Alton Nehemiah Ellis OD (1 September 1938 – 10 October 2008) was a Jamaican singer-songwriter. One of the innovators of rocksteady who was given the informal title "Godfather of Rocksteady". In 2006, he was inducted into the International Reggae And World Music Awards Hall Of Fame.
Early life
Born Alton Nehemiah Ellis in Trenchtown, Kingston, Jamaica, Ellis was raised within a musical family and learned to play the piano at a young age. He attended Ebeneezer and Boys' Town schools, where he excelled in both music and sport. While at Boys' Town Ellis performed as a dancer (in a duo) in the first show that a school director called Mr Bailey had organized for Vere Johns who had been invited down to talent scout. He would later compete on Vere Johns' Opportunity Hour. After winning some competitions, he switched to singing, starting his career in 1959 as part of the duo Alton & Eddy with Eddy Parkins.
Career
Rhythm and blues
Podcasts:
Alton Ellis
ALBUMS
- I’m Still in Love With You released: 2006
- Many Moods Of released: 2006
- Be True to Yourself: Anthology 1965-1973 released: 2004
- Workin' on a Groovy Thing released: 2003
- Sings Rock And Soul released: 2002
- My Time Is the Right Time released: 2000
- Arise Black Man 1968-1978 released: 1999
- Soul Groover released: 1997
- Sunday Coming released: 1995
- Cry Tough released: 1993
- Alton & Hortense Ellis released: 1990
- Continuation released: 1985
- Showcase released: 1984
- Daydreaming released: 1983
- A New Day released: 1983
- Mr Skabeana released: 1981
- Many Moods of Alton Ellis released: 1980
- Love to Share released: 1979
- Still in Love released: 1977
- Sunday Coming released: 1971
- The Best of Alton Ellis released: 1969
- Mr. Soul of Jamaica released: 1967
- Slummin' released:
- Get Ready for Rock-Reggae-Steady released:
- Jet Star Reggae Max - Alton Ellis released:
- The Duke Reid Collection released:
- Soul of Jamaica released:
- Best of Alton Ellis released:
I’m Still in Love With You
Released 2006- I’m Still in Love With You
- Willow Tree
- Can’t Get Used to Losing You
- Sitting in the Park
- Breaking Up Is Hard to Do
- Live and Learn (extended mix)
- Breakfast in Bed
- The Picture Was You
- People Make the World Go Round
- I’ll Be Waiting
- Can I Change My Mind
- Wide World
- Why Birds Fly
- Lord Deliver Us
- Secretly
- You Said It Again
- Cry Together
- When I’m Down
Be True to Yourself: Anthology 1965-1973
Released 2004- Something You've Got
- Dance Crasher
- Don't Trouble People
- The Preacher
- Blessings of Love
- Shake It
- (Girl) I've Got a Date
- How Can I
- Cry Tough
- Rocksteady
- Duke of Earl
- All My Tears (Come Rolling)
- Ain't That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One)
- Why Birds Follow Spring
- If I Could Rule the World
- Oowee Baby (Baby I Love You)
- My Willow Tree
- I Can't Stop Now
- Why Did You Leave Me
- I Can't Stand It
- My Time Is the Right Time
- Bye Bye Love
- Tonight (A.K.A. Feeling Inside)
- Give Me Your Love
- Keep on Yearning
- La La Means I Love
- If I Had the Right
- Breaking Up
- Diana
- Remember That Sunday
My Time Is the Right Time
Released 2000- Blessings of Love
- The Preacher
- Cry Tough
- I've Got a Date
- Why Birds Follow Spring
- Rock Steady
- Duke of Earl
- Ain't That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One)
- Oo Wee Baby (Baby I Love You)
- How Can I?
- My Willow Tree
- I Can't Stand It
- My Time Is the Right Time
- Breaking Up
- La La Means I Love You
- Remember That Sunday
- Black Man's Word
- Feeling Inside (True Loving)
Soul Groover
Released 1997- Dance Crasher
- Girl I've Got a Date
- Rocksteady
- Duke of Earl
- All My Tears (Come Rolling)
- Ain't That Loving You
- Why Birds Follow Spring
- Oowee Baby (Baby I Love You)
- How Can I
- Willow Tree
- My Time Is the Right Time
- The Message
- Trying to Reach My Goal
- If I Had the Right
- Give Me Your Love
- Breaking Up
- Personality
- Diana
- Remember That Sunday
- What Does It Take to Win Your Love
- Wyo've Made Me So Very Happy
- I'll Be Waiting
- Soul Groover
- Lord Deliver Us
- You Are Mine
- All That We Need Is Love
Cry Tough
Released 1993- Breaking Up
- Why Birds Follow Spring
- I Can't Stop
- Ain't That Loving You
- You Make Me So Very Happy
- Remember That Sunday (alternate take)
- All My Tears Come Rolling
- Baby I Love You
- Chatty Chatty People
- Willow Tree
- If I Could Rule This World
- What Does It Take (take Two)
- Cry Tough (take Six)
- Girl I've Got a Date (Soul Style)
- Can't Stand It (Extended Mix)
- I'm Just a Guy (Soul Style feat. Phyllis Dillon)
- La La Means I Love You
- Why Did You Leave Me to Cry (feat. Phyllis Dillon)
- The Same Song
- Black Man, White Man (take Two)
Get Ready for Rock-Reggae-Steady
- Mad, Mad, Mad
- Let Him Try
- A Whiter Shade of Pale
- I'm Just a Guy
- Massachusetts
- Ain't That Loving You
- Get Ready
- Live and Learn
- Baby, Now That I've Found You
- Never Love Again
- Why Birds Follow Spring
- Pearl
- Tumbling Tears
- African Descendants
- Blackman's Pride
- People Keep Quarreling
- Working on a Groovy Thing
- Blackish White
- I Don't Want to Be Right
- Misty
Jet Star Reggae Max - Alton Ellis
- Breaking Up
- You Make Me So Very Happy
- A Fool
- Willow Tree
- Remember That Sunday
- Too Late to Turn Back Now
- Rocksteady
- Let Him Try
- Blackmans Pride
- Love on Top
- Baby I Love You
- Girl I've Got a Date
- Live and Learn
- I Don't Know Why
- I'm Still in Love
- Mr Skabena
- Tumblins Tears
- My Time
- I'll Be Waiting (live)
- Murial
The Duke Reid Collection
- Breaking Up
- Why Birds Follow Spring
- Ain't That Lovin' You
- I Can't Stop Now
- You Made Me So Happy
- Remember That Sunday
- What Does It Take to Win Your Love
- All My Tears
- Baby I Love You
- Chatty, Chatty People
- Willow Tree
- If I Could Rule This World
- Rock Steady
- Girl I've Got a Date
- La La Means I Love You
- I Can't Stand It
- Cry Tough
- How Can I
- [unknown]
Born: 1938-09-01
Died: 2008-10-10
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La La Means I Love You
by: Alton EllisVerse 1:
Many guys have come to you
With a line that wasn't true
And you passed them by (passed them by)
Now you're in the center ring
And their lines don't mean a thing
Why don't you let me try (let me try)
Now I don't wear a diamond ring
I don't even have a song to sing
All I know is
Chorus:
La la la la la la la la la means I love you [1: Oh, baby please now 2: Oh... baby]
La la la la la la la la la means I love you
Verse 2:
If I ever saw a girl
That I needed in this world
You are the one for me (one for me)
Let me hold me in my arms
Girl, and thrill you with my charms
I'm sure you will see (you will see)
The things I am sayin' are true
And the way I explain them to you
Listen to me
Instrumental break
Partial verse:
The things I am sayin' are true
And the way I explain them to you, yes to you
Listen to me
Coda [repeat to fade]:
La la la la la la la la la means I love you [1: Oh, you'll have to understand 2:
Come on and take my hand]