Alton Ellis

Cry Tough.

LONDON (AP) — Reggae music pioneer Alton Ellis, who enjoyed a career revival in recent years after a string of hits in the 1960s, died Friday. He was 70.
Ellis died peacefully, officials at Hammersmith hospital said, adding that his family did not wish to release details. He had been hospitalized for several weeks.
In a tribute to Ellis on its Web site, Trojan Records on Saturday said that it mourned “the passing of a reggae legend” and that Ellis had lymphatic cancer. He collapsed during a performance in London in August, the record company said.
Ellis was known as “the Godfather of rocksteady” and enjoyed a string of hits in Jamaica during the early days of reggae.
At the beginning of his career, he had several hits while fronting the vocal group The Flames, including “Dance Crasher,” “I’m Just a Guy” and “Sunday Coming.”
He began his career in the late 1950s, before Jamaican music earned a worldwide following, and recorded for many local producers before launching his own All-tone label.
Ellis moved to Canada and then to England in the 1970s as his career declined, but he returned to popularity in the past 15 years because of a rocksteady trend in Jamaica and Europe.

:( One of my favorites. RIP.

still in luv w/u :(

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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.[11]

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Sad. RIP

Ellis underwent chemotherapy before returning to the stage, but died in London's Hammersmith hospital on Friday night.

He leaves more than 20 children.

That's quite a lot.

Not even half as many as Family Man.

RIP.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6Dq7hSmZrc