Katherine Ellis (born Katherine Jane Margaret Wood on 21 June 1965 in
Bromley, England) is an English electronica vocalist and songwriter. A mainstay of the house music genre past and present, she has been featured on vocals since 1990.
Background
Personal life
Her husband Max Ellis, with whom she has two sons, is a professional photographer. Her brother Thomas is a theatre actor. Katherine’s family lineage also have ties to the entertainment spectrum; her mother Elizabeth was trained as an actress at the Royal Academy for dramatic art, her grandmother Joy was a violinist and pianist, and her great grandmother Elizabeth Haslam was a opera singer who won a competition at the Royal Albert Hall in 1893.
Professional career
She records under the aliases Katherine Ellis, Kathy Wood, Arrola and K. Ellis and her maiden name Katherine Wood.
[She has no connection with two American performers with the same name: vocalist Katherine E (also born Katherine Ellis, whose well-known single was "Then I Feel Good", released in 1991, even though some biographies and websites have understandably mistaken the two artists as being the same person, as well as having the same vocal range) and the actress Katherine "Kate" Ellis (born 1981), who appeared as a regular on '']Days of Our Lives
''Days of Our Lives'' (also stylized as ''Days of our Lives''; simply referred to as ''Days'' or ''DOOL'') is an American television soap opera that streams on the streaming service Peacock. The soap, which aired on the American television net ...
'', in the 2001 Disney movie '' Motocrossed'' and the 2003 film '' Old School''.
Katherine has been a vocalist since the age of 15, performing lead and backing vocals. Her touring credits include that of working with
Belinda Carlisle,
Chaka Khan
Yvette Marie Stevens (born March 23, 1953), better known by her stage name Chaka Khan (), is an American singer. Her career has spanned more than five decades, beginning in the 1970s as the lead vocalist of the funk band Rufus. Known as the " Qu ...
,
Boy George and
Roger Sanchez.
She has recorded with a variety of prominent names in dance music including
Freemasons
Freemasonry or Masonry refers to fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 13th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities ...
,
Soul Avengerz,
Dave Lee,
Roger Sanchez,
Meat Katie, Dylan Rhymes, Lee Coombs and
Tom Stephan
Tom Stephan (born June 6, 1970) is an American house music, producer, DJ and film director. He was born in New York, United States. He is also known as Superchumbo.
Biography
In 1990, Stephan relocated to London, England and studied film at th ...
.
From 1997 to 2000, Ellis was the vocalist for
Ruff Driverz
Ruff Driverz were the aliases of British DJ / remixers Brad Carter and Chris Brown. The duo also recorded under the names ''2000BC'' and ''Transit''.
In the late 1990s, the duo scored six dance hits in the UK. Two of these were also major ...
, singing "Deeper Love," "Don't Stop," "Shame," and the international
hit "Dreaming" (for which she also wrote the Spanish topline for under the credited alias name of 'Arrola').
In 2008, Ellis' releases included "When You Touch Me" with
Freemasons
Freemasonry or Masonry refers to fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 13th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities ...
(Loaded), "Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But The Rent" with 7th Heaven (
Hard2Beat), "Poza (Got What I Need)" with Countparis (Eyezcream), "Do It" with DJ Prom (GFab), "Gotta Get Through" with Paul Emanuel & Gav McCall (Born to Dance), and "One Luv" with
Soul Avengerz (Milk & Sugar/One Love Recordings); as well as "Laisser Toucher" with
Cerrone which is featured in the French film, ''Disco!''.
In 2009, her releases include the re-release of "Dreaming", "You're Mine" with Solitaire (Muzik K) and "Time 2 Play" with Soulshaker (Audiofreaks) as well as an acoustic version of "Hideaway" featured on New State Music's ''UnClubbed'' Album. She also wrote and performed two tracks, "Control" and "You Make Me Crazy" that featured on Lee Coombs' 2009 album, ''Light & Dark''.
Ellis is also a member of the band Bimbo Jones, who are signed to
Tommy Boy Records
Tommy Boy Entertainment is an American independent record label and multimedia brand founded in 1981 by Tom Silverman. The label is credited with helping and launching the music careers of Queen Latifah, Afrika Bambaataa, Stetsasonic, Digital U ...
. The group released its album ''Harlem 1 Stop'' in late 2008. Ellis received cowriting and vocal credit for all tracks, including lead single "And I Try", which reached No. 1 on the US ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
''s
Hot Dance Club Songs
Dance Club Songs is a chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine in the United States. It is a national look over of club disc jockeys to determine the most popular songs being played in nightclubs across the country. It was launched as t ...
chart in October 2008.
"Chart History."
Billboard.com. Retrieved 4 October 2009.
Aside from her music career, Ellis has also done film and television commercial work. She was heard as the vocalist on the Gaviscon "What A Feelin'" advertisement in the UK. She also sang on the soundtrack to the 2013 film Gravity.
Discography & writing credits
Featured vocalist
*1990 Less Stress featuring Katherine Wood / "Don't Dream It's Over" / Junior Boy's Own (Vocalist)
*1991 Bocca Juniors / "Substantially Soulful" / Junior Boys Own (Vocalist)
*1994 4-2 the Floor / "Future Love" / Almighty Records (Vocalist)
*1994 4-2 the Floor / "Watching You Watching Me" / Almighty Records (Vocalist)
*1994 Back to Basics / "Always" / Almighty Records (Vocalist)
*1994 Back to Basics / "All For Love" / Almighty Records (Vocalist)
*1995 Kathy Wood / "Give me Joy" / Phuture Trax (Vocalist)
*1996 Eruption featuring Katherine Wood / "Let The Music" (Vocalist)
*1997 Eruption featuring Katherine Wood / "Reach Out" (Vocalist)
*1997 Eruption featuring Katherine Wood / "Surrender" (Vocalist)
*1997 Ruff Driverz
Ruff Driverz were the aliases of British DJ / remixers Brad Carter and Chris Brown. The duo also recorded under the names ''2000BC'' and ''Transit''.
In the late 1990s, the duo scored six dance hits in the UK. Two of these were also major ...
/ "Don't Stop" / Undisputed & Inferno (Vocalist) UK No. 30Stefano Noferini
Stefano Noferini (born 24 May 1961, in Florence, Italy) is an Italian tech and tech house DJ and producer.
Biography
He began his career in the late 1970s in the clubs of his hometown, Florence. Then during the 1980s and the 1990s, he became res ...
Mix) / Hed Kandi Records (Vocalist)
*2012 Jolyon Petch & Sam Hill vs Katherine Ellis / "Sexydancer" / Club Luxury Records (Vocalist)
*2012 Utah Saints vs Drumsound & Bassline Smith / What can you do for me / Ministry of Sound
Ministry of Sound or Ministry of Sound Group is a multimedia entertainment business based in London with a nightclub, shared workspace and private members' club, worldwide events operation, music publishing business and fitness studio.
James ...
(Vocalist)
*2013 Booker T featuring Katherine Ellis / Give me joy / Liquid Deep Records (Vocalist)
*2013 Steven Price: Gravity Original Motion Picture Soundtrack / "Gravity" / Water Tower Records (Vocalist)
*2013 7th Heaven featuring Katherine Ellis / Love is alive / 7H Label (Vocalist)
*2016 Guy Scheiman & Katherine Ellis / "Say A Little Prayer" / Guy Scheiman Records (Vocalist)
*2018 Guy Scheiman & Katherine Ellis / "Are You Ready For Love" / Guy Scheiman Records (Vocalist)
*2019 Facey featuring Katherine Ellis / "Feelin' Love" / White (Vocalist)
Vocalist and writer/co-writer
*1998 Ruff Driverz presents Arrola / "Dreaming" / Inferno (Vocalist/Writer) UK No. 10Raven Maize
David Russell Lee (born 18 June 1964) is an English DJ and house music producer, formerly known by the stage name Joey Negro, which he retired in July 2020 following the George Floyd protests. He has released music under a variety of pseudo ...
/ "Fascinated" / Data Records (Vocalist/Writer) UK No. 37Azuli Records
Azuli Records was a British independent record label, focusing mainly on house music and other forms of electronic dance music. The label was founded by DJ Dave Piccioni in London, England in 1991 but went into liquidation in April 2009. Some ...
(Vocalist/Writer)
*2005 Tom Stephan
Tom Stephan (born June 6, 1970) is an American house music, producer, DJ and film director. He was born in New York, United States. He is also known as Superchumbo.
Biography
In 1990, Stephan relocated to London, England and studied film at th ...
featuring Katherine Ellis/ "Here I Come" / Chumbomundo Records (Vocalist/Writer)
*2005 Dylan Rhymes featuring Katherine Ellis / "Sugar DJ" / Kingsize Records (Vocalist/Writer)
*2006 Mark Knight featuring Katherine Ellis / "Insatiable" / Toolroom Records (Vocalist/Writer)
*2006 Tom Stephan featuring Katherine Ellis / "DOG" / Chumbomundo Records (Vocalist/Writer)
*2006 Soul Flava featuring Katherine Ellis / "We Got Love" / DTPM/Blue Cube
Onizuka Air Force Station or Onizuka AFS was a United States Air Force installation in Sunnyvale, California, at the intersection of State Route 237 and North Mathilda Avenue. It was operational from 1960 to 2010.
Its distinguishing feature was ...
(Vocalist/Writer)
*2006 Lee Coombs featuring Katherine Ellis / "Control" / Thrust Recordings (Vocalist/Writer)
*2006 Meat Katie featuring Katherine Ellis / "What I Like" / "Lot 49" (Vocalist/Writer)
*2006 Meat Katie featuring Katherine Ellis / "Round & Round" / Adrift Records (Vocalist/Writer)
*2007 Cerrone featuring Katherine Ellis / "Loverboy" / Maligator Productions (Vocalist/Co-Writer)
*2007 Jason Herd featuring Katherine Ellis / "So Strong" / J Funk Recordings (Vocalist/Writer)
*2007 Matteo Esse & Sant featuring Katherine Ellis / "Not Hanging Around" / Cosmonote Blue (Vocalist/Writer)
*2008 Soul Avengerz featuring Katherine Ellis / "One Luv" (One Love Recordings/Milk & Sugar) (Vocalist/Writer)
*2008 Countparis & Katherine Ellis / "Poza (Got What I Need)" / Eyezcream Recordings (Vocalist/Writer)
*2008 Prom featuring Katherine Ellis / "Do It" / Gfab (Vocalist/Writer)
*2008 Paul Emanuel & Gav McCall featuring Katherine Ellis / "Gotta Get Thru" / Born to Dance Records (Vocalist/Writer)
*2008 Tim Belcher & Katherine Ellis / "Stiletto Strutt" / Forthcoming on Cosmonote Blue Records (Vocalist/Writer)
*2008 Freemasons
Freemasonry or Masonry refers to fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 13th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities ...
featuring Katherine Ellis / "When You Touch Me" / Loaded Records
Loaded Records was a British dance record label, formed in 1990 by Tim Jeffery and JC Reid. It launched artists like Pizzaman, Slacker and Wildchild. More recently, it released albums by Super Collider (featuring Jamie Lidell) and singles by ...
(Vocalist/Writer) UK No. 30
*2009 Ruff Driverz presents Arrola / "Dreaming 2009" / Maelstrom (Vocalist/Writer)
*2009 Lee Coombs featuring Katherine Ellis / "Control" / Light & Dark (Album) Lot49 (Vocalist/Writer)
*2009 Lee Coombs featuring Katherine Ellis / "You Make Me Crazy" / Light & Dark (Album) Lot49 (Vocalist/Writer)
*2009 Solitaire and Katherine Ellis / "You're Mine" / Mukik K Records (Vocalist/Writer)
*2009 Soulshaker and Katherine Ellis / "Time 2 Play" / Audiofreaks (Vocalist/Writer)
*2010 Mr D.Y.F and Katherine Ellis / "All Day Lover" (Vocalist/Writer)
*2010 Katherine Ellis and 3DR Mafia / "Little Bit of Love" (Vocalist/Writer)
*2010 Alex Nocera & Katherine Ellis / "Living for the Sundown" / Net's Work International (Vocalist/Writer)
*2010 Regi & Katherine Ellis / "High on Your Love" / Registrated 2 (Album) Mostiko (Vocalist/Writer)
*2010 Juan Kidd & Felix Baumgartner vs Katherine Ellis / "All You Need" Subliminal Records (Vocalist/Writer)
*2011 Katherine Ellis & Addict DJs / "I'm Coming Out" / Ambassade/Pool e Music (Vocalist/Writer)
*2011 Katherine Ellis & The Studiopunks / "Feed the Fire" / Vendetta Records/Blanco Y Negro
Blanco y Negro Records (Spanish: "White and Black"), a subsidiary of WEA Records Ltd., was established in 1983 by Geoff Travis of Rough Trade Records and Mike Alway of él Records. Michel Duval of Les Disques du Crépuscule was also involved ...
(Vocalist/Writer)
*2011 Samuel Sartini featuring Katherine Ellis / "Jumping" / Do It Yourself Records (Vocalist/Co-Writer)
*2011 Katherine Ellis vs Craig C and Xtra Agenda / "Somebody Close" / Nine Records (Vocalist/Writer)
*2011 Elektrik Disko & Katherine Ellis / "Nothin' but luv" / Club Luxury Records (Vocalist/Writer)
*2012 Mr DYF & Katherine Ellis / "All day lover" / Starlight Records (Vocalist/Writer)
*2012 Raven Maize
David Russell Lee (born 18 June 1964) is an English DJ and house music producer, formerly known by the stage name Joey Negro, which he retired in July 2020 following the George Floyd protests. He has released music under a variety of pseudo ...
/ "Fascinated (Alex Kenji Remixes)" / Z Records
Z (or z) is the 26th and last letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its usual names in English are ''zed'' () and ''zee'' (), with an occasi ...
(Vocalist/Writer)
*2012 Steve Forest & Katherine Ellis / The real thing / Sound of Pirates (Vocalist/Writer)
*2012 Steven Lee & Granite starring Katherine Ellis / "Siempre Tu" / Launch Entertainment LLC (Vocalist/Writer)
*2012 Paul Morrell & Katherine Ellis / "That ain't the way (to show me love)" / Whore House Records (Vocalist/Writer)
*2012 Paul Morrell & Katherine Ellis featuring Dan W / "No trouble" / Big in Ibiza (Vocalist/Writer)
*2012 Bimbo Jones / "And I try (Bisbetic & Lee Dagger Remix)" / Tommy Boy Records (Vocalist/Writer)
*2013 Freemasons
Freemasonry or Masonry refers to fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 13th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities ...
featuring Katherine Ellis / "Tears" / Freemaison (Vocalist/Writer)
*2013 Katherine Ellis vs Hugo Kalfon and Rio dela Duna / "Are U out there?" / S2G Productions (Vocalist/Writer)
*2014 Andrea Martini & Katherine Ellis / "Set free" / Emotive Sounds (Vocalist/Writer)
*2014 ATFC featuring Katherine Ellis / "Fakerman" / Conkrete (Vocalist/Writer)
*2014 Pegasus featuring Katherine Ellis / "Cold Light of Day" (Album Track) Freemaison (Vocalist/Writer)
*2014 Jetlag Live! & Katherine Ellis / "Your love" / One Million Records (Vocalist/Writer)
*2015 My Digital Enemy & Katherine Ellis / "Live Again" / One Love (Vocalist/Writer)
*2015 The Peverell Brothers, Vigo Qinan & Katherine Ellis / "You wanna see me (Jon Fitz Tribute)" / Jango Music (Vocalist/Writer)
*2016 Cat Deejane & Katherine Ellis / "Take Me Over (I Found Love)" / Lickin' Records (Vocalist/Writer)
*2016 Guy Scheiman & Katherine Ellis / "The One I Can't Forget" / Guy Scheiman Records (Writer/Vocalist)
*2016 Astero & Katherine Ellis / "Forbidden Lover" / Global Dance (Writer/Vocalist)
*2016 Lee Coombs presents Katherine Ellis and Phazon / "Experiments E.P - I Believe" / Freakin909 (Vocalist/Writer)
*2017 Lee Coombs presents Katherine Ellis and Phazon / "My Acid Soul" / Freakin303 (Vocalist/Writer)
*2017 Paul Morrell featuring Katherine Ellis / "Keep on lovin' me" / Somn'thing Records (Vocalist/Writer)
*2017 Samuel Sartini & Katherine Ellis / "I Need U" / Armada (Vocalist/Writer)
*2018 Kayligs x Katherine Ellis / "I'm yours" / Jango Music (Vocalist/Writer)
*2019 Katherine Ellis & Testone / "Perfect" / Swishcraft Music (Vocalist/Writer)
*2019 Sweet LA & Katherine Ellis / "I Gotta Know" / Somn'thing Records (Vocalist/Writer)
Writing Credits
*2001 M&S Presents the Girl Next Door / " Salsoul Nugget (If U Wanna)" (Writer) UK No. 6
*2003 4Tune 500 / "Dancing in the Dark" / Black Gold (Writer)
*2017 Charlie Hides / "Don't Call Us" / Charlie Hides Records (Co-Written by Katherine Ellis, Charlie Hides & La Rox)
*2017 Charlie Hides / "Bitch Thin" / Charlie Hides Records (Co-Written by Katherine Ellis, Charlie Hides & La Rox)
*2017 Charlie Hides / "Rain On The Dame" / Charlie Hides Records (Co-Written by Katherine Ellis, Charlie Hides & La Rox)
Notes
References
External links
Katherine Ellis
Official website
Official Facebook Page
Katherine Ellis
on Discogs
Bimbo Jones
the Official Website
Katherine Ellis Interview on DJ Ron's Dance Music Blog 2007
on About.com
Katherine Ellis Artist Interview on DJ Ron's Dance Music Blog
on About.com
Countparis & Katherine Ellis – Poza Review
by www.ibeats.co.uk
Katherine Ellis Plush da Funk Interview May 2007
on dontstayin.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ellis, Katherine
1965 births
English dance musicians
Place of birth missing (living people)
English house musicians
English women singers
Living people