Tom Ellis receives his award from Lou Wills Hildreth and Randy Wills

The gospel music career of Founder, Tom Ellis will soon span five decades. His love for Southern Gospel Music began when he was ten years old. While other school mates were listening to so called modern “Rock & Roll”, Tom was being drawn to the smooth vocal stylings of the popular gospel quartets. His father and uncles started the first Ellis Family Gospel singing group in 1925. Because of their influence throughout his youth, Tom reformed as the younger Ellis Family group in 1970. They traveled on their custom touring bus for over two decades all across the Southwest singing in churches and Gospel Concerts and recorded seven albums during that time.

His passion for Southern Gospel Music lead him to the SGMA of Texas. He joined their Board of Directors in 1975 and was Vice President for six years. Then, served as President of the SGMA from 1987-1992; and continued to work with the organization as Executive Officer from 1993-2003. He is currently Chairman of the Board.

In the early 1980’s he and his long time partner, Calvin Wills, began to formulate plans for theTexas Music Hall of Fame, which was to include a performance hall, production facility, historic museum and other tourist attractions. Tom Ellis was a founding partner, along with Calvin and James Fudge, of the Texas Gospel Music Museum and Hall of Fame through a state-wide charter in 1987 and serves as the Chairman of the Board.