Ellen Shipley


Ellen Shipley is an American musician and songwriter.

Career

At sixteen years old, Shipley got a NYC Cabaret license. She performed a duo act in Greenwich Village in the early 70's with Steve Fields. Shipley was noticed by a Tommy Mottola associate, in a jazz club in NYC, Pearl’s Place, and signed to Mottola's company. Nowels approached Shipley in a Woodstock, NY cafe, asked Shipley write with him for a Belinda Carlisle solo album.
"It was Stevie Nicks who matched Belinda with songwriters Rick Nowels and Ellen Shipley and changed her life."

Shipley is best known for her work with Rick Nowels. Together they have written for Kim Wilde and worked on the Belinda Carlisle albums Belinda, Heaven on Earth, Runaway Horses, and Live Your Life Be Free. Shipley has also done solo work, collaborated with Ralph Schuckett, and appeared on 13 December 1980 on Saturday Night Live. In 1994, Great Performances episode September Songs: The Music of Kurt Weill featured David Johansen, Ellen Shipley, Ralph Schuckett, and Bob Dorough singing "Alabama Song" in a beat-up old pickup truck in search of whiskey. She, with Nicky Holland, co-wrote "Will We Ever Learn", and it was recorded for Oleta Adams' Circle of One album.
"My Song Was Played 3.1 Million Times on Pandora. My Check Was $39..."

Paste magazine archived, for playback, a 12-song performance, at the Paradise in Boston, MA, from 1980-10-17.
In 2008, Shipley directed, for the stage, Desert Sunrise, in Los Angeles.
Shipley was nominated for a Grammy award.

Personal life

Shipley is from Canarsie, Brooklyn, and married Ralph Schuckett.

Discography

Solo Releases

“Live Forever”, Midge Ure, Breathe