Francis Dolan Ellis (born March 1, 1935, in Kansas)[citation needed] is an American singer-songwriter who has been Arizona's Official State Balladeer[1] since 1966, as appointed by ten consecutive governors.
He specializes in songs of Arizona and the American Southwest, but often goes back to his roots as a jazz musician.
[citation needed] He was an original member of The New Christy Minstrels and was with them for their first five albums, several gold records, their Grammy in 1963 for Best Group, major concert appearances, and a full season (1962–1963) as regulars on the nationally televised Andy Williams Show.
[citation needed] In 1996, Ellis founded the Arizona Folklore Preserve, located in Ramsey Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains.
Operated by the University of Arizona-South, the Preserve features guest artists on most weekends and monthly performances by Ellis himself.