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RIP the Godfather of Rocksteady



Legendary Alton Ellis passes on

ALTON ELLIS, the west Kingston balladeer who defined the lovers' rock genre, died Friday evening at age 70. The singer succumbed to a 10-month fight with lymphatic cancer.

Sandra Ellis, one of his children, told The Sunday Gleaner that her father passed away at the Hammersmith Hospital in London, where he had been receiving treatment for the past two weeks.

Cancer of lymph glands

Ellis had been diagnosed with cancer of the lymph glands in December 2007.

No singer had more success on Jamaican charts during the 1960s than the Trench Town-born Ellis whose first hit song was Muriel, which was done with Eddie Perkins.

Throughout the 1960s, Ellis recorded a series of ska hits for rival producers Arthur 'Duke' Reid and Clement Dodd. These included Dancecrasher, Girl I've Got a Date, I'm Just a Guy and I'm Still in Love.

He immigrated to England in the early 1970s where he remained active musically. He enjoyed a career resurgence in the 1990s when there was a rocksteady revival in Jamaica and Europe.

In 2003, dancehall superstar Sean Paul and singer Sasha had a minor hit in the United States with their cover of I'm Still in Love.

Ellis, who last performed here in June, is survived by wife Judith and over 20 children.

Thanks for the music:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=bdFTaoGBFAA

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=KVSm-QOFHxo

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=5PTRrK5kw ... re=related

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=7yDFlEu0FvQ

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=CvzthjJI9 ... re=related

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=mAIvnHsdU7I

oh man thats ruff .

RIP

time for a sunday afternoon ellis session then

noooo

RIP, and thankyou so much for the music.

badman RIP

Sad Sad Sad
He's been ill for a while.
Reggae is losing all his legends

Wow. How comes I didnt hear about this earlier.



RIP Mr. Ellis.

No sadness in this thread, this is a celebration of great music and a great man. A true legend, up there with John Holt. Ken Boothe, Slim Smith, DennisBrown, etc as one of the best vocalists in Reggae, such a soulful voice.

Just heard that today....I really thought I would get to check him at the Jazz Cafe in London before he left this world. He's someone who really kept a progressive musical career his entire life Rocksteady, Reggae, Roots, and then vocalist with Jah Warrior Sound.


Respect!

over 20 children! good effort!


i had heard of John Holt being described as the Barry White of reggae, but that's pretty impressive...

(Screamin Jay) Hawkins died on February 12, 2000 after surgery to treat an aneurysm. He left behind many children by many women; about 55 were known (or suspected) upon his death, and upon investigation, that number "soon became perhaps 75 offspring", according to this website.

R.I.P Alton