Ellis attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Ft. Lauderdale where he was in his first professional band. The Back Alley Band 1967 – 1971. Ellis graduated High School in 71’ and attended Florida A & M University from 1971 – 1975. While at FAMU he was a member of the Famous Marching “100” also while in college he was a member of the Nat Adderly Band for the summer of 73’. He played the Miss Black Florida Pageant. When he finished college he taught school for two years. Ellis taught music at a Special Education School. In 1977 he joined the Latitude Band, one of South Florida’s top bands.

During that time they backed up such artists as: Betty Wright, Regina Bell, Joey Gilmore and Jimmie Bo Horne. In 1979, he drummed behind several Artists: George McCrae, Ben E. King, Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose.

In 1980, he joined K.C. and the Sunshine Band. We toured around the World: Japan, Germany, England, South Africa, Australia, Hawaii, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and all over the United States.