Parrish Ellis was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia and developed a passion for rock’n’roll and playing the guitar around the 6th grade. In high school he took lessons in both traditional American country blues styles and classical guitar, and then went on to study classical guitar and bluegrass banjo in college (as extra-curricular interests while earning a BS in environmental science). After college he spent 8 years in New York City where he studied the country blues & rural ragtime fingerpicking styles of Gary Davis, Arthur Blake, Fulton Allen and other piedmont blues legends through lessons with the great Woody Mann, who remains the most masterful direct student of Gary Davis. He also had the opportunity to meet and play with piedmont blues legends John Cephas and Boo Hanks before they passed.

While living in Brooklyn he formed a band called The Wiyos and became a professional touring and performing musician for an 8-year period, during which his band supported a 3 month summer tour for Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan. In addition to all the minor league ballparks and outdoor amphitheaters of that high profile tour, The Wiyos also played such renowned venues and festivals as The Lincoln Center (NYC), Symphony Space (NYC), The Kennedy Center (DC), The Newport Folk Festival (RI), The Celtic Connections festival (Scotland), The Shetland Islands Folk festival (Scotland), a BBC festival documentary (London), and the Old Town School of Folk Music (Chicago). 

Since moving to Asheville in 2008 he has been busy working in the solar power industry, starting a family, teaching guitar students at Warren Wilson College (2012-2023) and playing in multiple bands (see individual band pages).