alton ellis a de fada, an account of Coxson's 70th BDay
Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 2:34 am
a fine fine gentleman, publicly resisting rudeboys even while Marley was promoting them, I saw Alton tell Coxson at the occasion of Coxson's 70th birthday, "though mi pennyless still, I'm here to honour you." (Coxson was reknown for not paying his artists the money their records earned..) Lee Perry entered the Studio One compound a while later, resplendent in cape and crown, and because somebody deigned to reach out and touch him, he actually left the yard and reentered, untouchable, so to make his entrance properly. Then Lascelles Perkins crushed my hand with a massive handshake. Tony Jays sang along with his fresh release (on an old St.One riddim) as it was playing on the sound; Stitt stood there alone under the carport looking sidelong at the box, assessing the crowd. Stitt is another fine gentleman, put a fruit juice in his hand if ever you got him seated. Tony Tuff kept running in and out of the backrooms in the Inner Sanctum, conducting some bad boy bizness. Jah Jerry, all of four foot ten and 85 lbs. smiled and smiled and smiled and once in awhile said, "I play riddim for the Soul Defenders," as if it wasn't a moment that occured 37 years ago. Some guy in all white clothes did a butt-slide-butt thing across the dirt, trying to get a big fat t'ing to dance with him. I'd hate to see his laundry. And thru it all, the only guy really dressed nice and acting well was Alton Ellis, gentleman singer. Jennifer Lara was there too, classy woman, and that's all I remember... you can turn off that bright light now