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Post by oli on Oct 10, 2008 11:21:13 GMT 1
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Post by Jah Rebel on Oct 10, 2008 11:27:39 GMT 1
En uit de Observer van vandaag:
Alton Ellis' survival cast in shadow
Basil Walters, Observer staff reporter
Friday, October 10, 2008
A year ago, pioneer Jamaica singer/songwriter Alton Ellis, was admitted to London hospital where he was undergoing treatment for cancer of the lymph glands. After this newspaper carried the story with the headline, "Say a prayer for the Godfather of rocksteady," his amazing recovery was celebrated with two memorable performances in Jamaica in June of this year.
However, at press time, his condition has deteriorated to the point that rumours are swirling far and wide that the veteran entertainer has made his exit from this life. Such is the state of the health of rocksteady's best crooner, that in recent days family members have been so overwhelmed with panic and anxiety, it has given rise to rumours across countries that he has died.
"There are a lot of rumours going around, but let your readers know that he (my father) is not dead. He is deteriorating all the time, so we his kids and family are staying by him," Clive Ellis, son of Alton Ellis, told the Observer from the hospital in London at the time of writing.
And Owen "Blacka" Ellis said that his uncle Alton was not talking or moving, and this cast a shadow over his prospect for survival that led to the spate of rumours that he had undergone the worst. The undisputed Godfather of rocksteady, Alton Ellis' performances were always legendary, always commanding attention, and in this his most challenging experience ever, is no different.
A supremely gifted artiste whose professional career is marked by his ability to take rhyhtm and blues/souls songs, popular or obscured, and turned them into reggae hits, rather than just another cover version. One can't help but wonder if Alton Ellis, in his heyday, was scripting the soundtrack for the phase he is now going through.
In this moment of sombre contemplation there are songs in which he could take comfort, in reflections. Songs evoking memories of his two most recent performances in Jamaica like Can't Stop Now, Girl I've Got A Date, Too Late to Turn Back Now, Cry Tough, The Feeling Inside, Can I Change My Mind and Still Trying.
And anyone who attended his Get Ready to Rock Steady concerts in June put on by the Ministry of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports at the National Indoor Sport Centre, as well as Comedy Rock Steady staged by his family organisation Ellis International at The Roof of the Portmore Pines Plaza, would have had an experience to cherish forever.
Ites,
Rebel
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Post by Visionz on Oct 11, 2008 12:57:58 GMT 1
En het zou nu dan toch gebeurd zijn: I have been informed by Mr. Owen "Blakka" Ellis that Alton passed away at 4:45 AM (London Time) Saturday morning 11th October blood&fire forum |
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Post by Inspektah Mike on Oct 11, 2008 17:32:27 GMT 1
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Post by Mr.Nuts on Oct 11, 2008 22:54:19 GMT 1
Dus toch blijkbaar...  |
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Post by Visionz on Oct 12, 2008 13:56:13 GMT 1
Alton Ellis hailed a musical icon
BY BASIL WALTERS Observer staff reporter waltersb@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, October 12, 2008
MEMBERS of the musical fraternity yesterday hailed the late Alton Ellis as a musical legend who will never be forgotten, even as they lauded him for his hard work over more than half a century.
"He always called me 'ska king'. And I always called him 'the great Mr Rock Steady'," said Derrick Morgan, one of Ellis' musical peers for more than 50 years. "A lot of shows, he and I performed in Europe together. The last show I remember he and I did was in June at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Jamaica."
Ellis, 64, lost the battle against cancer in a London hospital last Friday night.
Michael Barnett, who along with Keith Brown used to promote the longest running vintage show series called Startime, said Ellis had always been one of his biggest drawing cards.
"Alton was always a favourite artiste of the people from day one. The people just had a love affair with him," he said.
For Lloyd Parks, whose We the People band was the longest backing outfit for Startime, Ellis was a mentor.
"I used to go to Studio One on Brentford Road just to look at Alton and Ken Boothe; and said 'I want to be like them'. It brought joy to me when I started backing them. That brought so much joy to me that when they started labelling me as a vintage band, I just didn't care - even though I back everybody. His passing touched me," said Parks sadly.
Minister of Information, Culture, Sports and Youth Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, for her part, extended condolences to his family, while lauding him as a reggae icon.
"Like thousands of other Jamaicans, I deeply mourned the passing of Jamaica's most famous exponent of rock steady, Alton Ellis," said Grange, adding that it was Ellis and keyboardist, the late Jackie Mittoo, who invented the rock steady beat in the mid-1960s.
One of Ellis' more enduring gems called Why has been immortalised as he is said to have asked why in his final moments. It is a reality that has deepened the sadness of at least one family member.
"My cousin (Uncle Alton's son Clive) tell me that one of the last words he uttered was 'Why'," said Owen 'Blakka' Ellis, comedian and nephew of the trailblazing Jamaican singer. "And I'm asking the Almighty why, why so many good people have to die. I think I feel too numb to think. My heart full and my eyes too tired to cry. I was about to sleep but the news got me out of bed. Now, Uncle Alton's words are stuck in my head." www.jamaicaobserver.com/lifestyle/html/20081012T000000-0500_141229_OBS_ALTON_ELLIS_HAILED_A_MUSICAL_ICON_.asp |
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Post by Jah Rebel on Oct 12, 2008 23:57:08 GMT 1
Ondertussen in memoriam op reggae.be geplaatst met een herpublicatie van het gesprek dat ik met Alton had na zijn optreden op Hove Live in 2005.
Ites,
Rebel
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Post by fire-a-dept on Oct 13, 2008 12:40:49 GMT 1
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Post by Botcha on Oct 16, 2008 16:21:34 GMT 1
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Post by missinglink on Oct 17, 2008 10:56:41 GMT 1
rest in peace mr. Ellis, deze zondag op back2bass a tribute to the great alton ellis !
one love
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