The veteran composer and guitarist will give a concert on Saturday, July 18, at 7:30 PM on the main stage at Playa de San Agustín.

Ellison, born in Montgomery (Alabama) in 1941, is the author of the soul and rhythm & blues classic "Some kind of wonderful", composed in 1967 and covered by numerous artists. His career spans over six decades in African-American music.

After being part of Soul Brothers Five (later Soul Brothers Six) as guitarist, singer, and main songwriter in his youth, Ellison released his first solo album, "Welcome Back", in 1993. This was followed by "Missing You" (2000), "Back" (2008), and "Up for funk" (2013). In 2015, he was inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame.

In subsequent years, he released "Wake-up call (black like me)", nominated for Song of the Year at the 2021 Pop Awards, and in 2023, he re-recorded his classic "Some kind of wonderful" for an album featuring eleven new songs. His track "Let's get this party started" was nominated for Best Funk of 2024.

Ellison's inclusion strengthens the festival's international profile and its commitment to bringing together reference artists in a unique seaside setting.

The Maspalomas Costa Canaria Soul Festival, organized by the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council and produced by DD&Company Producciones, is a free soul event of significant scale in Spain and Europe.