1938 Changsha fire and Alton Ellis: Difference between pages
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{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| Name = Alton Ellis O.D.
| Img =
| Img_capt =
| Img_size =
| Landscape =
| Background = solo_singer
| Birth_name = Alton Neamiah Ellis
| Alias =
| Born = 1944<br />[[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]], [[Jamaica]]
| Died =
| Origin =
| Instrument = [[Vocals]]
| Voice_type =
| Genre = [[R&B]], [[ska]], [[rocksteady]], [[reggae]]
| Occupation = [[Singer-songwriter]]
| Years_active = 1959 – present
| Label = [[Studio One]], Treasure Isle, [[Trojan Records|Trojan]]
| Associated_acts =
| URL =
| Current_members =
| Past_members =
| Notable_instruments =
}}
'''Alton Ellis [[Order of Distinction|OD]]''' (born '''Alton Neamiah Ellis''', 1944 in [[Kingston, Jamaica]]) is a [[musician]] best known as one of the innovators of [[rocksteady]] music.<ref name="allmusic">[http://wc10.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:gifixqq5ldfe~T1 allmusic.com entry for Alton Ellis]</ref><ref>[http://zonareggae.wordpress.com/2007/04/13/zonareggae-reviews-many-moods-ofalton-ellis/ Zona Reggae review of "Many Moods of Alton Ellis"]</ref><ref name="bbctyne">[http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/roots/2004/01/altonellis.shtml BBC Tyne article]</ref> In 2006, he was inducted into the International Reggae And World Music Awards Hall Of Fame.
==
Ellis started his career in 1959 as part of the duo ''Alton & Eddie'' with [[Eddie Perkins (singer)|Eddie Perkins]].<ref name="Larkin">Larkin, Colin (1998) "The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae", Virgin Books, ISBN 0 7535 0242 9</ref> Ellis and Perkins recorded for [[Coxsone Dodd]] at [[Studio One (record label)|Studio One]], initially in the [[R&B]] style, having a massive hit with "Muriel", before Perkins moved to the [[United States]].<ref name="Larkin" /> Ellis continued to work for Dodd and also recorded for his arch-rival, [[Duke Reid]] on his Treasure Isle [[record label|label]].<ref name="Larkin" /> By the mid 1960s, [[ska]] was moving on and the beat was slowing down to [[rocksteady]] and becoming associated with the [[rude boy]] [[subculture]] in Jamaican [[dancehall]]s. Recording with a backing trio, The Flames (consisting of his brother Leslie Ellis, David "Baby G" Gordon and [[Winston Jarrett]]), Ellis scored big with the hits "Girl I've Got a Date", "Cry Tough" and "Get Ready - Rock Steady", which was the first song to refer to the name of the newer genre. As rocksteady dominated the Jamaican airwaves for the next two years, Ellis continued to score hits for Treasure Isle, working with artists such as [[Lloyd Charmers]], [[Phyllis Dillon]] and [[The Heptones]]. His ''Mr. Soul of Jamaica'' album is regarded as one of the definitive rocksteady albums.<ref name="Larkin" />
During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Ellis recorded for some of Jamaica's top producers, having two huge hits with [[Lloyd Daley]] in "Deliver Us" and "Back to Africa".<ref name="Larkin" /> Ellis had toured the [[United Kingdom]] in the 1960s with Studio One band the [[Soul Vendors]], and from 1972 he based himself in the UK.<ref name="Larkin" />
The "Mad Mad" [[riddim]], first [[sound recording and reproduction|recorded]] by Ellis in 1967 would later be recycled in more than one hundred other [[song]]s. The instantly recognizable three-note descending horn line was reinterpreted by [[Henry "Junjo" Lawes]] and eventually became known widely as the "Diseases" [[reggae]] riddim. "Diseases" is notably utilized in [[Yellowman]]'s [[hit record|hit]] song ""Zungguzungguguzungguzeng", which has in turn has been [[sampling (music)|sampled]] and reinterpreted by a long list of popular [[hip hop]] artists including [[KRS One]], [[The Notorious B.I.G.]], [[Tupac Shakur]] and [[Blackstar]]. This constant reinterpretation and referencing has made Ellis a major but little-known influence in the trajectory of dancehall, reggae and hip hop.<ref>{{cite paper|first=Marshall|last=Wayne|title="Mad Mad" Migration: Caribbean Circulation and the Movement of Jamaican Rhythm|url=http://www.wayneandwax.com/academic/mad-mad-paper.html|date=2004-03-11|accessdate=2008-02-01}}</ref>
Ellis continued to be active on the reggae scene until his health began to deteriorate.<ref name="Taylor">Taylor, Angus (2006) "[http://www.reggaenews.co.uk/concert_reviews/alton_ellis.asp Alton Ellis @ The Jazz Cafe 5th January 2006]", Reggae News</ref> In December 2007, he was admitted to hospital in [[London]] for treatment of cancer of the [[Lymphatic system|lymph]] glands.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lifestyle/html/20071215T150000-0500_130425_OBS_SAY_A_PRAYER_FOR__THE_GODFATHER_OF_ROCKSTEADY__.asp|title=Say a prayer for 'The Godfather of Rocksteady'|last=Walters|first=Basil|publisher=The Jamaica Observer|date=2007-12-16|accessdate=2007-12-26}}</ref>
He is the younger brother of the late [[Hortense Ellis]], and the father of Noel Ellis and Christopher Ellis, who are both reggae singers.
==
* ''Mr Soul Of Jamaica'' (1967) Treasure Isle
* ''Sings Rock and Soul'' (1967) Studio One
* ''The Best Of'' (1969) Coxsone
* ''Sunday Coming'' (1970) Coxsone
* ''Greatest Hits'' (1973) Count Shelly also released as ''Cry Tough''
* ''Still In Love'' (1977) [[Trojan Records|Horse]]
* ''A Love To Share'' (1979) Third World
* ''Showcase'' (1984) Studio One
* ''Slummin''' (198?) Abraham
* ''Mr Ska Bean'a'' (1981) Cha Cha (Alton Ellis & The Heptones)
* ''A New Day'' (1983) Body Music
* ''Daydreaming'' (1983) Silver Camel
* ''25th Silver Jubilee'' (1984) Sky Note
* ''Continuation'' (1985) All Tone
* ''Jubilee Volume 2'' (1985) Sky Note
* ''Change My Mind'' (2000) Orchard
* ''More Alton Ellis'' (2001) T.P.
* ''Live With Aspo'' Belle
;With Hortense Ellis:
* ''Alton & Hortense Ellis At Studio 1'' (1990) [[Heartbeat Records|Heartbeat]]
;Compilations:
* ''All My Tears'' (1965-68) (2006) Brook
* ''Alton Ellis Sings, Heptones Harmonise'' [[Jet Star]] (Alton Ellis & [[The Heptones]] - 1978-80)
* ''Arise Black Man'' (1968-78) Moll Selekta
* ''Be True To Yourself'' (196X-7X) (2004) Trojan
* ''Get Ready For Rock Reggae Steady'' (1967-74) (1999) Jamaican Gold
* ''Many Moods Of Alton Ellis'' (1978-80) (1980) Tele-Tech
* ''My Time Is The Right Time'' (1966-71) (2000) Westside
* ''Reggae Valley Of Decision'' (197X) (1996) House of Reggae
* ''Soul Groover'' (1997) [[Trojan Records|Trojan]]
* ''Reggae Max'' (1997) Jet Star
* ''The Duke Reid Collection'' (1999) Rhino
* ''Soul of Jamaica'' (2001) Bianco
* ''It Hurts Me So'' (2006) Essential Gold
* ''Reggae Chronicles'' (2006) Hallmark
* ''Muriel'' (2007) All Tone
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*{{MySpace|altonellisod}}
*[http://www.roots-archives.com/artist/87 Alton Ellis at Roots Archives]
*"[http://www.firecorner.com/magazine/boomshak/index.html Sleepy Meets Mr. Soul at Ladbroke Grove]" - interview with Alton Ellis and [[Horace Andy]] by Lol Bell-Brown and Mark Ottignon
*[http://www.rebelbase.be/index.php?page=54&interview_column=76 Rebel Base interview]
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Alton Ellis OD (born Alton Neamiah Ellis, 1944 in Kingston, Jamaica) is a musician best known as one of the innovators of rocksteady music.[1][2][3] In 2006, he was inducted into the International Reggae And World Music Awards Hall Of Fame.
Career
Ellis started his career in 1959 as part of the duo Alton & Eddie with Eddie Perkins.[4] Ellis and Perkins recorded for Coxsone Dodd at Studio One, initially in the R&B style, having a massive hit with "Muriel", before Perkins moved to the United States.[4] Ellis continued to work for Dodd and also recorded for his arch-rival, Duke Reid on his Treasure Isle label.[4] By the mid 1960s, ska was moving on and the beat was slowing down to rocksteady and becoming associated with the rude boy subculture in Jamaican dancehalls. Recording with a backing trio, The Flames (consisting of his brother Leslie Ellis, David "Baby G" Gordon and Winston Jarrett), Ellis scored big with the hits "Girl I've Got a Date", "Cry Tough" and "Get Ready - Rock Steady", which was the first song to refer to the name of the newer genre. As rocksteady dominated the Jamaican airwaves for the next two years, Ellis continued to score hits for Treasure Isle, working with artists such as Lloyd Charmers, Phyllis Dillon and The Heptones. His Mr. Soul of Jamaica album is regarded as one of the definitive rocksteady albums.[4]
During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Ellis recorded for some of Jamaica's top producers, having two huge hits with Lloyd Daley in "Deliver Us" and "Back to Africa".[4] Ellis had toured the United Kingdom in the 1960s with Studio One band the Soul Vendors, and from 1972 he based himself in the UK.[4]
The "Mad Mad" riddim, first recorded by Ellis in 1967 would later be recycled in more than one hundred other songs. The instantly recognizable three-note descending horn line was reinterpreted by Henry "Junjo" Lawes and eventually became known widely as the "Diseases" reggae riddim. "Diseases" is notably utilized in Yellowman's hit song ""Zungguzungguguzungguzeng", which has in turn has been sampled and reinterpreted by a long list of popular hip hop artists including KRS One, The Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur and Blackstar. This constant reinterpretation and referencing has made Ellis a major but little-known influence in the trajectory of dancehall, reggae and hip hop.[5]
Ellis continued to be active on the reggae scene until his health began to deteriorate.[6] In December 2007, he was admitted to hospital in London for treatment of cancer of the lymph glands.[7]
He is the younger brother of the late Hortense Ellis, and the father of Noel Ellis and Christopher Ellis, who are both reggae singers.
Albums
- Mr Soul Of Jamaica (1967) Treasure Isle
- Sings Rock and Soul (1967) Studio One
- The Best Of (1969) Coxsone
- Sunday Coming (1970) Coxsone
- Greatest Hits (1973) Count Shelly also released as Cry Tough
- Still In Love (1977) Horse
- A Love To Share (1979) Third World
- Showcase (1984) Studio One
- Slummin' (198?) Abraham
- Mr Ska Bean'a (1981) Cha Cha (Alton Ellis & The Heptones)
- A New Day (1983) Body Music
- Daydreaming (1983) Silver Camel
- 25th Silver Jubilee (1984) Sky Note
- Continuation (1985) All Tone
- Jubilee Volume 2 (1985) Sky Note
- Change My Mind (2000) Orchard
- More Alton Ellis (2001) T.P.
- Live With Aspo Belle
- With Hortense Ellis
- Alton & Hortense Ellis At Studio 1 (1990) Heartbeat
- Compilations
- All My Tears (1965-68) (2006) Brook
- Alton Ellis Sings, Heptones Harmonise Jet Star (Alton Ellis & The Heptones - 1978-80)
- Arise Black Man (1968-78) Moll Selekta
- Be True To Yourself (196X-7X) (2004) Trojan
- Get Ready For Rock Reggae Steady (1967-74) (1999) Jamaican Gold
- Many Moods Of Alton Ellis (1978-80) (1980) Tele-Tech
- My Time Is The Right Time (1966-71) (2000) Westside
- Reggae Valley Of Decision (197X) (1996) House of Reggae
- Soul Groover (1997) Trojan
- Reggae Max (1997) Jet Star
- The Duke Reid Collection (1999) Rhino
- Soul of Jamaica (2001) Bianco
- It Hurts Me So (2006) Essential Gold
- Reggae Chronicles (2006) Hallmark
- Muriel (2007) All Tone
References
- ^ allmusic.com entry for Alton Ellis
- ^ Zona Reggae review of "Many Moods of Alton Ellis"
- ^ BBC Tyne article
- ^ a b c d e f Larkin, Colin (1998) "The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae", Virgin Books, ISBN 0 7535 0242 9
- ^ Wayne, Marshall (2004-03-11). ""Mad Mad" Migration: Caribbean Circulation and the Movement of Jamaican Rhythm". Retrieved 2008-02-01.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^ Taylor, Angus (2006) "Alton Ellis @ The Jazz Cafe 5th January 2006", Reggae News
- ^ Walters, Basil (2007-12-16). "Say a prayer for 'The Godfather of Rocksteady'". The Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
External links
- Template:MySpace
- Alton Ellis at Roots Archives
- "Sleepy Meets Mr. Soul at Ladbroke Grove" - interview with Alton Ellis and Horace Andy by Lol Bell-Brown and Mark Ottignon
- Rebel Base interview