Today's Music News

RIP Alton Ellis

Rocksteady legend dies aged 70

12 October 2008 - Reggae singer Alton Ellis died of cancer in a London hospital at the age of 70 on Friday 9 October 2008.

Tributes have been pouring into the Jamaican singer's MySpace site, many commenting on how Ellis' music will 'live forever'.

Alton Ellis moved to Britain in the 1970s and became known as the 'Godfather of rocksteady' with a string of hits including I'm Still In Love, Dance Crasher and I'm Just A Guy.

His manager and agent Trish De Rosa, of Roots-Rockers Promotions, said he was a prolific artist and a key figure in the history of Jamaican music: "He has been my guiding star and my inspiration from the moment I met him," she said.

"His life was the music and the stage. He was getting a tremendous amount of work right up to the end - it was very difficult to get him to slow down. He wanted to do as much as he could and leave a strong legacy."

De Rosa added that the Jamaican authorities were considering giving Ellis a state funeral.

Ellis was diagnosed with multiple myeloma last year, underwent chemotherapy and returned to the stage before he collapsed during his final performance in central London in August.

Laurence Cane-Honeysett, Jamaican music consultant for Trojan Records, said the label had been associated with Ellis throughout his career and that he was a pleasure to deal with: "He was a genuinely lovely man and his songs were heartfelt," he said.

"He was a seminal figure in terms of popularising Jamaican reggae music. His death is a terrible loss."

The sweetest in the reggae world - Delroy Williams

Jamaican reggae singer Delroy Williams, who had been friends with Ellis and worked with him since the 1960s said, described his voice as "the sweetest in the reggae world".

Ellis began his career in the late 1950s, before Jamaican music had earned a worldwide following, and recorded for many local producers before launching his own All-tone label.

He had several hits while fronting the vocal group The Flames and many more as a solo artist. Ellis moved to Canada and then to London in the 1970s as his career went into decline.

He enjoyed renewed popularity in the last 15 years thanks to a rocksteady trend in Jamaica and Europe.

Ellis, who lived in Northolt, Middlesex, leaves more than 20 children.

Ruth Barnes

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Comments so far

lisa hydge eas hampton NY
Ilove it, twenty children haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Rob - DropZone Multimedia Inc. Brooklyn, NY
I believe Sir Alton Ellis was the greatest singer of his era. My favorite song was "Willow Tree". As a kid, that song would be played on Souund Systems over and over and I loved it. Rest in peace Sir Ellis. You will be truly missed.

victor hugo -cayman ls
alton elis should be honoured same as bob marley

The Captain - Croydon
Hearing the music again brings even more memories and feels even sweeter....another rubber dub legend is gone... RIP brother Ellis

Glenn Logan - Toronto, Canada
Jamaica and the world has lost the godfather of ska. He will be truly missed.

Julien Lewis-Marcano
The world has lost a good singer / songwriter. A true heart and soul of reggae music. He will be truly miss. LOVELIGHTS!

SHIRLEY OCALA FLORIDA
RIP ALTON, YOU WILL BE MISSED

Tandy.
To Trish De Rosa(Roots Rockers)The Jamaican Authorities should give Him a state funeral in South Africa we would kill a black Bull,He was so genuine,a workaholic,yes,but somuch damage,by past events, liasions,entalglements,closeness is frightening with some egos,?but genuine,a connoiseur with all matters of music/love/comfort/a highly develeped (NgunI)technique/wasted on the artifical/the vulgar/.

shirley W SE15
I am proud to say I had the pleasure of seeing Alton Ellis perform at many concerts truly the undisputed godfather of ska

Mark O'Shaughnessy from Bath
One of the true, true Lions of Reggae music - with a voice that was rarely bettered - Gad Bless Brother Alton Ellis

Sue P, London SE5
Spent my youth dancin to Alton Ellis, so sad but his music will live on in our hearts.

CARLOS, LONDON
MAXIMUM RESPECT ALTON!

caribbeancelebrities.com/London
He will be missed by everyone not only in the music fraternity but all over the world. A MAN WITH A LOVELY HEART AND A KIND SMILE THAT MELTS THE WHOLE WORLD. May his soul rest in perfect peace. Lovena and Family

Sandra J, London
Alton Ellis was a true leader in quality reggea music. Although he has now left us there is no doubt that his music will live on and on - just like anything else of quality.

Tony English New York..U.S.A.
We lost another great of the rock steady area. Alton was first of all, a gentleman of the highest order, and his body of work will never equaled..I will miss him like a son missing his father.

browning hackney london
alton ellis sang a song that i found very touhing the words went somethig like this they say taht once a tear as falen the willow crys eternally cry not for me my willow tree well we will cry for the loss of such a fatastic artist he will be missed