Clayton E. Ellers Jr.

E. Clayton Ellers, Jr., 50, of Eagle Rock, passed away in the company of his family on Friday, November 18, 2005. Loving son,husband, father, and brother, he is preceded in death by his father, Everette C. Ellers, Sr. His surviving family includes his mother, Anna Davis of Salem, the light of his heart, Jane Gabrielle of Eagle Rock, his devoted daughter, Courtney Padgett and husband, Rush of Shelby, N.C.; sisters, Debbie King and husband, David and Suzanne Caldwell and husband, Tim; brother, John E. Ellers; special sister, Caroline Carter; and numerous cousins, aunts, uncles, nephews, and nieces.

Clayton devoted much of his life to his music. A poet, songwriter and singer, he entertained people with his own style of sometimes funny, political, and dark ballads about life and love. He played locally for over 20 years and has made many friends within the music community. A special mention goes out to all of his fellow musicians who enjoyed him and journeyed with him through the world of poetry, music, and song.

The family will receive friends on Monday, November 21, 2005 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, November 22, 2005 at 7 p.m. in the John M. Oakey & Son Chapel. Online condolences may be made at www.johnmoakey.com. Arrangements have been made with John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home in Salem, 389-5441.

The following is from the Summer 1998 Jazz News:

Clayton Ellers and a Club Built Around The Music - by Bob Peckman

This month's featured artist is Clayton Ellers. He has a new CD release - A FLAME IN THE COLD. Wait! That CD has been called "too rock & roll to be country and too country to be rock & roll". Clayton hates to be pigeonholed, but I don't think anyone, especially Clayton, had contemplated the jazz pigeonhole for his music• So why are we featuring Clayton Ellers in Jazz News? There are two other sides of Clayton; Encrypted Records and The Belly Of The Beast/Wits End. Encrypted Records has not produced any jazz yet. We still have to work on that. But the night spots are built around the music, all good music, including this region's best jazz on Tuesday nights.

Clayton has been investing in jazz every Tuesday night at Wit's end. At first the crowd was pathetic. It has taken a while for jazz and a sandwich to become part of people's lives on Tuesday night. I would look kind of weak and ask if I could book more musicians for the next month and he would say something like "the music is good and people will come." or "We're going to make it happen."

The music has been good. We have a core band consisting of a lead instrument, such as sax, cornet, trombone, vibes or voice, a guitar or piano, acoustic bass and drums. So we start out with a real jam session feel. Then, as the spirit moves, we have the sit-ins. These range from semi-professionals, a high school drummer who plays very fine, college students, some of the area's best professionals who were bored on Tuesday night and even a trumpet player who was visiting Chip on his way home to New York. There are two things that makes Tuesday so magical: On Tuesday we can get the best core players (check out the schedule) and the sit-ins are also not working and know they can relieve their boredom here.

Clayton's mom is our best customer. She loves mugic and her support of Clayton's dreams is one reason for his success. She also gives me some great stories about Clayton growing up that might be unfair to print here.

Now Clayton's investment is "paying off" and we are starting to break even! And like Clayton said it would, the crowd builds a little more each week. And this crowd is also part of the magic. People don't come out on Tuesday night unless they have a reason. So our crowd listens to and enjoys the music. And Wit's end is also part of the magic. The place is warm and cozy. Every seat has a good view of the band which is on a nice stand with good lights. This is a club that was built around the music.

Note on "paying off". Clayton lost his shirt in the clubs. It would be more accurate to say that Clayton Ellers gave his shirt to us local musicians.

In lieu of flowers, I suggest visiting your doctor for a physical. Then every year at this time, you can remember Clayton with your own annual Clayton Ellers Memorial Physical Exam.

And for those of you, like me, who just went on with our world and forgot all that Clayton had done for us when he left Roanoke; shame on us.