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Artist
Alton & Hortense Ellis
12+ albums
rocksteadyreggaeStudio One Labelfemale vocalistsjamaica
about
Alton Nehemiah Ellis, OD, (September 1, 1938 – October 10, 2008), was a Jamaican musician best known as one of the innovators of rocksteady music, and was often referred to as the "Godfather of Rocksteady". In 2006, he was inducted into the International Reggae And World Music Awards Hall Of Fame. Ellis was born in 1938 and grew up in Kingston's Trench Town district. Born into a musical family, he learned to play piano at a young age. He initially sought fame as a dancer. After winning a couple of competitions, he switched to singing, starting his career in 1959 as part of the duo Alton & Eddy with Eddy Perkins. Ellis and Perkins recorded for Coxsone Dodd at Studio One, initially in the R&B style, having a massive hit with "Muriel", a song Ellis had written whilst working as a labourer on a building site. In 2004, Ellis was awarded the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican government in recognition of his achievements. In December 2007, he was admitted to hospital in London for treatment of cancer of the lymph glands, but he returned to live performance after receiving chemotherapy. Ellis died on 10 October 2008 at Hammersmith Hospital, West London, of cancer. He was the older brother of the late Hortense Ellis, and the father of more than twenty children including Noel Ellis and Christopher Ellis, who are both reggae singers. Hortense Ellis (18 April 1941, Trenchtown, Kingston, Jamaica - 19 October 2000) was a reggae musician, and the younger sister of fellow artist, Alton
top songs
albums
Alton & Hortense Ellis
At Studio One
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If I Were Wes Anderson: The Playlist Presents Soundtrack Series - Outtakes Disc
I'm Still In Love With You
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Alton & Hortense Ellis At Studio 1
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Studio One : Respect To Studio One
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Respect To Studio One (Disc 2)
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Soul Jazz Records Presents STUDIO ONE Rocksteady 2: The Soul Of Young Jamaica - Rocksteady, Soul And Early Reggae At Studio One
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Respect To Studio One
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Alton & Hortense Ellis At Studio One
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Studio One : Alton & Hortense Ellis