1. Alton Nehemiah Ellis was a Jamaican singer-songwriter.
18 Facts About Alton Ellis
1. 2.
Alton Ellis learned to play the piano at a young age.
3.
Alton Ellis attended Ebeneezer and Boys' Town schools, where he excelled in both music and sport.
4.
Alton Ellis remained in Kingston, working as a printer and after losing his job, he restarted his music career, initially forming a new duo with John Holt.
5.
When Holt joined The Paragons, Alton Ellis formed a new group, The Flames.
6.
Alton Ellis continued to work for Dodd and recorded for his arch-rival, Duke Reid on his Treasure Isle label.
7.
Alton Ellis continued to have hits for Treasure Isle; working with artists such as Lloyd Charmers, Phyllis Dillon and The Heptones.
8.
Alton Ellis began to produce his own records, including "My Time Is The Right Time" and "The Message".
9.
Alton Ellis had two hits with Lloyd Daley in "Deliver Us" and "Back to Africa", both released in the UK on the Gas record label, a subsidiary of Pama Records.
10.
Alton Ellis regularly returned to England, working with several London-based producers and after spending a few years in Canada, from 1972 he based himself permanently in the UK.
11.
Alton Ellis continued to record and perform regularly, recording in the early 1980s for emerging producers including Henry "Junjo" Lawes, Sugar Minott, and King Jammy.
12.
Alton Ellis opened up the All-Tone record shop in South London, and started a record label of the same name.
13.
Alton Ellis continued to be active on the reggae scene until his health began to deteriorate.
14.
In 2004, Alton Ellis was awarded the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican government in recognition of his achievements.
15.
Alton Ellis died of cancer on 10 October 2008 at Hammersmith Hospital, London.
16.
Alton Ellis's death prompted a statement from Jamaica's Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Olivia "Babsy" Grange, who said "even as we mourn the great Alton Ellis, we must give thanks for his monumental contribution to the development of Jamaica's popular music".
17.
Alton Ellis 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.
18.
Alton Ellis was the uncle of the Jamaican comedians Owen "Blakka" Ellis and Ian "Ity" Ellis.