Arizona State Balladeer to discuss new memoir at Goodyear heritage lecture

Arizona’s official state balladeer, Dolan Ellis, is scheduled to discuss his six-decade career and new memoir during a public presentation on Thursday, May 21.

The event, part of the Heritage Lecture Series, will be held at 10 a.m. in the Goodyear City Hall Council Chambers.

Ellis, who was appointed the state’s first official balladeer in 1966 by then-Gov. Sam Goddard, will present his book, "Adventures of a Balladeer: An Inspiring Memoir on Listening to Your Inner Voice, Following Your Dreams, and Finding Your Hozho." The memoir contains more than 40 stories covering his life as a touring folk singer and his travels across Arizona.

Before his solo career, Ellis was a member of the Grammy-winning folk group The New Christy Minstrels. After leaving the group in the 1960s, he returned to Arizona to focus on local history and culture through photography and songwriting.

His contributions to the state’s cultural record include the founding of the Arizona Folklore Preserve in Ramsey Canyon and the induction of his work into the U.S. Congressional Record. Now retired from live musical performances, Ellis focuses on archiving his work and writing new ballads.

The presentation will cover Ellis' transition from national television and high-profile venues like Carnegie Hall to the back roads of Arizona, where he reportedly logged over a million miles exploring the state’s landscape.

The event is free to the public.

Visit pwlhc.org for more information.