Alton Ellis passed away Friday

[IRISH MOSS]

Reggae music has said goodbye to one of it's founding cornerstone this Friday. Respect due to Alton Ellis. His powerful influence on this music we love so much is undeniable.


Pioneering reggae star Alton Ellis dies in London


The Associated Press
Published: October 11, 2008

LONDON: Reggae music pioneer Alton Ellis, who enjoyed a career revival in recent years after a string of hits in the 1960s, has died in a London hospital. He was 70.

Officials at Hammersmith Hospital said Ellis died "peacefully" Friday and that his family did not wish to release further details. He had been hospitalized for several weeks.

In a tribute to Ellis posted on its Web site, Trojan Records on Saturday mourned "the passing of a reggae legend" and said Ellis had been suffering lymphatic cancer. He collapsed during a club performance in London in August and never recovered his health, the record company said.

Ellis was known as "the Godfather of rocksteady" and enjoyed a string of hits in Jamaica during the very early days of reggae.

At the beginning of his career, he had several hits while fronting the vocal group "The Flames," including "Dance Crasher," "I'm Just a Guy" and "Sunday Coming."

He 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.

Ellis moved to Canada and then to England in the 1970s as his career went into decline, but he returned to popularity in the last 15 years because of a rocksteady trend in Jamaica and Europe.

Ellis is survived by his wife and more than 20 children.

Funeral plans were not immediately announced.

[herbanmusic]

Blessings be with the legend Alton EllislMay Jah guide your steps in Zion !
I man bet his family is gutted by his departure from Babylon !
Remember that Death is just a step in to a next stage,from InI trod to zion gates.
This picture its of his son Chris Ellis staging with the blessed family The Dubcats, when we were there for The Congos, which the Dubcats supported in Brixton ,Hootananny !
He is just a star just like his dad, i man can tell you that ( if u have not been as lucky as i man have by listening to Chris Ellis's magic voice and presence on the stage , Specially being backed by an also magic bandm InI Family the Dubcats!

[Yabass]

very sad...as some of you may know i did work with him on his Telephone line tune when i was 16...so i feel lucky..shine on star

[blaminack]

Massive respects due. Sad news indeed. They are leaving so fast lately.

very sad news,as bruno said my bruvs band the dubcats sometimes work with altons son chris who believe me is a star in his own right.respect and sympathies to the ellis family.

[phatsemelia]

blessings to all alton's family.very sad news.we recentey had the great pleasure of playing some of alton's classics with his son chris and it really was an honour.