Roots Archives Forum

Again I'm looking for information on a 'lost' artist who is currently still absent from Roots Archives.
All I know is that there are two albums by Babatunde Tony Ellis. First one called 'No Place to Run' on Pool International and second (and last?) one called 'Change will come' on Polydor (of all labels, yes !).
He seems to have been active mainly in England and Europe from maybe 1978/79 until 1982/3.
'Change will come' was released late in 1981 and had been recorded in Denmark (!) with a band of english (?) and danish musicians and has a quite distinctive 'Marley' sound.
This man must have been touring the european continent quite extensively some 25 years ago, so maybe someone can recall seeing him live or can contribute some information on him.
Greetings.

Tony Ellis lives in Stockholm, Sweden if he did not move recently. I belive he worked a lot with Swedish reggae legend Peps Persson and Peps Blodsband back in the days. He is still active as a musician but i dont think he plays very much reggae now its more rock "á la Jimmy Hendrix".

Its pretty easy to find his albums here in Sweden. He released a 12" single called "Irie" too, said to be one of his better ones.

visit his website too http://medlem.spray.se/tonyellis/

His 2 roots album are very good ones...
I had already see another black men with the name "Babatunde" ahead, what it mean if somebody now plz?

Thank you Max

Np Bellyman.

Actually I just saw his son post in a Swedish reggae forum in a thread about mr Ellis. I could ask him to write a few lines here, he seemed to appreciate people having interest in his fathers music. Maby correct flaws in my post.

Ites,
I just picked up this album the album, "No Place to Run" today. Very nice album! Not heavy roots, per say, but nice Rockers listening. Very nice version of Johnny Clarke's 'Roots Natty Roots Natty Congo'. I was mostly attracted to the wicked cover art and the fact that I knew nothing of this artist. Could someone please describe what "Babatunde" means?

Many Thanks,
Jah Chicken

I've always heard it as part of a name. The great West African drummer Babatunde Olatunji comes immediately to mind when I hear it.

A little judicious use of Google turns up the following regarding its use as a first name:

BABATUNDE
Gender: Masculine
Usage: Yoruba
Means "father has returned" in Yoruba.

Hi,breddas.Tony Ellis has a fantastic live lp.It's title is RED HOT AND LIVE and this is a killer lp.

how can i get that

You can check only for the vinyl,I think.With open ears...