A well-known musician from Jefferson was added to the greats that Iowa has to offer with a distinctive honor.

Singer/songwriter Chad Elliott was inducted into the Iowa Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame this past Sunday at the Sami Center in Okoboji. From his humble beginnings when Jefferson’s own The Bushmen guitarist David Williamson, who is also a fellow Iowa Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Famer,  took Elliott under his wing, to when he first got the notification of the Hall this past winter.

“It’s been kind of neat to kind of think back when I first started, I was up in that region, actually when I first performed my original music, it was up in Spencer, Iowa. And so I know a few people on the (Iowa Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame) Board, that was kind of cool to see some of my friends that were saying, ‘Hey, saw you come across the desk,’ and I was like, ‘That’s cool!’”    

Elliott blends folk, rock, swampy blues and soulful writing to his original songs that have cultivated into over 2,000 songs in 26 albums, while also performing live for over 25 years. He credits his career to learning from the best and he feels fortunate to have crossed paths with some of the finest musicians, such as Jimmie Vaughn, Survivor, Counting Crows, and Lonestar, among others. 

Elliott is also a part of a duo with fiddliest Kathryn Severing-Fox, as the Weary Ramblers, who are self-producing their second album, which is slated to be released in October. He also co-owns and operates Elliott Art Studio in Jefferson, where he spends time creating paintings and other artwork to be on display. 

Awards and Honors

2025 Inducted into the Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame

2020 Kerrville New Folk – Finalist

2018 Kerrville New Folk – Finalist

2015 LEAF Newsong Finalist

2015 Unsigned Only Competition – Semi-Finalist – Americana

2015 Folk Alliance International – Official Showcase

2014 Newsong Contest – Midwest Finalist

2013 Top 25 Albums on brokenjukebox.com – So Sang the Crow

2013 Iowa Blues Challenge – Winner Solo/Duo

2013 Rising Star – Finalist

2012 Show Me the Music Song Contest – Finalist – Americana

2012 Int. Folk Alliance Conference – Official Showcase Artist

2011 Iowa Motion Picture Awards – Best Original Music Score

2011 Mixies Award – “Most Creative Tour” – One Horse Town Tour

2009 International Songwriting Contest – 3rd Place Winner – Americana

2009 Woody Guthrie Song Contest – 1st Place Winner

2008 Kerrville New Folk – Finalist

2006 Folkalley.com’s – Open Mic Winner

2006 Just Plain Folks – Top 20 New Folk Songs

 

Discography

2024 – Untested Wings

2021 – Singing River

2020- Tangle with the Ghost

2019 – King Pelican

2018 – Rest Heavy

2017 – RINGGOLD

2015 – Wreck and Ruin

2013 – So Sang the Crow

2010 – The Den Sessions – 10 Volume Set

2009 – Redemption Man

2008 – Swiftsure

2006 – Humbled At My Door

2004 – Bowl of Stars

2004 – Starling Songs

2003 – (homemade) Bowl of Stars

2001 – New Young Destination

1999 – Greener Grass – One Man’s Junk