Songwriter, Ellen Mcilwaine

egendary blues-rock singer- How did your Canadian Academy Lsongwriter, Ellen McIlwaine ‘63 is experience influence your career? known for her cosmic combination of The multi-cultural backdrop of CA had a slide guitar playing combined with great influence on all of us in so many passionate singing and her electric live ways. It made you aware of many performances. Although grounded in blues different cultures, customs, dress, music, and rock, her music shows multicultural ideas, and philosophies. Differences were influences from the Middle East, the celebrated and appreciated and treasured Caribbean and Japan. During her close to by most of us. At one point, probably in 40-year music career, she has collaborated the 80’s, someone who had attended CA with numerous influential musicians sent around a questionnaire and the including Jimi Hendrix, who became a question I remember was: “if you had to “I think music is the language of the soul. good friend and helped inspire her choose between what is for the good of All souls can understand it without the trademark use of her voice like a guitar. In your country or for the good of the world, limitations of speech, custom, politics, a recent professional renaissance, her which would you choose” and I am sure religion, or perspective…it just takes an music is being rediscovered by a new most of us answered “the world”. So CA open heart.” Ellen McIlwaine ‘63 generation of musicians due to her work certainly broadened my musical scope. with Taj Mahal and her recordings being What role does music play in your under the sun was sold, as well as manju, sampled by Fatboy Slim and Mondo life? okaki, yokan, Morinaga chocolate, Glico Grosso, a Japanese electronica band. She Music has taken me around the world. It caramels, and even hot take-out oden. The has been called the world’s best slide has forced me to choose it over marriage, best part musically was when I explained guitarist and an hour long documentary children and a conventional life and made that the reason I scat sing the way I do, not has been made about her. Why isn’t Ellen me take great economic risks. It has also using “skoobiedoobie” and other English McIlwaine a household name? rewarded me by constantly opening sounds is because I speak Japanese and it Ellen was born in Nashville, Tennessee windows on new music from other lands, is so much more rhythmic and beautiful and was adopted and raised by Southern taking me places I never would have been and lends itself to scat singing so well. It Presbyterian missionary parents. At the able to go, introducing me to other was great to give back one of the gifts that age of two, she moved to Japan and stayed wonderful musicians from all over the the wonderful Japanese culture had given for 15 years until she graduated from world, and always being there at my me. Canadian Academy. While growing up in fingertips with another melody. Over the years, have you had any Kobe, Ellen was exposed to a wide variety In 2002, you returned to Japan after reconnections with people you knew of cultures and musical traditions, a 39-year absence to record a live from CA? including those of Asia and India. She album and tour. What was is like for Mr. Camp, who directed the choir at CA grew up speaking English, French and you to return “home” again? and Kobe Union Church, taught us how to Japanese (or a mixed-up combination of I was originally approached by young DJs, breath and gave us rigorous diaphragm all three.) She began playing rock and roll who discovered my old vinyl recordings exercises which still stand me in good piano at the age of five. After graduating and got turned on to the music because of stead today. I had the great pleasure of from CA in 1963, Ellen and her family the Brazilian influence (in my old playing one of my recordings for Mr. th moved back to the United States. While in recordings). It is quite popular in the Camp at the Bishop’s 50 wedding art school Atlanta, she brought her first dance clubs in Japan today. They had no anniversary in Alberta in the 80’s, as well guitar and began appearing in clubs. She idea I was raised in Japan! After the first as playing the cut “We the People” for Mr. moved to New York in 1966 to pursue a meeting we just spoke Japanese and by the Samuel at the same event. I wrote “We music career and since then has never end of the visit I was reading all hiragana the People” based on my (youthful and looked back. Based in Toronto, Canada, and starting to try to learn kanji. They frivolous) interpretation of an Indian Ellen travels the world (U.S., Canada, took me to tofu restaurants, soba Raga, and I will always treasure Mr. Europe, Australia, New Zealand and restaurants, and couldn’t get over the fact Samuel saying “That’s very good, Ellen.” Japan) performing. that I would only eat Japanese food at It is such a wonderful experience to let Ellen agreed to answer a few questions every meal. I had a fit in convenience your teachers know just how much they to share with our CA community in the stores, where every kind of instant ramen gave to you! REVIEW. 11.

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