Pee Wee Ellis
Pee Wee Ellis | |
|---|---|
Ellis in Milan, 2007 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Alfred James Rogers |
| Also known as | Pee Wee Ellis |
| Born | April 21, 1941 Bradenton, Florida, U.S. |
| Died | September 23, 2021 (aged 80) Somerset, England |
| Genres | Funk, soul, jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Saxophonist, composer, arranger |
| Instrument(s) | Tenor, soprano, alto and baritone saxophones, keyboards, flute |
| Years active | 1954–2021 |
| Labels | Skip Records, Minor Music, Gramavision |
| Formerly of | The J.B.'s, Ginger Baker's Jazz Confusion, The Dapps |
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. 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.