Photograph
Yvonne Ellis
23rd February 2018

Yvonne Ellis biog

After over 35 years in a music business that continues to be unforgiving and narrow for women, Yvonne Ellis has survived and flourished, making her mark and commanding the deepest respect and affection from all the clients she has been involved with. Over the decades Yvonne has worked with an incredible spectrum of artists and musicians – from high profile popstars, through to local young strugglers looking to inch their way into a milieu fraught with obstacles and difficulties. Yvonne’s knowledge of so many different kinds of music, married to her technological expertise fuels her formidable versatility. She approaches the art and craft of production with all the attributes of a great musician – and after so many years she has gained total command as a producer and engineer of the highest quality. She retains a robust sense of musical community and remains a loyal servant to the many muses and arts that she collaborates with. She is indeed a polymath of the mixing desk, both in the studio and 'Live'. The sounds and sonics she helps create are true and pure and of a quality that few can match. Whether she is producing or mixing, Yvonne is able to bring out the greatest musicality that is possible from the artist and their work. Yvonne ’ s journey through the years in the music business has also made her a great psychologist and musical social worker; both are invaluable qualities in these psychologically difficult times. If you work with Yvonne you are likely to grow as a human being as well as a musician. The sad truth is that the music business should be full of Yvonne Ellis ’ 50 years into its life, but great and maverick talent tends to be marginalised rather than championed, especially if you ’ re a woman. We should always celebrate such precious human resources and recognise their efforts and dedication beyond the call of duty. We need Yvonne Ellis so badly. Her humanity and talent always shine through and as a colleague and friend for over 25 years I ’ m very honoured to know her and to have worked with someone so consistently special.

Elliot Rashman (Simply Red manager 1984-1998)


Poem written by poet Mark Thompson:

Stereo Type

Find yourself a spot midway between the loudspeakers

To hear tell of the alchemic play of an audio truth seeker

Who, live or in recording weaves such a magic spell,

Sonic samples seem quite seamless, such is her power to gel.

From a family of music and with a dynasty to follow,

She's birthed bass tones so deep in them a blue whale could wallow.

Written random rhythms in time with every souls heart beat

And made melodies that've given wings to souls with leaden feet.

Supporting those around her may not have made her rich,

But in providing positive vibrations she has found a perfect pitch.

She's surprised many a technician simply by not being a man,

Yet her improvised soundscapes have out performed many a master's plan.

If you ever get to meet her, sure she'll play down all my hype,

But her life's scores leave me in awe, for she's far more than a stereo type.