Alton Ellis, SunSplash 93, Jam World, St. Catherine, Jamaica

​‪@LeoOReggio‬
Facebook: everoreggio
Alton Nehemiah Ellis OD (1 September 1938 - 10 October 2008) was a Jamaican singer-songwriter. One of the innovators of rocksteady, he was given the informal title "Godfather of Rocksteady". In 2006, he was inducted into the International Reggae And World Music Awards Hall Of Fame.
Born Alton Nehemiah Ellis in Trenchtown, Kingston, Jamaica, Ellis was raised within a musical family which included his older brothers Leslie [who performed as one of his backup singers and co-wrote some of his songs], and Irving [known as 'Niney' who was a popular singer and steel pan player on Jamaica's North Coast. He learned to play the piano at a young age. He attended Ebeneezer and Boys' Town schools, where he excelled in both music and sport. While at Boys' Town Ellis performed as a dancer (in a duo) in the first show that a school director called Mr. Bailey had organized for Vere Johns who had been invited down to talent scout. He would later compete on Vere Johns' Opportunity Hour. After winning some competitions, he switched to singing, starting his career in 1959 as part of the duo Alton & Eddy with Eddy Parkins.
Ellis and Parkins recorded for Coxsone Dodd at Studio One, initially in the R&B style, having a hit in 1960 with "Muriel" (from Dodd's first commercially oriented recording session at Federal studios), a song Ellis had written while working as a labourer on a building site. The duo split after Parkins won a major talent contest and moved to the United States. Ellis remained in Kingston. At the start of his career, Ellis recorded with his younger sister Hortense; early tracks with Hortense like "Don't Gamble With Love" (1965) were still in the R&B style.
By the mid-1960s, ska was moving on and the beat was slowing down to rocksteady and becoming associated with the violent rude boy subculture in Jamaican dancehalls. Many artists made records referring to the rude boys, including Ellis, although his records were consistently anti-rudie, including "Don't Trouble People", "Dance Crasher", and "Cry Tough".
The release of "Rock Steady" (1967) backed by Tommy McCook and the Supersonics, the first song to refer to the name of the new genre, heralded the new direction Jamaican popular music was taking. Ellis continued to have hits for Treasure Isle; working with artists such as Lloyd Charmers, Phyllis Dillon, and The Heptones. His Mr. Soul of Jamaica album (with Tommy McCook and the Supersonics) is regarded as one of the definitive rocksteady albums.
Ellis toured the United Kingdom in 1967 with Ken Boothe and Studio One session band the Soul Vendors and on his return to Jamaica, he worked with Dodd, recording the tracks that would be released as his debut album Alton Ellis Sings Rock & Soul. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Ellis recorded for some of Jamaica's top producers including Bunny Lee, Keith Hudson, and Herman Chin Loy. He also began to produce his own records, including "My Time Is The Right Time" (1968) and "The Message". He had two hits with Lloyd Daley in "Deliver Us" (1970) and "Back to Africa" (1971), both released in the UK on the Gas record label, a subsidiary of Pama Records.
Ellis regularly returned to England, working with several London-based producers and after spending a few years in Canada, from 1972 he based himself permanently in the UK. Ellis continued to record and perform regularly, recording in the early 1980s for emerging producers including Henry "Junjo" Lawes, Sugar Minott, and King Jammy. He also opened up the All-Tone record shop in South London and started a record label of the same name
Ellis continued to be active on the reggae scene until his health began to deteriorate. In 2004, Ellis was awarded the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican government in recognition of his achievements.
In December 2007, he was admitted to a hospital in London for treatment of cancer of the lymph glands (Hodgkin's disease), but he returned to live performance after receiving chemotherapy.
Ellis died of cancer on 10 October 2008 at Hammersmith Hospital, London. His death prompted a statement from Jamaica's Minister of Information, Culture, Youth, and Sports, Olivia "Babsy" Grange, who said, "even as we mourn the great Alton Ellis, we must give thanks for his monumental contribution to the development of Jamaica's popular music". A funeral service and celebration of his life were held on 3 November, attended by family, fans, music industry personnel, and government ministers, with tribute performances from stars including "Mr Fix It" Winston Francis, Tinga Stewart, George Nooks, Tony Gregory, Ken Boothe, Judy Mowatt, and Carlene Davis.
He was the older brother of the late Hortense Ellis, and the father of more than twenty children, including Noel Ellis and Christopher Ellis, who are both reggae singers. He was also the uncle of the Jamaican comedians Owen "Blakka" Ellis and Ian "Ity" Ellis.

[@cat-2036]

Not here with us but still singing in paradise legends never dies RIP MR Ellis ❤❤❤

[@LeoOReggio]

@@cat-2036 the king of rocksteady music. Thank you for liking and subscribing. A donation to the channel would be sincerely appreciated in helping me to restore more of my older tapes with content like this. Paypal.me/leooreggio Stay safe and well.

[@cat-2036]

He lives on legend never dies

[@LeoOReggio]

@@cat-2036 well said. Thank you for liking and subscribing. Please donate to my PayPal account as funds are needed to restore more gems like these, which are on tapes that are fragile from age. Stay safe.

[@leonleiffer1915]

Two of Jamaica Champion icons, Alton Ellis, Winston Francis, THE BLACKSTONES

[@altonbrek]

Wow! My favourite reggae singer, song writer and legend. Alton Ellis is the creator of the greatest set of iconic songs and musical arrangements in reggae history. Legend!!!

[@donovanphillips4973]

Still sparkling wine in 2024

[@AuthenticSelector64]

Alton Ellis Slim Smith Delroy Wilson… Studio One on stage… just a dream

[@iyahras2918]

The legend himself ..Great singer!!

[@LeoOReggio]

No doubt, Iyah Ras.

[@The153tina1]

Thanks for the music,Mr.Alton Ellis!!!

[@ryanhoranable]

Legend, without Alton there would be no marley

[@flyaz705]

SWEETNESS, DADDY ALTON ROCKSTEADY GODFATHER ELLIS 🎼🌟💣💥🔥💯

[@kathleengordon5623]

What I would give to see alton ellis john holt dennis brown on stage again 😭❤

[@maureenjones2585]

Seen John holt Gregory Isaacs beers hammond

[@maureenjones2585]

Alton Ellis never seen him

[@maureenjones2585]

What a mover what a voice

[@maureenjones2585]

Love this song

[@maureenjones2585]

Bring back the blues

[@alexandorno5794]

Just pure Greatness from the Foundation, Mr.Ellis!!! Big Respect!

[@judahandtheasantetribe4life]

The Great Godfather of Rocksteady. Almighty rest his soul. I wish I could've seen him live performing. The man who made me get into Studio One music as a likkle yute. Now we have his son Christopher carrying on the with the music.

[@LeoOReggio]

Rocksteady's godfather, Judah.

[@BIGBOUTYAH]

There’s also an older brother Troy Ellis, he’s the exact clone of Alton. Looks like Alton and sounds exactly like him too.

[@fabriciotonelli5396]

So goos to see mister Alton Ellis performing. Thanks for posting"!

[@jomohector5274]

🙏🏽Give thanks a trillion for this🙏🏽the legendary man himself I mean I was in my mother’s womb when I heard this unforgettable voice🎼🎤🇯🇲

[@tabou1]

killer backing band: Dalton Browne on guitar, Bagga Walker on bass, Horsemouth Wallace on drums, Bobby Ellis on trumpet, etc... those were the days

[@JoyceCraddock]

Good times❤

[@maureenjones2585]

Love his music could dance to him all night came l still wine lol

[@Calm1777-m6v]

All show...all command of the performance...that's what younger artists can emulate and perfect their own craft...

[@Graymond4368]

In a class by himself the great one

[@jahbud4110]

Like father like son . Keep these songs playing .yes iyah the roots

[@petrinahunter7]

❤

[@reggaeone]

I was there at this concert ❤

[@mackdanny1703]

Alton is Mr Rocksteady. Big up Horsemouth on drums from di Rockers movie.

[@LadyDee-rg9ee]

This is what sweet dreams are made of. Play Mr. Music play. 🎶

[@janoyantonio9585]

Enjoy this man's performance

[@audleysmith1947]

The best great great

[@SaidiMfwangavo-ht6jd]

The really Godfather of rock steady .

[@dom_2691]

Good Vibes💯I like!💥💥💥 Thank you for sharing🙏bless up💚💛❤

[@LeoOReggio]

My pleasure, as always, Domdom1962.

[@mystic7579]

The God father!!

[@kevinisaacs6930]

🔥❤🌟

[@audleysmith1947]

Great great great

[@paulreuben7343]

great

[@aestheticsbyjasmine940]

❤❤❤❤

[@LeoOReggio]

Thank you for liking and subscribing. Stay safe.

[@maureenjones2585]

Sweet music

[@SM-ik8lu]

Thank you ☝️❤️

[@nellynelson5315]

❤💛💚🖤🙏

[@papajahko7121]

Oh Yes !!!!!……..A Gem 💎 of a video Leo Still got some white label Studio One 45’s & ‘treasure’ my Treasure Isle records Alton ‘Dancecrasher’ Ellis…….🫡

[@LeoOReggio]

I just knew that clip would bring a smile to your eyes and ears, Papa.

[@barbaraglover4451]

I met him in person gone too soon

[@barbaraglover4451]

may his soul R I P

[@PabloveMuzik]

Dedly Hedly Vin Gordon Bobby Ellis Reel Ruff n Tuff IRIE

[@fiyahriddims]

I have to give thinks, because if these songs didn't touch me, it would mean i never knew love before........

[@francismuiruri9064]

Forgive my ignorance thought the first song was a GI song

[@petrinahunter7]

He beats my mother

[@axesaw5081]

I would like to see Dancehall night with Lady Saw

[@tahirhinds941]

RAsta Government