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I've been asking my father a lot of questions this past week and getting some fascinating stories. We're having conversations that I might not have initiated if it weren't for uncle Alton.
My father Leslie is the eldest offspring of his dearly departed parents. He can claim, without challenge, to be the current patriarch or elder/leader of the Ellis clan. In fact, some friends and relatives, including uncle Alton, sometimes call him by the same name his children call him: 'Pa' or 'Pa Leslie'.
Only two of his eight children are not yet grandparents, but Leslie's not interested in any patriarchical title. If you meet him, you'd realise immediately that he's anything but the grand old fatherly type. He looks younger and fitter, and he can party harder than his youngest son 'Ity' Ellis
He has a lot of stories though. And this man knows things about uncle Alton that very few people, if any, can claim to know. After all, he's Alton's eldest sibling. He knew him when he was a little boy living with Percival and Beatrice Ellis in Trench Town. He knows the exact people, incidents and ideas that inspired many of uncle Alton's songs. He also recorded and performed with his famous brother as a member of The Flames and contributed informally to the creation of some of his songs. Pa actually wrote a complete song called Brown Eyes but instead of singing it, Alton encouraged his brother to record the song himself. Well, after waiting a whole day on a producer who never showed up, my father got fed up. So, him sell di song fi a pittance and di song sell off! <span style="font-weight: bold">Yes, Leslie sold Brown Eyes for two pounds to a group called Black Brothers and it became a hit for them. </span>
Singing why
<span style="font-weight: bold">Yesterday, we were talking about the lyrics for my favourite Alton Ellis song Why Birds Follow Spring. A friend had remarked to me the day before that she always assumed the song was a cover version. She thought the line 'why birds follow spring' sounded like something written by a foreigner who has experienced the changing seasons, and Alton hadn't begun to travel yet when he made that recording. So I asked Pa about it. His response was a terse 'we went to school and we read books, too, you know. We don't have to go foreign to know about spring and summer and birds'.
Then he went on to tell me the story behind the song. Uncle Alton was chilling out and playing his guitar one day when a man walked by and vented his frustration. It may have been a broken heart, a lost job or some missed opportunity, but the man let out a profanity laced question to nobody in particular. 'Why di (expletive deleted) life have to be so (badwud subtracted) hard?' asked the man.
"Yeah and why sun shine and rain fall and thunder roll?' Alton quipped in response. Everyone laughed. And Alton started strumming a chord and singing 'why'. And a song was born. </span>
That's just one of many. And Uncle Alton lived a storied life that could fill several books. Such has been his impact and contribution, we can definitely expect that there'll be books written about the great man. Who to tell? I may even try and write one. After all, I have a solid source. The world knows Alton Ellis through his music. Many people know him based on professional and/or social interaction. Some know him through more intimate contact. I'm proud to know him through the person who has known him the longest.
Live on and keep singing Uncle Alton!
[email protected]
My father Leslie is the eldest offspring of his dearly departed parents. He can claim, without challenge, to be the current patriarch or elder/leader of the Ellis clan. In fact, some friends and relatives, including uncle Alton, sometimes call him by the same name his children call him: 'Pa' or 'Pa Leslie'.
Only two of his eight children are not yet grandparents, but Leslie's not interested in any patriarchical title. If you meet him, you'd realise immediately that he's anything but the grand old fatherly type. He looks younger and fitter, and he can party harder than his youngest son 'Ity' Ellis
He has a lot of stories though. And this man knows things about uncle Alton that very few people, if any, can claim to know. After all, he's Alton's eldest sibling. He knew him when he was a little boy living with Percival and Beatrice Ellis in Trench Town. He knows the exact people, incidents and ideas that inspired many of uncle Alton's songs. He also recorded and performed with his famous brother as a member of The Flames and contributed informally to the creation of some of his songs. Pa actually wrote a complete song called Brown Eyes but instead of singing it, Alton encouraged his brother to record the song himself. Well, after waiting a whole day on a producer who never showed up, my father got fed up. So, him sell di song fi a pittance and di song sell off! <span style="font-weight: bold">Yes, Leslie sold Brown Eyes for two pounds to a group called Black Brothers and it became a hit for them. </span>
Singing why
<span style="font-weight: bold">Yesterday, we were talking about the lyrics for my favourite Alton Ellis song Why Birds Follow Spring. A friend had remarked to me the day before that she always assumed the song was a cover version. She thought the line 'why birds follow spring' sounded like something written by a foreigner who has experienced the changing seasons, and Alton hadn't begun to travel yet when he made that recording. So I asked Pa about it. His response was a terse 'we went to school and we read books, too, you know. We don't have to go foreign to know about spring and summer and birds'.
Then he went on to tell me the story behind the song. Uncle Alton was chilling out and playing his guitar one day when a man walked by and vented his frustration. It may have been a broken heart, a lost job or some missed opportunity, but the man let out a profanity laced question to nobody in particular. 'Why di (expletive deleted) life have to be so (badwud subtracted) hard?' asked the man.
"Yeah and why sun shine and rain fall and thunder roll?' Alton quipped in response. Everyone laughed. And Alton started strumming a chord and singing 'why'. And a song was born. </span>
That's just one of many. And Uncle Alton lived a storied life that could fill several books. Such has been his impact and contribution, we can definitely expect that there'll be books written about the great man. Who to tell? I may even try and write one. After all, I have a solid source. The world knows Alton Ellis through his music. Many people know him based on professional and/or social interaction. Some know him through more intimate contact. I'm proud to know him through the person who has known him the longest.
Live on and keep singing Uncle Alton!
[email protected]