Alto and mezzo-soprano who studied piano at Chicago’s American Conservatory of Music and graduated from DePauw University in 1955. It was during her time in Chicago she would see her future husband, jazz pianist George Shearing, in concert, although they would not meet until years later.
Ellie took her degree and parlayed it into a teaching career in East Grand Rapids, as well as commercial work and summer-stock theatre in New York. Eventually, she made the great egress to L.A., where she continued to teach in the ghetto.
In 1971, she and George met each other at a party and started dating shortly thereafter. By 1975, they were married. Ellie temporarily eschewed her life as a backing vocalist to tour with George, switching effortlessly from classical to jazz. They moved back to New York in 1978 and a year later, Ellie returned to the recording studio to perform on Frank Sinatra’s boxed set, Trilogy.
Other artists and groups she has worked with include Leonard Bernstein, Erich Leinsdorf, Lorin Maazel, Zubin Mehta, the New York Choral Artists, the New York Philharmonic, and the Norman Luboff Choir. You can also hear her performing on the soundtracks of Finian’s Rainbow, Hello, Dolly!, and Star.
Frank Sinatra recordings
That’s What God Looks Like To Me (Stan Irvin/Lan O’Kun)
Reprise RPS 49233 (XNY2101S) (US 45)
Theme from “New York, New York” (Fred Ebb/John Kander)
Reprise RPS49233 (XNY 2103 S) (US 45)
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