Oh, how I wish I could be in England this weekend! Why? My superstar cousin, Ghetto Youths recording artiste and youngest son of Alton Ellis, Christopher Ellis, will mark the 74th birthday of his late father this Saturday with a special live musical showcase at Jazz Café in London.

The last time he performed at that venue was August 10, 2008, when his father symbolically passed the baton to him by publicly handing him the microphone. Although battling with ill-health at the time, Alton was onstage for over an hour delivering a soul-filled set to the packed house. And as his body succumbed to weariness exacerbated by the ravages of cancer and compounded by jetlag (he was still recovering from a 10-hour flight, after a hectic round of shows in Jamaica), he had to take a seat several times during the show, and allow Christopher to do the singing. And boy did he sing!

Listen nuh people, who was it that said big men don't cry? Tell them I say that's a big lie! Ah mean, it wasn't a big hell-of-a cow bawling, but Jah know, I did buss a few tears yesterday. Fi real man! Di bawling started because I became overwhelmed with emotion from watching a video recording of that performance.

When, in the middle of Girl I've Got A Date, Alton appeared as if he couldn't go on, he sat down. And when Christopher seamlessly took over the song and wailed 'got to keep on singing' he sounded more like Alton than Alton himself. Trust me, goose bumps cover mi skin, mi head swell with awe and pride, and mi couldn't hold back di eye water!

encore

The show ended with an appeal for encore that the elder Ellis was physically unable to deliver, but young Christopher took to the stage to bring the night to a fitting climax with I'll Never Love Again and Dance Crasher - and dem song deh older than him by more than 20 years! Alton left that show and was taken straight to the hospital and he stayed there until he passed away eight weeks later. That was four years ago. Yes, four years ago that the Godfather of Rock Steady made his transition. But oh my, what a musical legacy he left us! In addition to his amazing and enduring body of work, Alton's legacy lies in the unquestionable talent of his children.

His eldest son Noel (aka Rozah Roze) is the singer/comedian who's emerged as one of the standout talents in the popular Ity and Fancy Cat TV show. Noel is also working on his soon-to-be-released album entitled Almost Accapella - an acoustic tribute to his father. Noel's sisters Georgia and Lovella are gifted singers who're both working on their own recording projects as well, and are also keeping busy with live performances.

And this Saturday, Uncle Alton's legacy will loom large and live on his birthday, as Jazz Café London reverberates with memory, music and the magical voice of his son Christopher. And people, believe me when I tell you this: when you see Christopher Ellis live, there's absolutely no doubt that Alton Ellis lives!

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