New Soul For A New Age

In an age of soulless machines making music and auto-tuned singers who’ve abandoned the old-school concept of soul, the music world at times seems to cry out for something new, while also seeking the bold return of something old. 

What it needs is an artist who combines a mastery of today’s music-making technology with a gritty sense of soul that often gets smothered by the use of machines, samples and slick production. In other words, the music world needs Savoy Ellis. 

From singing soul to producing it

From his family, Savoy inherited a deep background in jazz, gospel and soul music. His mother played piano, while singing in the church choir, and his father, also a vocalist, briefly pursued a career as a recording artist before later becoming a music executive. In addition, Savoy’s musically gifted uncles boasted resumes that included some of the biggest jazz acts of the 50s. With this family pedigree, it was only a matter of time before music would find its way into his heart.

Not surprisingly, his early introduction to music came through the church. Even before birth, the impact on young Savoy could be felt. While attending church and enjoying her husband’s performance in a gospel play, his pregnant mother, according to family lore, felt the throbbing kicks of the family’s latest addition. Years later, Savoy would laugh that he’d “kick so hard they had to take her out of the church away from the music.”

Both mother and son would be back. By age four he’d become an experienced gospel vocalist, accompanying his father as he practiced is their living room. He soon expanded his taste in genres after hearing the Beatles song ‘I want to Hold Your Hand’ which became an early favorite.

After a brief period of ‘stepping away’ from music to indulge in basketball, he’d return once again to music after hearing a mystery song that sparked his curiosity, creativity and imagination in a way he never before thought possible. He later learned the song was ‘Dreaming about You’ by the Blackbyrds. Its rich, evocative dreamscape laid the foundations for Savoy’s desire to create music. 

From there, the path to a career as a soulful music producer was unshakable — but not without its detours. At 16, After viewing a Ken Burns documentary, he decided that the jazz life was for him. But intentionally flunking all classes wasn’t the wisest idea — especially if it meant getting kicked off the track team. Thankfully, brighter ideas prevailed and so did Savoy. 

After graduating from Hampton University and later shifting focus from vocals to production, Savoy’s determination seems to have intensified and matured since his days of dreaming of a career as a renegade jazz star. Today he’s come to understand himself as a ‘hands on’ producer who loves to get into the studio with someone to vibe. He insists that what makes a good session is “being there with someone who understands your vision and is excited to be a part of it.”

Savoy’s Fate

Fate is a word defined as the development of events beyond a person’s control, determined by otherworldly forces, destined to be. 

It’s also the name of a Savoy Ellis track that musically and thematically best sums up his skill and finesse as a music producer. The song lures us in with a hypnotic drum beat then maintains the spell with a gentle wash of orchestration. The vocals by Kafeeno detail the process of capturing a special moment before it slips away, ‘cause only one second can make a difference in our fate.’

Soulful to the core, ‘Fate’ is a song that could have only been produced by someone who’s studied from the masters. Marvin Gaye would approve. So would Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin. 

In an age of soulless machines making music and auto-tuned singers who’ve abandoned the old-school sense of soul, Savoy Ellis might just be what the music world needs. You might say it’s his fate, destined to be.