of Blood, Sweat & Tears, in which Leroy took the vocal role of David Clayton Thomas. ...it's uncanny how much Leroy sounded like David Clayton Thomas, is the way one reviewer described his performance
2017 - Blue Eyed Blues named Best Self-Produced CD by Blues Foundation
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