WARSAW — The City of Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department announced this morning that the headliner for the free Blues & BBQ Concert. Tinsley Ellis will perform July 7 at Glover Pavilion in Central Park. The evening will start at 6 p.m., with an opening act to be determined. Then, at 8 p.m., get ready for a legendary blues guitarist with roots in southern soul music, Tinsley Ellis.

Tinsley Ellis wears his Southern roots proudly. Born in Atlanta in 1957, he grew up in southern Florida and first played guitar at age eight. He found the blues through the back door of British Invasion bands like The Yardbirds, The Animals, Cream, and The Rolling Stones. He especially loved the Kings — Freddie, B.B. and Albert. His love for the blues solidified when he was 14. At a B.B. King performance, Tinsley sat mesmerized in the front row. When B.B. broke a string on Lucille, he changed it without missing a beat, and handed the broken string to Ellis. Tinsley’s fate was sealed; he had to become a blues guitarist. And yes, he still has that string.

Averaging over 150 live shows a year, Ellis has played in all 50 states, as well as Canada, Europe, Australia and South America. Whether he’s out with his own band or sharing stages with major artists like Buddy Guy, The Allman Brothers, Gov’t Mule or Widespread Panic, he always digs deep and plays, as Guitar Player says, “…as if his life depended on it.” Ellis’ most recent tour with Blues At The Crossroads II: Muddy & The Wolf with the Fabulous Thunderbirds featuring Kim Wilson, James Cotton, Jody Williams and Bob Margolin was by all accounts one of the best shows of 2013. Tinsley Ellis has shared the stage with Stevie Ray Vaughan, B.B. King, Derek Trucks, Buddy Guy, The Allman Brothers, Gov’t Mule, Widespread Panic, Bob Margolin, Cedric Burnside, Koko Taylor, Willie Dixon, and Albert Collins.

The acts for the country and rock concerts will be announced April 3.