Simon Peter Ellis is an English songwriter, producer, musician and musical director who has worked with many artists including the Spice Girls, Britney Spears, Westlife, S Club 7, East 17, and music mogul Simon Fuller.[1] Ellis co-wrote and produced the chart topping S Club 7 hits "Two in a Million", "Never Had a Dream Come True" and "Don't Stop Movin'", the latter winning ITV record of the year award in 2001[2] and "Best British Single" at the Brit Award 2002.[3]
Simon Ellis | |
|---|---|
 Simon Ellis in 2008 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Simon Peter Ellis |
| Born | Bradford, England |
| Genres | Pop, synthpop |
| Occupation(s) | Songwriter, record producer, musician, musical director |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Website | simonellismusic |
Career
editEarly career
editIn 1988, Ellis co-formed the band Ellis, Beggs & Howard consisting of himself, Nick Beggs and Austin Howard. Their first single, "Big Bubbles, No Troubles" reached number 41 in the UK charts..[4] The band split c. 1990 during the sessions for a second album.[citation needed]
In 1994, Ellis took up his first musical director job with the band D:Ream[citation needed]. He toured with them for a couple of years until he then went on to join East 17 as part of their live band on promotional tours.[citation needed]
19 Entertainment
editIn 1997, Ellis got his major break as a musician when was head hunted by Simon Fuller, for the then new project, the Spice Girls. Fuller brought Ellis into the world of 19 Entertainment and gave him the job as the girls musical director[citation needed]. Ellis went on to securing a publishing deal from Fuller, where he wrote and produced chart topping records for a variety of artists. As of 2023, Ellis continues to work with Fuller at the rebranded XIX Entertainment.[citation needed]
Spice Girls
editEllis made TV appearances with the girls, and was the mastermind behind all of their concerts and world tours through to 2019.[citation needed] Due to commitments with the group Westlife in the summer of 2019, Ellis did not musically direct the Spice World – 2019 Tour.[citation needed]
S Club 7
editThe producer has worked with English group S Club 7, dating back to the late 1990s. He co-wrote and produced three top five UK singles with the band, including two number ones.[5] He has toured with the group on all of their live concert tours as the musical director.[citation needed]
Britney Spears
editDuring 2009, Ellis was appointed the role of Musical Director for Britney Spears's The Circus Starring Britney Spears, consequently leading on to 2011 when he once again was asked to MD for Spears' Femme Fatale Tour.[6]
Westlife
editIn 2019, Ellis reunited with Westlife, whom he worked with on two of their past concert tours − Where We Are Tour (2010) and Gravity Tour (2011), and was appointed the musical director for their comeback 2019 The Twenty Tour.[citation needed] This continued into 2020 for which Ellis was their MD and keyboard player for the Stadiums in the Summer Tour.[citation needed]
Personal life
editBorn in Bradford, West Yorkshire, Ellis lived with his mother and brother in his early years. Growing up he attended Swain House School followed by Hanson School, before then going on to study at Bradford Art School and Preston Art School where he graduated with a BA Honours in Graphic Design.[citation needed]
Ellis now resides in Hebden Bridge.[7]
Concert tours
editEllis has been involved as the musical director, mixer and/or keyboard player in the following concert tours, gigs and TV appearances:
Britney Spears
edit- The Circus Starring Britney Spears (2009)
- Femme Fatale (2011)
Emma Bunton
editSpice Girls
edit- Girl Power! Live in Istanbul (1997)
- Spiceworld (1998)
- Christmas in Spiceworld (1999)
- The Return of The Spice Girls (2007–08)
- London Olympics Closing Ceremony (2012)
S Club 7
edit- S Club Party (2001–02)
- Carnival Tour (2002)
- S Club United Tour with S Club Juniors (2003)
- Bring It All Back (2015)
- The Good Times Tour (2023)
Westlife
edit- Gravity Tour (2011)
- Greatest Hits Tour (2012)
- The Twenty Tour (2019)
- The Wild Dreams Tour (2022-23)
- The Hits Tour – North America (2024)
Awards and nominations
editITV Record of the Year
edit| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | "Don't Stop Movin'" | The Record of the Year | Won |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | "Don't Stop Movin'" | Best British Single – Writer & Producer | Won |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | "Never Had a Dream Come True" | Best Song Musically and Lyrically | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ "News | Simon Ellis Music". Simon Ellis | Producer, Songwriter & Music Director. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
- ^ "Simon Ellis S Club Interview". 8 December 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
- ^ "History". BRIT Awards. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ^ "Austin Howard". UK Vibe. 29 July 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ "Simon Ellis is a Producer based in London, United Kingdom". StarNow. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ^ Artist Relations (14 May 2009), Simon Ellis musical director for Britney Spears Circus Tour on Nord, archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 19 August 2018
- ^ "How the Hebden Bridge community is coming together to bring a 700-year-old mill back to life as an arts venue". Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ "Brit Awards 2002 Winners". BBC News | Brit Awards 2002. 20 February 2002.
- ^ "Ivor Novello Awards 2001". Ivor Novello Awards 2001. 29 July 2018.