Singer Alton Ellis, 70 - leaves more than 20 children - LA Times Obituary
Bob Feigel
Alton Ellis
Singer known for rocksteady sound
Alton Ellis, 70, a reggae music pioneer who popularized the laid-back
rocksteady sound that came out of Jamaica in the 1960s, died Friday of
cancer in a London hospital.
Ellis was set to record "Get Ready -- Rock Steady" in the late 1960s
when his bassist failed to show up. The keyboardist slowed down the
frantic ska beat so that he could also play the bass part.
The resulting rocksteady sound showcased Ellis' smooth vocals and had
"soon taken over Jamaican music, with Ellis leading the charge,"
according to the All Music Web database.
Born into a musical family in 1938 in Kingston, Jamaica, Ellis began
his music career in the late 1950s.
While fronting the vocal group the Flames, he had several hit songs,
including the anti-violence plea "Dance Crasher." Among several other
major successes were "Cry Tough" and "Girl I've Got a Date," which
became his signature song.
With the arrival of Bob Marley and roots reggae, Ellis' fame peaked in
the 1960s. He moved to Canada and settled mainly in England in the
1970s.
Over the last 15 years, rocksteady found new popularity in Jamaica and
Europe, and Ellis had performed regularly until August.
His survivors include more than 20 children.
--
"It's not that I'm afraid to die. I just don't want to be there when it happens." - Woody Allen
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Wax-up and drop-in of Surfing's Golden Years: <http://www.surfwriter.net>
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Matthew Kruk
news:2ac8f4teco4ssovpl...@4ax.com...
> http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-passings14-2008oct14,0,5811020.story
> ...
> His survivors include more than 20 children.
The lawyers must be lining up ...
Bob Feigel
<Matthe...@Telus.net> magnanimously proffered:
What it doesn't say is how many mothers there were ...
Matthew Kruk
> [Default] On Tue, 14 Oct 2008 05:51:20 GMT, "Matthew Kruk"
> <Matthe...@Telus.net> magnanimously proffered:
>
>>"Bob Feigel" <b...@surfwriter.net.not> wrote in message
>>news:2ac8f4teco4ssovpl...@4ax.com...
>>> http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-passings14-2008oct14,0,5811020.story
>>> ...
>>> His survivors include more than 20 children.
>>
>>The lawyers must be lining up ...
>
> What it doesn't say is how many mothers there were ...
More lawyers! :-)
Bob Feigel
<Matthe...@Telus.net> magnanimously proffered:
>"Bob Feigel" <b...@surfwriter.net.not> wrote in message
>news:bhh8f4t8a1i4eagtb...@4ax.com...
>> [Default] On Tue, 14 Oct 2008 05:51:20 GMT, "Matthew Kruk"
>> <Matthe...@Telus.net> magnanimously proffered:
>>
>>>"Bob Feigel" <b...@surfwriter.net.not> wrote in message
>>>news:2ac8f4teco4ssovpl...@4ax.com...
>>>> http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-passings14-2008oct14,0,5811020.story
>>>> ...
>>>> His survivors include more than 20 children.
>>>
>>>The lawyers must be lining up ...
>>
>> What it doesn't say is how many mothers there were ...
>
>More lawyers! :-)
At the end of the day there will be more lawyers than children or
mothers! Guess we know where all the money will go to ...
The Kentucky Wizard
consultations with my Joint Chiefs of Staff, being briefed by members of my
Cabinet and many telephone conversations with various World Leaders, I have
come to the following conclusions:
> http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-passings14-2008oct14,0,5811020.story
>
> Alton Ellis
>
> Singer known for rocksteady sound
>
> Alton Ellis, 70, a reggae music pioneer who popularized the laid-back
> rocksteady sound that came out of Jamaica in the 1960s, died Friday of
> cancer in a London hospital.
>
> His survivors include more than 20 children.
The true cause of death: Child Support.
--
Never argue with an idiot; they'll drag you down to their level and beat you
with experience.
© The Wiz ®
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