Dave Ellingson
Dave Ellingson is best known for his close connection to Kim Carnes, the Grammy-winning American singer-songwriter whose unique voice made “Bette Davis Eyes” a standout hit in the early 1980s. However, calling Ellingson just Kim Carnes’ husband overlooks much of his own story. Music records show he is a songwriter, musician, composer, and a longtime creative partner who worked with Carnes at key points in her career. AllMusic lists him as David “Dave” Ellingson and credits him for songwriting, guitar, vocals, and other musical roles. Together, he and Carnes wrote the entire 1980 concept album Gideon for Kenny Rogers.
Even so, Ellingson has kept a much lower public profile than his well-known wife. This biography focuses on facts that can be confirmed through music credits, archival reports, and reliable biographical records, rather than on guesswork.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|
| Full Name | David “Dave” Ellingson |
| Born | March 2, 1942 |
| Age | 84 in 2026 |
| Profession | Songwriter, musician, composer; also credited with screen work |
| Relationship | Husband of Kim Carnes |
| Marriage | November 25, 1967, according to |
| Children | Two sons, Collin and Ry |
| Public Profile | Best documented through songwriting and recording credits |
| Residence | Longtime public association with Nashville, Tennessee |
| Known Philanthropic Interests | No personal charitable program is attributed to him here; Kim Carnes has participated in documented St. Jude benefit performances |
| Social Media Presence | Low-profile; established career information comes primarily from music and biographical records |
Who Is Dave Ellingson?
Dave Ellingson is an American songwriter and musician, known both as Kim Carnes’ husband and as one of her key early creative partners. His career goes beyond being a celebrity spouse. AllMusic credits him as a composer, guitarist, vocalist, and musician. Historical accounts show that he and Carnes worked together as a performing and songwriting team. They were part of the New Christy Minstrels and later performed as Kim & Dave, building their professional relationship before Carnes became a solo star.
A clear sign of Ellingson’s importance is his work on Gideon, Kenny Rogers’ 1980 concept album. The Country Music Hall of Fame says that Carnes and Ellingson wrote the whole album together. This credit puts Ellingson at the center of a key moment in country-pop songwriting history.
Life, Family and Career
The Private Life of Dave Ellingson
Dave Ellingson’s public record stands out among those of many people linked to major recording stars. His name often appears in song credits, album listings, and professional biographies, but there is much less publicity focused on his personality. This difference is important when accurately assessing his life.
Having a low media profile does not mean Ellingson is shy, humble, or avoiding fame. Those would be guesses about his reasons. The records show that his public identity is tied more to his creative work and family than to interviews or celebrity coverage. This helps explain why people may know Kim Carnes’ music but not always recognize Ellingson’s name.
His privacy does not take away from his professional achievements. It just means that the best way to understand his life is through his credits and collaborations, not personal stories.
Early Life and Background of Dave Ellingson
Reliable biographies list Ellingson’s birth date as March 2, 1942. However, most details about his life begin with his music career rather than his childhood.
AllMusic connects Ellingson with the New Christy Minstrels and notes the subsequent formation of Kim & Dave with Carnes. The group is an important part of the couple’s professional history because Carnes herself was a member of the New Christy Minstrels in the 1960s before pursuing songwriting and solo recording.
Rather than guessing about his childhood, it makes more sense to view Ellingson’s early life through the lens of his music career. By the late 1960s and early 1970s, performing, writing, and collaborating were already key parts of his professional life.
Marriage and Partnership with Kim Carnes
shows that Dave Ellingson and Kim Carnes married on November 25, 1967, and had two children. More importantly, their relationship grew into a lasting artistic partnership.
Historical records show that Ellingson and Carnes did more than just attend industry events together. They performed as a duo, wrote songs together, and worked in the same professional circles. Encyclopedia.com lists Ellingson and Carnes as songwriting partners and personal advisers as she built her solo career in 1980. Kenny Rogers asked Carnes and Ellingson to create a concept album, and the resulting Gideon was written entirely by the couple. Contemporary Billboard coverage reported that they wrote “Don’t Fall in Love with a Dreamer” along with the other songs on the project.
Their history shows that their marriage was both a personal relationship and a professional partnership, supported by documented work together.
Dave Ellingson’s Role Behind the Scenes
Describing Ellingson only as a “behind-the-scenes husband” does not capture the full range of his work. His career includes songwriting, acoustic guitar playing, background vocals, composing, and other musical roles.
His songwriting relationship with Carnes is evident across several periods of her catalog. AllMusic credits Carnes and Ellingson together on songs from the 1976 album Sailin’, including “Sailin’,” “Last Thing You Ever Wanted to Do,” “Let Your Love Come Easy,” “Tubin'” and “Love Comes from Unexpected Places.”
His role also extended into recordings. Music databases credit Ellingson with background or harmony vocals on Carnes material, including recordings associated with Mistaken Identity and later projects.
This is why calling him Kim Carnes’ husband is true but not the whole story. The marriage made him known to the public, but his recording credits give him his own place in music history.
Family Life: Raising the Next Generation
Dave Ellingson and Kim Carnes have two sons, Collin and Ry. confirms two children, while Carnes biographies identify them by name.
One of the most notable aspects of the family is that music continued into the next generation. Collin Ellingson earned songwriting credits with his mother. AllMusic lists Kim Carnes and Collin Ellingson as the composers of “Gypsy Honeymoon,” and other databases credit Collin on “Divided Hearts.”
This adds a real musical element to the family story. After years of songwriting together, Dave and Kim were joined by their son Collin in making music.
The family has mostly stayed out of the spotlight and avoided turning their relationships into a celebrity story. So, the best way to understand their creative work is through their songwriting and recording credits, not by guessing about their private lives.
Philanthropy and Community Engagement
It’s important to be careful with public charity records, since a benefit appearance by Kim Carnes should not be assumed to include Dave Ellingson unless he is specifically mentioned.
A documented example involving the family’s most public member occurred in 2021, when Carnes joined the Rheneypalooza Jam, held at The Warburton, an event benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The event’s organizers listed Carnes among participating musicians, and St. Jude has also documented Carnes performing at one of its music events.
This shows Carnes’ involvement in charity, but there is no evidence that Ellingson led the same efforts. It’s important to give credit only to the person who is actually documented as taking part.
The Power of Privacy: Influence Without Publicity
Ellingson’s story shows that creative influence and public fame are not always the same. Songs can be popular for years, even if the writers, musicians, and singers behind them are not widely known.
His career illustrates this particularly well. The official Kim Carnes website identifies Gideon as a project penned entirely by Carnes and Ellingson, while the Country Music Hall of Fame independently emphasizes the same partnership.
Still, Ellingson never reached the same level of fame as Carnes and her Grammy-winning voice. This is not unusual, since performers often get more public attention than the people who write or play on the songs.
For Ellingson, privacy and a record of professional work go hand in hand. His public presence may be smaller, but it is still meaningful.
Public Curiosity and Misconceptions About Dave Ellingson
A common mistake is to think Ellingson is only important because he is married to Kim Carnes. His songwriting credits show otherwise. He co-wrote songs with Carnes for years and helped create the entire Gideon album.
Another point of confusion is about Carnes’ biggest hit, “Bette Davis Eyes.” Ellingson did not write this song. The Recording Academy credits Jackie DeShannon and Donna Weiss as the writers, but Ellingson is listed as a background vocalist on Carnes’ version in music databases.
This detail is important because it shows how to present his career fairly. Dave Ellingson made real contributions to Carnes’ music, but each song should be credited based on the facts.
Legacy and Future
Dave Ellingson’s lasting legacy is found in recorded music. His name appears on songs performed by Kim Carnes and on Gideon, the Kenny Rogers album that featured the hit duet “Don’t Fall in Love with a Dreamer.”
His body of work also shows how long he and Carnes worked together. From early songwriting and duo performances to later vocal and compositional credits, Ellingson’s name often comes up throughout her career.
It’s best not to make predictions about Ellingson’s future, especially since he keeps a low profile. His legacy stands on its own, built on songwriting credits, recordings, and a creative partnership and marriage that started in the 1960s and became part of American pop and country music history.
Conclusion
Dave Ellingson holds a unique place in music history. Many people look him up because he is Kim Carnes’ husband, but the facts show he has a much deeper professional story. As a songwriter and musician, he worked with Carnes on many songs and played a key role in Kenny Rogers’ Gideon album, a major highlight of their partnership.
Because he is less famous, Ellingson’s career is sometimes overlooked. Still, trusted music sources keep the record clear: his songwriting, guitar and vocal work, collaborations with Carnes, and a family where music continued with their son Collin.
For readers seeking the factual story of Dave Ellingson and Kim Carnes, the strongest picture is therefore not one of a mysterious celebrity spouse. It is the story of a longtime marriage accompanied by a genuine and documented creative partnership.
(FAQs)
1. Who is Dave Ellingson?
Dave Ellingson is an American songwriter, musician, and composer best known for his longtime creative partnership and marriage with singer-songwriter Kim Carnes.
2. Is Dave Ellingson still married to Kim Carnes?
Public biographical records continue to list Dave Ellingson as Kim Carnes’ husband. lists their marriage date as November 25, 1967.
3. How old is Dave Ellingson?
AllMusic and list his birth date as March 2, 1942, making him 84 in 2026.
4. Do Dave Ellingson and Kim Carnes have children?
Yes. They have two sons, Collin and Ry.
5. Did Dave Ellingson write songs with Kim Carnes?
Yes. Ellingson co-wrote numerous songs with Carnes throughout her career, including material that appeared on albums such as Sailin’.
6. Did Dave Ellingson work with Kenny Rogers?
Yes. Ellingson and Carnes wrote the entire 1980 Kenny Rogers concept album Gideon, including “Don’t Fall in Love with a Dreamer.”
7. Did Dave Ellingson write “Bette Davis Eyes”?
No. Jackie DeShannon and Donna Weiss wrote the Grammy-winning song. Ellingson is, however, credited as a background vocalist on Carnes’ recording.
8. Is Dave Ellingson also a musician?
Yes. AllMusic credits him with roles including guitar, vocals, composition and songwriting in addition to his work alongside Carnes.
