Pour out a little Red Stripe. Alton Nehemiah Ellis, the Jamaican musical legend known as the “Godfather of Rocksteady,” died last Friday (October 10) at Hammersmith Hospital in London. He was 70 years old.

Ellis came to prominence as a ska singer on the Studio One label in the 1950s. But it was in rock steady that Ellis made his true impact on Jamaican music. His song “Get Ready – Rock Steady” (below) is arguably the first rocksteady song ever. A precursor to reggae, rocksteady was driven by a slower tempo than ska, featured elements (and a good deal of songs) from American R&B and a heavy bass backbeat.

Fellow Jamaican singer Delroy Williams, a friend for decades, described Ellis’ voice as “the sweetest in the reggae world. … His music is the reason for a lot of babies — that’s how sweet and warm and loving it is.”

According to an obituary on the Trojan Records site, Ellis was diagnosed with cancer in 2007 and was recently admitted to the hospital after collapsing on stage on August 10th. After initially improving, Ellis was re-admitted for further treatment two weeks later.

Ellis is survived by his wife and more than 20 children.

Alton Ellis – “Get Ready – Rock Steady”

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