What do you say when someone passes away? How do you celebrate their life and everything they did? How do you help their grieving family members and friends? Ellis Kell was a beloved musician in the Quad Cities who inspired many people with his music. To honor him and his life, the Quad Cities will be celebrating and remembering what he gave to the community. On Saturday, January 21 at 4:00 p.m. till 11:00 p.m., The River Music Experience will be holding a benefit concert for his family in the Great Hall of the RiverCenter titled “Peace, Love & the Joy of Music: Ellis Kell Family Benefit... Read More

Ellis Kell will always live on his the hearts and memories of those who remember him, and his music will always live on in those who heard and were inspired by him. And so it’s entirely fitting that a visitation and celebration of his life, after the legendary local musician passed away from complications from cancer Dec. 16, is filled with music. Kell’s visitation and celbration of life service will take place beginning at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Adler Theatre. Friends and family will also be throwing a jam session at RME later in the evening; musicians and anyone else who has been touched... Read More

It sounds unrealistic and perhaps a bit cliché, but there are some people you can never imagine dying, because they’re so full of life. Ellis Kell was one of those people. The local music legend passed away from cancer early the morning of Dec. 16. It had been known for a while that Ellis was battling the disease, but I, like everyone else, thought that surely a man this strong, this full of life, this force of nature, was going to beat it. He didn’t. And so, he joins his beloved daughter, Karli Rose, once more, in another life, beyond this one. To be honest, the entire thing has felt surreal.... Read More

On Friday, Dec. 16, 2016 from 9:00 p.m. till 12:00 a.m. River Music Experience will be hosting the band Parranderos Latin Combo (PLC) at the Redstone Room, located at 129 N. Main Street, Davenport, Iowa 52801. Doors will open at 8:00 p.m. and the show will begin at 9:00 p.m. The price is $10 at the door plus a $1.50. You can purchase your tickets at www.midwestix.com. There is an age restriction on this event of 19 and older. Those who are younger than 19 must be accompanied by a parent or adult. The Redstone Room is a standing room only venue. All of the tickets are General Admission unless otherwise... Read More