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Peach Jam Podcast: Tinsley Ellis - Atlanta, GA
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Billboard once called Tinsley Ellis a "blues/rock master.” In this episode, Tinsley reflects on 50 years in the music business with many more to go.
The Peach Jam Podcast features stories and songs recorded live in our GPB studios from a variety of incredibly talented and diverse bands and artists who call the Peach State home.
Few artists can claim the kind of longevity and consistency that Tinsley Ellis has in the blues world. As Billboard once put it, "Nobody has released more consistently excellent blues albums than Atlanta's Tinsley Ellis." On this episode of Peach Jam, host Jeremy Powell sits down with the legendary guitarist to reflect on 50 years in the music business — his influences, experiences, and what keeps him going after all this time.
A Musical Awakening
Ellis's blues journey began in the 1970s, when a friend's older brother gave him a life-changing piece of advice: "There's a guy y’all got to go see… B.B. King."
That recommendation led Ellis to a teen matinee show where he sat in the front row, mesmerized by the blues legend.
“B.B. King blew our minds… And then he greeted us in the lobby and talked to us for what seemed like hours,” he recalls. That moment ignited a passion that set him on a lifelong path.
Jamming with Legends
Over the years, Ellis found himself not only witnessing but performing alongside the greats — Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Albert King, and later, backing blues icons like Otis Rush and Koko Taylor.
He describes it as the true reward of his career: “There’s obviously some money involved, but hanging out and getting to jam with your idols — that’s the real payoff.”
Ellis even had the chance to play with the ferocious Albert Collins.
“He had a vicious guitar sound, and guitarists would literally line up to try to cut him — to outplay him — but nobody could cut Albert Collins. Not Buddy Guy, probably not even Jimi Hendrix.”
From Underground Atlanta to the World Stage
Starting in nightclubs in Atlanta’s Underground scene, Ellis eventually signed with Alligator Records in the 1980s, a move that changed his trajectory. “I didn’t need a map to know where I was going — I needed a globe,” he jokes about his time touring the world.
Even after five decades, Ellis stays connected to the music scene, frequently visiting clubs to see young musicians play. “They probably wonder what an older guy like me is doing hanging out in nightclubs, but I want to know what’s going on at all times.”
A New Chapter with ‘Naked Truth’
Ellis’s latest album, Naked Truth, marks a departure — or rather, an arrival, as he puts it — into acoustic blues.
“I started with acoustic before electric. People call this album a departure, but to me, it feels like I was always pointed toward this.”
Featuring his prized 1937 National steel guitar, Naked Truth strips down his sound, showcasing the raw emotion of the blues. “Blues is easy to play but hard to feel… I want my songs to hold a mirror up to life so that people can say, ‘Yeah, that happened to me. I feel like that too.’”
At 50 years in, Ellis shows no signs of slowing down. As he puts it simply: "I like this too much to do anything else.”
Hear Tinsley’s stories straight from the source: Tune into Peach Jam for the full conversation and exclusive live performances.
The Peach Jam podcast from GPB features songs and stories from a variety of the incredibly talented and diverse bands and artists who call the Peach State home.
Recorded live in our GPB studios, you get a front row seat for the intimate musical performances and free-flowing conversation from a truly eclectic variety of Georgia musicians. You can find more at GPB.org/PeachJamPodcast — and please download and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform.
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