Dolan Ellis, Arizona's Official State Balladeer - Montage of his Original Arizona Songs
These are just a few of the 300+ songs written by Dolan Ellis about the state he adopted as his own, as soon as he arrived from Kansas in 1959. Actually, even as a little boy, he felt like an Arizonan.
The Balladeership is a governor-appointed position. Now he has been appointed by 11 consecutive governors, beginning in February 1966 with Governor Sam Goddard. Goddard created the title in recognition fo Dolan's efforts, thus Dolan was Arizona's first official balladeer. Arizona was also the first state to name an official balladeer.
Dolan was an original member of The New Christy Minstrels(R), and is now touring with them again nationally, along with the leader, Randy Sparks, and three other originals (Jackie Miller Davidson, Art Podell, and Clarence Treat).
With the Christies, Dolan earned a gold record, appeared on the Andy Williams TV Show weekly for an entire season, played the prestigious halls such as Carnegie Hall, The Greek, and The Latin Quarter. In fact, the Christies were featured in Life Magazine in 1963, along with the beautiful and scantily-clad show girls. The photo was a 2-page spread, with a nice story to match.
The Christies won the Grammy for Best Group in 1963.
One of Dolan's proudest achievements is the founding of the Arizona Folklore Preserve, where the video in this montage was taken over a period of several years. Dolan remains as artist-in-residence and performs there (SE Arizona, in Ramsey Canyon just south of Sierra Vista and about 75 miles SE of Tucson) on weekend each month. He also serves on the Board of Directors, which, along with the University of Arizona South, now operates the AFP. The UAS owns the fabulous property and the beautiful Folklore Center.
Some of Dolan's other major awards: He was the first person to be named as an Arizona Culture Keeper (2003) and is a member of the Arizona Tourism Hall of Fame. In 1996, Senator John McCain cited Dolan and his music in the Congressional Record.
As him about his proudest accomplishment, and he will be quick to say that it's being known as Arizona's Official State Balladeer.
This video consists of video clips from:
Arizona, Through and Through (starts and ends the video)
I'm Home (a new favorite, home is Camping on the Mogollon Rim
The Bombing of Naco, Arizona (a true story, funny because damage was minimal)
Arizona, Home to Me
Wildfire (a tribute to firefighters everywhere, inspired by the devastating Rodeo-Chediski Fire of 2002)
Therapeutic 4-Wheel Drive (Dolan stopped counting Jeep miles about 20 years ago, at 1 million)
Several of the videos feature Dolan's large-screen photography. He always presents these photos at the Arizona Folklore Preserve, and they are an option at other venues. Ask about that when you book him (email to booking@dolanellis.net)
Dolan's Web site is
Wildfire in Ramsey Canyon
This fire, at least one acre in size, was reported Sunday, May 17, 2009, in Ramsey Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains.