Special to the Times Vedette
Chad Elliott was inducted into the Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame on Sunday, Aug. 31 during a ceremony held at the Sami Center in Okoboji.
“It felt so good to be in a room that celebrated everything I’ve worked for in my career,” Elliott said.
Following the induction, Elliott performed on stage with the Class of 2025 as part of the Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame Induction Concert held at the Roof Garden in Arnolds Park.
“It is quite an honor to have my name mentioned among such great artists who have inspired me for years,” Elliott said.
Iowa songwriter Chad Elliott blends folk roots, rock, swampy blues and soulful writing to deliver music that is unmistakably original. His live performances have been honed by more than 25 years on the road performing nationwide. He has penned more than 2,000 songs in his career and released 26 albums.
“It seems crazy that so many years and miles have passed since I began. I have always pushed myself to become a better writer and performer. I love what I do. I think that is why it feels like it was just yesterday that I was putting a pen to the page and plucking out my first song,” Elliott said.
Elliott has worked with many of the best musicians and shared the stage with artists of the highest caliber in many genres, including Jimmie Vaughan, Survivor, Counting Crows, Eric Church, Lonestar, Odetta, Tom Paxton, Loudon Wainwright III, R.L. Burnside, Greg Brown, Ruthie Foster, Verlon Thompson, Bo Ramsey and Mary Gauthier.
“I have learned from the best throughout the years. I have watched how my favorite artists carried themselves on and off the stage. Every artist, eventually, learns what kind of performer they want to be. I’ve been fortunate to have crossed paths with some phenomenal teachers,” Elliott said.
Through the years, Elliott has been influenced by many genres of music. This passion is reflected in his diverse recording projects. Elliott released his 22nd album, “Rest Heavy: The Sun Studio Sessions,” in 2018.
“This album just oozes soul, truth, and seems rather timeless as it could have been recorded almost any time in the last 56 years,” wrote Jim Hynes of Elmore Magazine about the “Rest Heavy” album.
Elliott said, “There is an energy in these historic studios and performance halls. At Sun Studio, you can almost hear the iconic music whisper in the walls. I was on cloud nine to be making music with my friends in such a magical place so rich with Rock ‘n Roll history.”
With Rest Heavy, Elliott shows his love of roots-rock, soul and blues music with a rocking band behind his artfully crafted songs and gravelly delivery. Elliott, performing on acoustic guitar and harmonica, is joined by his full band, The Redemptions, including Tommy Lewis, Travis McFarlane, Kevin Boehnke, Joseph Cafaro, and Jim Van Dorn. The self-produced album was recorded at the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis, TN by Ples Hampton. Hampton said, “It was honestly one of the best sessions I’ve ever had up here. This is gold.” The album earned The Redemptions a spot in the Sun Studio Sessions documentary featured nationwide on PBS during the recording of their next album, “King Pelican,” in 2019.
“When we finished our first album, ‘Rest Heavy,’ at Sun Studio, the studio manager mentioned that he ‘didn’t know music like that was being made up in Iowa.’ We all laughed because we knew Iowa was rich with its own musical history. All of the musical influences in our home state create its own unique sound mixed with blues, rock, country and roots music. I feel like my music is as ‘Iowa’ as can be,” Elliott said.
Chad Elliott released his 25th album, “Singing River,” on May 17, 2021. He traveled to Muscle Shoals, Alabama, with famed Iowa musician and producer Bo Ramsey to lay the tracks. Singing River was recorded at FAME Recording Studios, where music legends Etta James, Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin and many others laid renowned songs into the fabric of time. Ramsey, who produced “Singing River,” lent his signature sound on guitar. He was joined by two original Muscle Shoals “Swampers,” Spooner Oldham and David Hood. The new Americana/roots/blues mix that arose in “Singing River” is exactly the sound Elliott was hoping to create.
“The album I made in Muscle Shoals was a dream come true. I made it a personal goal to bring the Iowa sound and mix it with the ‘Swamper’ sound of Muscle Shoals. I just knew it would be a perfect blend for the production of my songwriting. Bo Ramsey has helped create the electrified roots sound of Iowa music through his producing and guitar work. He and I went down to that amazing room filled with so much history and made one of my favorite albums together. I’m very proud of the music on that album. Everyone knocked it out of the park,” Elliott said.
With 26 albums under his belt, Elliott’s writing is highly respected among his peers and fellow songwriters. His songs have won multiple awards such as the Woody Guthrie Song Contest, the Kerrville NewFolk contest, third place in the International Songwriting Competition and an International Blues Challenge semi-finalist, among others. Now, he can add Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Class of 2025 to his list of achievements.
“I am very honored and proud to be an Iowa musician. To have that recognized by the Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame is very humbling. Somedays, I feel like I’m still just getting started on this path. This induction has caused me to stop and reflect on what an amazing ride my musical path has been,” Elliott said.
Elliott is a full-time musician to this day. He tours solo and with a duo called Weary Ramblers. Plus, he operates Elliott Art Studio in Jefferson where he creates and sells art.
“This career has taught me so much about myself. Touring and performing does that. It exposes your weaknesses and, more importantly, your strengths. It’s a continuous grind of loading gear, driving hundreds of miles, only to load your gear back up and drive home again with ears ringing. Along the way, you may get lucky and catch a new song which compels you to do it all over again. As exhausting as this process can be after nearly thirty years, I still feel like I have a lot of gas in my tank,” Elliott said.
To learn more about Chad Elliott, visit www.chadelliott.net.
Awards and Honors
- 2025 Inducted into the Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame
- 2020 Kerrville New Folk – Finalist
- 2018 Kerrville New Folk – Finalist
- 2015 LEAF Newsong Finalist
- 2015 Unsigned Only Competition – Semi-Finalist – Americana
- 2015 Folk Alliance International – Official Showcase
- 2014 Newsong Contest – Midwest Finalist
- 2013 Top 25 Albums on brokenjukebox.com – So Sang the Crow
- 2013 Iowa Blues Challenge – Winner Solo/Duo
- 2013 Rising Star – Finalist
- 2012 Show Me the Music Song Contest – Finalist – Americana
- 2012 Int. Folk Alliance Conference – Official Showcase Artist
- 2011 Iowa Motion Picture Awards – Best Original Music Score
- 2011 Mixies Award – “Most Creative Tour” – One Horse Town Tour
- 2009 International Songwriting Contest – 3rd Place Winner – Americana
- 2009 Woody Guthrie Song Contest – 1st Place Winner
- 2008 Kerrville New Folk – Finalist
- 2006 Folkalley.com’s – Open Mic Winner
- 2006 Just Plain Folks – Top 20 New Folk Songs
Discography
- 2024 – “Untested Wings”
- 2021 – “Singing River”
- 2020 – “Tangle with the Ghost”
- 2019 – “King Pelican”
- 2018 – “Rest Heavy”
- 2017 – “RINGGOLD”
- 2015 – “Wreck and Ruin”
- 2013 – “So Sang the Crow”
- 2010 – “The Den Sessions – 10 Volume Set”
- 2009 – “Redemption Man”
- 2008 – “Swiftsure”
- 2006 – “Humbled At My Door”
- 2004 – “Bowl of Stars”
- 2004 – “Starling Songs”
- 2003 – “(homemade) Bowl of Stars”
- 2001 – “New Young Destination”
- 1999 – “Greener Grass – One Man’s Junk”