[2] Ellis began his career as pianist playing live for a local Houston radio station (later known as KPRC) in the early 1920s.

During this period Ellis, mainly on request of his employers at the radio station, began adding singing to his piano playing.

Ellis used the opportunity to select many of the best jazz musicians of the time, including Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Joe Venuti, Eddie Lang, Andy Sannella and - on two occasions - Louis Armstrong.

On these records, Ellis sang in a bittersweet alto, with which he was uncomfortable early in his career, believing his voice to be too high.

Ellis was popular enough during the time he was on OKeh for them to create a special silver colored custom label for his records.