Expats
Glitzy singer brings bling to Beijing
By Todd Balazovic (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-02-08 10:36
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 American singer Avis Ellis presents her song for an audience at Shangri-La's Kerry Center. Feng Yongbin |
Stepping onstage adorning a glittering golden gown, American singer Avis Ellis commands the attention of the thick crowd of expats and Chinese at Beijing's Centro bar as she sings a stirring serenade.
For the next two months, Beijingers will be treated to the soulful sounds of Ellis as she brings the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas lifestyles to the Shangri-La's Kerry Center Centro Bar.
The singer has spent more than 15 years performing at some of the most well-known hotels and clubs across Las Vegas, including the Hilton and the famous Venetian hotel on Vegas' main strip.
The late 30s Los Angeles native has now traveled halfway across the world to bring the same to Beijing.
"The culture here is so different; the food, it's just so different," she said, "it's incredible."
Ellis' wandering spirit and past travels earned her the title "Ambassador of Soul" back in Las Vegas. For the last few months, she has been on a diplomatic mission, bringing the sweet sounds of soul music to China.
Before arriving in Beijing, Ellis spent time in both Hangzhou and Shanghai. The differences between the cities are night and day, she says. Though Shanghai reminded her most of Las Vegas, she says her favorite location so far has been Beijing.
"Of the places I've gone in China, Shanghai reminds me most of home," she said, "but Beijing is incredible."
Beijing will be Ellis' last stop before she returns to the US.
One of the most distinguishing characteristics of the singer's presence on stage is her wardrobe. Like the lights of Las Vegas' most famous strip, she brings the not quite gaudy, grandiose get-up of Vegas as she performs with Centro's house band.
Though her sense of style sings the same tune as Vegas, Ellis said she had most of her dresses made by a tailor in China while performing in Shanghai.
The Los Angeles native says it's not her first time traveling abroad, bringing a blend of traditional American genres to foreign countries. In addition to China, she says she has traveled to France, Chile, Japan, Switzerland, and Finland.
She said the most difficult part of traveling the world is not being able to bring her two teenage daughters and husband with her when she goes.
Ellis's singing style, most influenced by soul singer Aretha Franklin, covers a variety of genres from Blues to "souled" out versions of Bluegrass songs. Her favorite song to sing, she says, is Whitney Houston's I will always love you.
Since when she was very young, Ellis says singing has been her way of life. She attributes her passion for music to her experiences of singing for her church choir in East Los Angeles when she was nine years old.
She recalls being the only one in her family to wake up on Sundays at 7 am so she could meet with a local neighborhood woman named Big Mama, who would bring all the kids to church.
Were it not for Big Mama, she says she may have never begun her singing career.
With her church she joined the Young Saints Choir, and began touring the country.
Her first big break came in 1993 when she was given a spotlight position on the popular US television show Star Search.
"I was so lucky. I broke through a lot of competition, and many singers just don't get very lucky like that," she said.
It wasn't until she began studying German and French operas at junior college that her interest was sparked in overseas travel.
Though she cannot speak either language fluently, she says she learned to sing songs in the foreign languages and is trying to do the same with mandarin.
"I'm going to learn a Chinese song before I leave, I promise," she said laughing.
In addition to this, she says she is using her stay in China to explore and better develop her jazz vocals.
"I feel great when I [sing]. Even if no one is listening, I don't even care," she said. "It's what I've been put on this earth to do."
Avis Ellis can be seen performing at the Shangri-La's Kerry Center, 1 Guanghua Road, Chaoyang district, Monday through Saturday from 8 pm to 11 pm.
