Pee Wee Ellis

For other people named Alfred Ellis, see Alfred Ellis (disambiguation).

Pee Wee Ellis
Ellis in Milan, 2007
Ellis in Milan, 2007
Background information
Birth nameAlfred James Rogers
Also known asPee Wee Ellis
Born(1941-04-21)April 21, 1941
Bradenton, Florida, U.S.
DiedSeptember 23, 2021(2021-09-23) (aged 80)
Somerset, England[1]
GenresFunk, soul, jazz
Occupation(s)Saxophonist, composer, arranger
Instrument(s)Tenor, soprano, alto and baritone saxophones, keyboards, flute[2]
Years active1954–2021
LabelsSkip Records, Minor Music, Gramavision
Formerly ofThe J.B.'s, Ginger Baker's Jazz Confusion, The Dapps
Pee Wee Ellis in 2012
Ellis, with his band Assembly, at the New Morning jazz club, Paris, 1996

Alfred James Rogers (April 21, 1941 – September 23, 2021), known as Pee Wee Ellis due to his diminutive stature, was an American saxophonist, composer, and arranger.[3] With a background in jazz, he was a member of James Brown's band in the 1960s, appearing on many of Brown's recordings and co-writing hits like "Cold Sweat" and "Say It Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud". He also worked with Van Morrison. Ellis resided in England for the last 30 years of his life.[4][5]

  1. ^ Michael J. West (29 September 2021). "Pee Wee Ellis 1941–2021". JazzTimes. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Pee Wee Ellis credits". allmusic.com. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
  3. ^ "Pee Wee Ellis obituary". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  4. ^ Schudel, Matt (25 September 2021). "Pee Wee Ellis, who helped put the funk in James Brown's music, dies at 80". The Washington Post. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  5. ^ Williams, Richard (30 September 2021). "Pee Wee Ellis obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 September 2021.