The undisputed Godfather of rocksteady, Alton Ellis' performances were always legendary.

A year ago, pioneer Jamaica singer/songwriter Alton Ellis, was admitted to London hospital where he was undergoing treatment for cancer of the lymph glands. After this newspaper carried the story with the headline, "Say a prayer for the Godfather of rocksteady," his amazing recovery was celebrated with two memorable performances in Jamaica in June of this year.

However, at press time, his condition has deteriorated to the point that rumours are swirling far and wide that the veteran entertainer has made his exit from this life. Such is the state of the health of rocksteady's best crooner, that in recent days family members have been so overwhelmed with panic and anxiety, it has given rise to rumours across countries that he has died.

"There are a lot of rumours going around, but let your readers know that he (my father) is not dead. He is deteriorating all the time, so we his kids and family are staying by him," Clive Ellis, son of Alton Ellis, told the Observer from the hospital in London at the time of writing.

And Owen "Blacka" Ellis said that his uncle Alton was not talking or moving, and this cast a shadow over his prospect for survival that led to the spate of rumours that he had undergone the worst. The undisputed Godfather of rocksteady, Alton Ellis' performances were always legendary, always commanding attention, and in this his most challenging experience ever, is no different.

A supremely gifted artiste whose professional career is marked by his ability to take rhyhtm and blues/souls songs, popular or obscured, and turned them into reggae hits, rather than just another cover version. One can't help but wonder if Alton Ellis, in his heyday, was scripting the soundtrack for the phase he is now going through.

In this moment of sombre contemplation there are songs in which he could take comfort, in reflections. Songs evoking memories of his two most recent performances in Jamaica like Can't Stop Now, Girl I've Got A Date, Too Late to Turn Back Now, Cry Tough, The Feeling Inside, Can I Change My Mind and Still Trying.

And anyone who attended his Get Ready to Rock Steady concerts in June put on by the Ministry of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports at the National Indoor Sport Centre, as well as Comedy Rock Steady staged by his family organisation Ellis International at The Roof of the Portmore Pines Plaza, would have had an experience to cherish forever.

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