Specialty Acts
Dolan Ellis
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Dolan Ellis has been Arizona’s Official State Balladeer for 47 years, under the appointment of twelve Arizona Governors. While exploring the little known corners of this state in his specially equipped four wheel drive vehicles, and researching the legends and historical events that he writes and sings about, he has logged over a million Arizona miles on his Jeeps. He is also an expert photographer, and uses his large screen digital photography to illustrate his Arizona ballads during his show.
As an original member of the famous folk singing group, The New Christy Minstrels, Dolan has earned several gold records, as well as earning a coveted Grammy Award while with that group. Today, Dolan is currently touring nationally with the NCM, in addition to fulfilling his busy performance schedule as “The Balladeer”.
If you've ever had the chance to be entertained by Dolan Ellis, it is an unforgettable experience. This man truly loves what he does, which is to entertain while educating, leaving the listener with a sense of wonder about the Grand Canyon State. He has written and recorded over 300 songs about his experiences and Arizona.
Apple - A Tribute to the Beatles
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Beatlemania's success began in 1977 when Joe Salamone formed "The Britins" in Milwaukee WI, an extremely popular group that quickly landed a half-hour TV special. Tours for this group included the mid-west as well as many areas of Mexico. The next effort was "Bootleg" in 1980. Keeping half the group intact and joining up with two local musicians in Atlanta, GA, they played all over the southern US. After a move West in 1982, "Apple" was formed, continuing the Beatlemania shows from California to Florida, Pennsylvania to Wyoming, with huge success in the ski resorts of Colorado. The popularity of "Apple" took them beyond Vail, Keystone and Aspen to Guam, the Philippines, Japan, Korea, Okinawa, Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf.
Great attention to detail has been instilled in their re-creation of The Beatles music and voices. Fans all over the world have shown their appreciation for these shows time after time, leading the group to be asked to share the stage with notable acts including: The Temptations, The Four Tops, Rick Nelson & The Stone Canyon Band, The Drifters, The Coasters, The Guess Who, America, Three Dog Night, Paul Revere and the Raiders, and other top musical groups. In 1996 the group was asked to perform for British Airways to announce their direct flights from San Diego and Phoenix to London, and on January 8, 1997, Apple was given the honor to perform at the "Borgata" in Scottsdale with the John Lennon International Art Collection.
The Folk Collection
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In the great tradition of the folk groups of the 60s, The Folk Collection entertains with its unique blend and sound, and with a repertoire that is familiar to audiences of all ages. Tony Unger, Ed Labowitz and Mike Sirota, along with bass man Bob Packham, sing songs of the 60s and early 70s, reflecting their love of the story songs, great melodies, and three part harmonies of that acoustic era.
The Folk Collection’s shows are family friendly and can be for a multi-generational audience. Even teenagers, “dragged” to an evening with parents or grandparents, leave the show smiling and humming tunes they just heard and sang along with at the show. The group encourages audience participation, energizing the crowd with family-friendly humor and ad libs between songs.
Singing songs like “Blowin’ in the Wind,” “This Land is Your Land,” “City of New Orleans,” to John Denver classics, The Folk Collection’s shows are nostalgic and entertaining. Their shows produce standing ovations from audiences and rave reviews from presenters.