Local music legend Ellen McIlwaine passed away today at the age of 75. McIlwaine earned the nickname the "Goddess of Slide" for her slide guitar skills. She was an innovator, and a true original. Ellen McIlwaine's journey through life was an unusual and colourful one; likewise, her abilities as a musician were captivating and unique.

Born in Nashville, she grew up in Japan, where her adoptive parents were missionaries. Listening to Japanese radio growing up in the 1950s, she fell in love with R&B and early rock'n'roll records. When she moved back to the States as a young adult, she bought a guitar, taught herself to play, and dedicated her life to music. Early in her career, she made a profound musical connection with a pre-fame Jimi Hendrix, playing with him in the mid-'60s Greenwich Village music scene. She would eventually move to Canada in the late '80s, where she made Calgary her home for the last three decades of her life.

Like Hendrix, Ellen McIlwaine had an entirely personal, revolutionary approach to playing guitar. Her style made ample and flamboyant use of the slide, unusual tunings, and rapid arpeggios and slide hammer-ons. Similarly, her powerful vocal style swooped across a considerable range, and was often coloured by scat-singing, yodels, and unusual harmonies.

She had an extremely diverse set of musical abilities and interests, ranging across blues, jazz, rock, folk, funk, and various strains of world music. She was equally at home in a power trio setting, playing in a solo acoustic format, or collaborating with the likes of tabla master Cassius Khan, blues titan Taj Mahal and Cream bassist Jack Bruce. Yet no matter the context, her own distinctive musicality always shone through.

With a body or recorded work spanning from the 1960s through the 21st Century, Ellen McIlwaine won a legion of fans across the globe, with strong followings in far-flung places like Japan and Australia. Among her discography, you'll find titled released or reissued by Stony Plain Records -- based in her own province of Alberta, and run by her great friend, Holger Petersen.
A hugely influential musical visionary, a champion of women's voices in the male-dominated music industry, a relentless innovator, a builder of connections between musical worlds, and a true Alberta treasure.

In her final interview with CKUA's Holger Petersen, Ellen reflected on her more than four decade career. She spoke about her musical upbringing in Japan, her early exposure to the R&B scene, her first gig in New York, her friendship and and work with Jimi Hendrix and Taj Mahal, and much more. You can listen to the full interview, below.

Ellen McIllwain on Natch'l Blues

04 Save Me For Later

Ukrainian folk song recorded by Olga Sosnicky Mech at the CBC in 1955. 

Dearest Country Of Mine - Olga Mech

Title track from my #JunoNominated 2008 release "Happy Here". 
Co-written with my friend and the producer of the album #StephenFearing.

Happy Here

Justine the friendly ghost

This Is The Sound (preview)

Drums - Brian Tichy
Bass - TM Stevens
6 String XOX Audio Tools Bass - Stevie Salas
Percussion - Tommy Lee, Matt Sorum
Keys - Amp Fiddler
Talkbox - Nard Berings
Guitar - Stevie Salas, Zakk Wylde, Phil X
Backing Vocals - Tommy Lee, TM Stevens, Janet Panic, Laura Jane Jones, Shea Chambers, Stevie Salas
Lead Vocal - Rob Lamothe 
ROCK OUT.

Tell Me Something Good

I wrote, arranged and recorded this tune when I learned a dear friend of mine was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Its about learning to live in the now. I am dedicating this song today to the late George James Burke.
The song features J.P. Alain on Piano, Guido Basso on Flugelhorn, Norm Glaude on Bass, Don Johnson on Drums and me on vocals.

Shades Of Love

Here And Now written and performed by Kim Kaskiw

I wrote this song in 2015 for my friend and long-time collaborator Justin Haynes. Rest in peace, brilliant spirit. This is an outtake from the Careless Thoughts sessions, recorded June 2016. 

Ryan Driver - voice / piano 
Michael Davidson - vibraphone
Rob Clutton - bass
Phil Melanson - drums

Recorded at The Canterbury Music Company by Jeremy Darby, Julian Decorte, and Jean Martin.
Mixed at The Farm by Jean Martin.
Photo by Janis Demkiw.

Sorry About My Friend

Recorded @ The Sonic Temple performed by  Emma Lee Stewart  Written by Joel and Susan Raney 

What We All Want For Christmas Emma Lee Stewart

An emotional journey into the tragic moments of realization that you carelessly let go of the love of your life. 
Words and Music by Henry Lees and Sean Thomas
Vocals - Henry Lees (lyrics below)
All instruments, recording and mixing - Sean Thomas

Change is the only thing that doesn't
And I did the only thing I shouldn't
I closed the door and let you walk away
You walked away
Now, I'm all alone again
Just me and all this oxygen
But breathing seems impossible today

I LET GO OF MY ONLY ONE
MY UNIVERSE, MY MORNING SUN
I COULDN'T FIND THE WORDS TO SAY I'M SORRY
I LET GO OF THE CHANCE WE HAD
COULDN'T FIND MY WAY THROUGH THE BAD TO YOU
NOW I'VE GOT NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE
I'VE GOT NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE

Love's never something you should gamble
Yours was never something I could handle
I closed my heart and made you the blame
I made you the blame
Now, I'm holding on to a thread 
that's tied to an empty bed
Oh, I'm missing you every night and day

I LET GO OF MY ONLY ONE
MY UNIVERSE, MY MORNING SUN
I COULDN'T FIND THE WORDS TO SAY I'M SORRY
I LET GO OF THE CHANCE WE HAD
COULDN'T FIND MY WAY THROUGH THE BAD TO YOU
NOW I'VE GOT NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE

Nothing left inside
Nowhere I can hide
No way out of this prison in my mind
I want nothing more
Than what we were before
When you and I had nothing but time

I LET GO OF MY ONLY ONE
MY UNIVERSE, MY MORNING SUN
I COULDN'T FIND THE WORDS TO SAY I'M SORRY
I LET GO OF THE CHANCE WE HAD
COULDN'T FIND MY WAY THROUGH THE BAD TO YOU
NOW I'VE GOT NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE
NOW I'VE GOT NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE

Nothing Left To Lose

I'm a roots and blues singer-songwriter from Canada. 

04 Save Me For Later

Suzie Vinnick

Recent comments

Vlad Wasilka

Second Wind

Related tracks