| Terry Ellis | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Terry Lynn Ellis |
| Born | September 5, 1963 [1] |
| Origin | Houston, Texas, USA |
| Genres | R&B |
| Occupations | singer |
| Instruments | vocals |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Associated acts | En Vogue |
Terry Lynn Ellis (born September 5, 1963 in Houston, Texas, U.S.)[2] is an African-American R&B singer best known for her work with the quartet En Vogue.
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Terry Lynn Ellis was born on September 5, 1963. She is the daughter of Lennie James Ellis and the former Evelyn Marie Patton.[2] Ellis graduated from Worthing High School in 1981. After receiving a degree in Marketing from Prairie View A&M University, she joined En Vogue. En Vogue was planned to be a trio (a 1990s version of The Emotions), but the producers were so impressed by her voice, they made the group a quartet. In 1995 Ellis took time during the group's hiatus to release her solo CD, Southern Gal. The CD included the moderate hits "Where Ever You Are" and "What Did I Do To You?". She also contributed a track called "Call on me" for the Soundtrack for the HBO Film "Disappearing Acts" with Wesley Snipes.
She also released her own fragrance titled "Southern Exposure".
En Vogue lost original members Dawn Robinson in 1997 and again in 2005, and Maxine Jones in 2001 (they latter replaced by Amanda Cole and then Rhona Bennett.) Maxine Jones and Dawn Robinson have since returned to the group. In 2005, Ellis was featured in the Stevie Wonder music video "So What The Fuss" with her original En Vogue group members Dawn Robinson, Maxine Jones and Cindy Herron. She also played one of Chanté Moore's friends in the Music video "Chanté's Got a Man" in 1999.
With fellow group member Cindy Herron having taken a leave from the group around 2004-2005, Terry Ellis is the only original member of En Vogue to have never left the group during any point in time.
Terry Ellis has a 5 octave vocal range which was displayed in the En Vogue song, "Don't Go". By her groupmates, Terry was credited as the member with the "Ballad" type of voice. With En Vogue, she often shared leads, or lead the group songs that were funky, and soulful. In group harmonies, Terry usually sings the Alto arrangement, which is above Maxine Jones, but under Dawn Robinson, or Cindy Herron.
Her cousin is Thomas Howard who plays linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL. She is close friends with actress Holly Robinson Peete, whom she met on the set of the sitcom Hangin' with Mr. Cooper while recording the show's theme song.[3]