In 1995, Ellison received a citation of achievement from Broadcast Music for writing the third-most played song in the world.

This work explores the racism and violence Ellison encountered and examines the relationship between these experiences and his songwriting.

Plans are pending to build a replica of his boyhood home to house a museum dedicated to Ellison's music and his early life in the local mine camp community of Landgraff.

[6] On August 11, 2023 (his 82nd birthday) John released a new version of his classic "Some Kind of Wonderful", which serves as the title track for an album featuring eleven new songs penned by Ellison and produced and arranged by Roger Heijster.

The single was on the first round of ballots in the category "Best American Roots Performance" for the 66th Grammy Awards nominations.

On December 29, 2023, the second single "If I Had Just One Wish", a feel-good catchy reggae vibe calling for more love, peace and harmony, was released.