Mom and Dad bought a Kimball Organ when I was about seven years old, and I guess that started it all. At thirteen, a friend of the family taught me a few guitar chords, and I got my first 12 string the next year. With the music of John Denver, Batdorf and Rodney and America inspiration, I began writing simple songs and playing folk music at campfires, weddings and local festivals. The years after High School found me in California working for the park service and playing evenings in campgrounds and restaurants. Abilene, Texas was the next stop. With its wild and woolly mix of a low drinking age (that being 18), public dance halls and private clubs, I found my self singing Linda Ronstadt and Willie Nelson covers behind chicken wire. I had the honor of playing one night a week for several months at Mel Tillis's "The Old Sawmill", The Town Crier Steakhouse, a pool bar, whose name I can't remember (might be a good thing) near the back gate of the base, and a fund raiser for the Veterans Hospital with Rex Allen, Rex Allen Jr and Johnny Gimble. I got out of Abilene with my guitar, my ‘70 Chevy Impala 350, some real good stories and 10 stitches around my eye from one of those nights there was not enough chicken wire in the state Texas to protect the band. Back in Ohio, and once again on the local Dayton folk scene, I played Sam's on 5th, The Trolley Stop in the Oregon District and was a performer on opening night at Mick Montgomery's Canal Street Tavern, where I also later tended bar. Brisco's Lounge, Winds Café, Tuty's Inn, my goodness, it was time of stage hopping with friends and solid, paying gigs, many of them sit downs where a player could make a living. Coming to Arizona in 1990 I discovered the Western & Cowboy music. Katy Creek Band resulted in 2001, lasting a good 13years and four albums. This lovely but tiny genre provided inspiration to grow in my song writing and performance abilities. Now, seeking wider and broader opportunities, including for “The Heart of It All” story and song concerts, I once again perform in the Folk genre, particularly my self coined "South~Western Americana". After a ten year recording hiatus, the “Tall Tree” album released in January of 2019. Recorded for Mi Casa Records and produced by Maestro Ismael Barajas, Tall Tree is the first in my self coined South~Western Americana. The drum styles, arrangements and rhythms, the wide open shelving of instruments against vocals, and the instruments themselves, are a direct reflection of my life in the Desert Southwest. My second album of South~Western Americana, “Bluebirds Singing On The Buffalo Road,” is bare bones, just me and my guitars with harmony vocals on a few songs. It includes “Lightning Woman Danced,” “ By Moon or No Moon,” refreshed recordings of “Autumn’s On Its Way" and “Wild Rose,” and “The Ruby Handled Knife,” a poem inspired while writing the book, “Autumn’s On Its Way,” which released January of 2024. I am a proud member of the Western Writers of America.
Contact information and booking Nancy Elliott 520~705~5901 www.NancyElliottMusic.com
