Dennis Elliott
Encyclopedia
Dennis Leslie Eliott is most famous as the drummer
who played for Foreigner
from 1976 to 1992. In later years he became a professional sculptor
.
Elliott became a professional musician
at sixteen, and joined the Shevells two years later the band, Ferris Wheel
. He joined the British
jazz
-rock
group
, IF
, appearing on their first five studio
album
s and a live
recording
.
Elliott met his wife, Iona in the United States
, but married
her in London in 1972. By 1975, he had become a U.S.
resident and played on Ian Hunter
's first solo recording, Ian Hunter
.
In 1976, he joined and became the original drummer with Foreigner.
After leaving the music industry behind, Elliott turned towards sculpture
, working primarily with the medium of wood
. Self taught, his focus and major concentration has been on large burlwood vessels and wall sculptures, plus sculpted wall mirrors and orbital sculptures.
Elliott became a U.S. citizen
in 1993.
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
who played for Foreigner
Foreigner (band)
Foreigner is a British-American rock band, originally formed in 1976 by veteran English musicians Mick Jones and ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald along with American vocalist Lou Gramm...
from 1976 to 1992. In later years he became a professional sculptor
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
.
Life and careers
Dennis Elliott played the drums with his family band at age 5 doing shows around London. As a teenager, he joined The Tea Set with his older brother Raymond who sang & played trumpet.Elliott became a professional musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
at sixteen, and joined the Shevells two years later the band, Ferris Wheel
The Ferris Wheel (band)
The Ferris Wheel were a British rock and soul band, who have been described as "one of England's great lost musical treasures of the mid- to late '60s" and as "one of the most popular club acts" of the time. They released two albums, Can't Break the Habit in 1967 and Ferris Wheel in 1970, the...
. He joined the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
-rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
group
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
, IF
If (band)
If was a progressive rock band formed in Britain in 1969.Referred to by Billboard as "unquestionably the best of the so-called jazz-rock bands", in the period spanning 1970-1975, they produced 8 studio-recorded albums and did some 17 tours of Europe, the US and Canada.-History:They toured...
, appearing on their first five studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s and a live
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
recording
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
.
Elliott met his wife, Iona in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, but married
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
her in London in 1972. By 1975, he had become a U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
resident and played on Ian Hunter
Ian Hunter (singer)
Ian Hunter Patterson is an English singer-songwriter. He was the lead singer of the English rock band Mott the Hoople from its inception in 1969 to its dissolution in 1974, and he again fronted them at the time of their 2009 reunion. Hunter was a musician and songwriter before Mott The Hoople, and...
's first solo recording, Ian Hunter
Ian Hunter (album)
Ian Hunter is the first solo album by Ian Hunter, recorded following his departure from Mott the Hoople. It's also the first of many solo albums on which he collaborates with Mick Ronson....
.
In 1976, he joined and became the original drummer with Foreigner.
After leaving the music industry behind, Elliott turned towards sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
, working primarily with the medium of wood
Wood
Wood is a hard, fibrous tissue found in many trees. It has been used for hundreds of thousands of years for both fuel and as a construction material. It is an organic material, a natural composite of cellulose fibers embedded in a matrix of lignin which resists compression...
. Self taught, his focus and major concentration has been on large burlwood vessels and wall sculptures, plus sculpted wall mirrors and orbital sculptures.
Elliott became a U.S. citizen
Citizenship
Citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
in 1993.
IF
- If (1970)
- If 2If 2If 2 is the second release by the English Jazz rock band If. It was released as a vinyl LP in 1970 and re-issued as a CD in 2006 on Repertoire Records with liner notes by UK music critic Chris Welch....
(1970) - If 3If 3If 3 is the third release by the English jazz rock band If. It was released in 1971 and reached #171 on the Billboard Pop Albums Chart.The track "Forgotten Roads" featured on the band's live appearance on German TV's Beat-Club in September 1971....
(1971) - If 4If 4If 4 is the fourth album released by the English jazz rock band If. It was first issued in 1972 and the last album to feature the original recording line-up.-Side one:# "Sector 17" – 10:34# "The Light Still Shines" – 5:06...
(1972) - WaterfallWaterfall (album)Waterfall is the fifth album released by the English jazz rock band If. It was first issued in 1972 and reached #195 on the Billboard Pop Albums Chart...
(1972) - Forgotten Roads: The Best of IFForgotten Roads: The Best of IFForgotten Roads: The Best of IF was British jazz-rock group If's first compilation album, released on CD twenty years after the band's dissolution in 1975. The tracks and line-up were from the first three If albums...
(1995) - Europe '72 (Live)Europe '72 (Live)Europe '72 , released in 1997, is a compilation album of live performances by British jazz-rock group If. It features material from their first four LPs that was recorded live on tour and before studio audiences...
(released 1997)
Foreigner
- Foreigner (1977)
- Double Vision (1978)
- Head GamesHead GamesHead Games is the third studio album by Anglo American rock band Foreigner, released in 1979. The album charted at #5 on the Billboard 200 chart, and has sold over five million copies in the US alone. It is perhaps as famous for its album cover, depicting a worried young woman in a men's...
(1979) - 44 (Foreigner album)-Foreigner:*Lou Gramm – Lead vocal, percussion*Mick Jones – guitar, keyboards, background vocal*Rick Wills – bass, background vocal*Dennis Elliott – drums, vocals, background vocal-Additional personnel:...
(1981) - RecordsRecords (album)Records is a compilation album by American rock band Foreigner, released in 1982 to span the band's first four albums through 1981. Some notable hits are omitted, namely Blue Morning Blue Day.-Track listing:...
(1982) - Agent Provocateur (1984)
- Inside InformationInside InformationInside Information is the sixth studio album by American rock band Foreigner, released in 1987. The album hit #15 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart and was certified Platinum in the U.S. for sales exceeding one million copies....
(1987) - Unusual HeatUnusual HeatUnusual Heat is the seventh studio album by American rock band Foreigner, released in 1991. By now original frontman Lou Gramm had parted company with the band and had been replaced by original Wild Horses singer Johnny Edwards...
(1991)