#2: Ellen Gomez
Holiday Special from the Heartland.
Ellen Gomez is a multi-instrumentalist who plays traditional old-time dance music and other genres in various bands. She retired after careers as an art teacher and news video editor.
Age: 72
Zodiac: Cancer
Home: St. Louis, MO
Listen: “Basho’s Waltz” from her album the company of angels (Spotify ; Apple Music)
Check out Ellen’s HDB Playlist:
One song you can’t stop listening to right now:
Gospel Plough on Robert Plant’s newest album, Saving Grace. And I love to listen to and play traditional old-time music
First concert you attended:
Cream at Kiel Opera House in St. Louis- April, 1968
I want to mention that I grew up in the 60’s, an era with amazing bands, and tickets were affordable. We saw many of the greats: Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, The Band with Bob Dylan, Blind Faith and many more!
(If you know someone with a legendary concert résumé like Ellen’s, please send them my way)
Clipping from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Cream @ Kiel Opera House, Sunday April 28 1968 (Ellen was front row!)
Genre that has unexpectedly grown on you:
Jazz Standards
One album or DJ mix that you think everyone should listen to:
If your personality were an artist or band, who would it be?:
Your pick for most underrated artist:
Television or Big Star
Check out this cover of Big Star’s “Thirteen” featuring Ellen’s niece, Casey.
Go-to karaoke song:
I don’t really do karaoke. I prefer to sing with instruments and other people.
Who in your life has shaped your musical taste the most?:
My father, Cesar Gomez. He found a broken-down pump organ by the side of the road when he served in the Korean War.
He repaired it and taught himself how to play jazz standards. I grew up listening to him play and sing them, and just in the last few years I have started playing them on violin.
I made a playlist for our readers based on your answers. Give them one more bonus track:
Admin note
Every week I’ll pick a song to add to our guest’s playlist. My pick for Ellen:
Ain’t No Use in Tryin’- Trampled by Turtles
Happy Holidays!
lovely reading about Ellen and would love to jam with her sometime love her fiddle playing 🍀🎶