Trace Ellington, a younger branch of the Ellington (Duke) dynasty, breathes life into the soul of music, resurrecting sounds comparable to Sly and The Family Stone, Curtis Mayfield, and Jimi Hendrix.
As a branch of the Ellington family tree, Trace is blessed with a diverse heritage that serves as a strong foundation for his music. His multi-talents as a singer, songwriter, and producer only enhances his unique compilations. In addition, Trace’s commanding stage presence is supported by his mastery of various instruments including keyboard, drum, guitar and bass.
In California, Trace ran into MC Hammer’s manager and Adrian Gregory (producer of Digital Underground, JJ Fad, World Class Wrecking Crew (with Dr. Dre), which gave Trace another opportunity to break into the music industry. Prior to this, Trace was producing Dangerous Dame (Bay Area Hit “I Call Your Name”). Trace recorded Tupac’s early recordings and also the Sex Packet album of Digital Underground.
Trace started his own record company, Mood Indigo Records (now Mood Indigo Recordings, Inc.), in 1988. He worked with artists such as Too Short, the Hughes Brothers, Ritchie Rich, Dru Down, Rappin Forte. Trace’s company was an entertainment complex offering multiple services, production, housing, and rehearsal space.
At 30, Trace worked with artists from the group, Chicago, rap group, Crucial Conflict, Death Row, Danny Boy, doing production and shooting music videos. While in Chicago, Trace worked with Dennis Rodman, singing in his club. Trace founded Mood Café, which originally started as a recording studio, but his vision blossomed to opening the ‘hot spot’ coffee shop, a Chicago-known showcase for artists and creatives.
Trace later moved to Los Angeles, California, working with Jamie Foxx, artists on the dirty south Universal label, Aaron Carter (NSync), Suga T (E-40’s sister), and Larry Dunn (Earth, Wing & Fire). Trace took time to re-focus and work on himself, taking a spiritual journey and ended up completing his album “Let Love In”. The current single, Let Love In, is playing in the UK on the Soul Brothers label. Trace is currently performing at various venues in the Bay Area, soon to expand to Southern California, Seattle, Chicago and Washington, DC. He is also producing local Bay Area talent.
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