Jack Dunker & The Ellman Bros.
Kansas City, Missouri, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2024
Music
Press
Today we’d like to introduce you to Jack Dunker.
Hi Jack, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve always loved music. I started when I was 5 playing guitar. As I grew I fell even more in love with the creation of music. Through the years I’ve been interested in lots of different things but music alway stayed as my primary motivation. I learned viola and violin, I taught myself piano so I could compose music in a more traditional fashion. But it was only about 2 years ago when I found my true passion in music. 2 years ago I began writing lyrics. This is where I became the artist I am today - Artist Profile
We recently connected with Jack Dunker and have shared our conversation below.
Jack, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
Writing songs is my passion, and making music is what drives me. I found my purpose in a guitar. I have played for almost all my life, but it was only three years ago that songwriting called me. As I began writing after years of being around music, my world lit up. To make something new and original is the greatest privilege in this life. I love creating something that influences people. My goal in this life is to write music that will not only be heard by the world but music that will influence the world. This is my purpose and I am so glad I found it. - Meet Jack Dunker
Discography
Queen of Arkansas - Single (2025)
Toe Tappin' Music - EP (2024)
Photos
Bio
Backed by brothers Devin and Ben Ellman and fronted by Jack Dunker, Kansas City based country three-piece and aptly named Jack Dunker and The Ellman Bros. are defining a new and unique sound that the young musicians are working to spread across the Midwest and beyond.
The group met as students at the Kansas City Jazz Academy, and often performed in larger jazz ensembles and recitals around town. But Jack’s interest was always in singer/songwriters, influenced by the works of Ryan Bingham, Jason Isbell, Tyler Childers and Evan Felker of Turnpike Troubadours, along with the classic outlaw country sound of Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash. He started seeking out small solo gigs close to home, playing country music at bars, breweries, and coffee houses and even cut a solo acoustic four song EP released to streaming platforms in the Summer of 2024. When opportunities to play on larger stages started to present themselves later that year, Jack reached out to Ben and Devin and the trio started practicing in earnest.
Their experience playing jazz together led to an immediate chemistry performing country songs as well. The Ellman’s brought a high level of musicianship with Devin’s skill showcased on the bass and Ben’s percussion proficiency behind the kit, paired with Jack’s talent on guitar taking his original songs to another level. Undertones from the groups jazz origins finds its way into their songs with defined bass lines and intentional timing and drum fills, giving birth to their “Funk’d Up Country” sound.
Band Members
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