Christopher Ellis points to an advert for a concert featuring his late father, Alton. - Photos by Leighton Levy

Alton Ellis died on October 10, following a protracted battle with cancer, bringing to an end a stellar music career that spanned four decades.

During that career, which began in 1959, Ellis produced many hit records and became known as one of the innovators of rocksteady, a genre that emerged in the 1960s as the days of ska were coming to an end. For his work, Ellis was awarded the Order of Distinction in 2004 and in 2006 he was inducted into the International Reggae and World Music Awards Hall of Fame.

legends in concert

Less than a week after he was buried here in Jamaica, on November 5, Ellis' life was celebrated at the most recent staging of the Stars R Us concert series, held on the grounds of the Cable and Wireless Golf Academy in New Kingston. Among the performers were legends of an enduring era, including Ken Boothe, who toured with Ellis in the late 1960s, Leroy Sibbles and ska great Derrick Morgan. But it was Christopher Ellis, one of Alton's youngest children and who has been entrusted with carrying on his father's legacy as a pioneer in Jamaican music, whom many believe stole the show.

For the last five years, Christopher had been touring with his famous dad, performing with him at shows in New York, France, Italy, Spain and Germany. The 26-year-old progeny looks back at that time as a period of learning. "For me it was more like schooling to get prepared for my own career," he said.

Born in 1982 in East London, England, where his dad, mom and other siblings lived, Christopher said it was not until he was in his teens that he began to understand the greatness of his late father. "From I was 13 or 14 I started to realise what my father's legacy means and who my dad is to Jamaica, to the world and to reggae music," he recalled. "I feel privileged to be involved in it, to be involved with such a great man."

fired up

He tapped into that greatness when he performed at Stars R Us on that night in early November, his look and sound closely mirroring those of his dad. At one point during the performance he donned a tan-coloured fedora, similar to those his father was known to wear, and the audience erupted in delight. His father would have been proud of the son he asked to carry on for him.

"About six days before he died, he said to me 'Christopher, you need to take it up'. Him saying that was like a fire inside me," Christopher said. He was so fired up that immediately after his father passed, Christopher went into the studio and recorded a tribute to his dad. He reveals he did it in one take, so all the mistakes are still in it.

debut album

Having arrived in Jamaica on October 27 to attend his father's funeral, Christopher has decided to extend his stay for about six months or longer. In that time, he plans to work on his debut album as well as perform on a few shows as Christmas nears. He says he needs to be here in Jamaica, because this is where he will draw inspiration for the album which he plans to complete by early next year. "It's the atmosphere. In London there are not a lot of studios where a man can hang around and build a vibe," he said. "It's kind of cold."

He is grappling, though, with what he wants the album to be. "If I do an album now, do I go for the 'jump up' rhythms or do I do go for my dad's crowd with the rocksteady lovers, who love the music and the singing?" he asked. "Right now, the feeling I have is that something can be done to mix the two." The only thing he seems sure of is that Lloyd Parkes will, in some way, be involved in the album's production process.

A tattoo on the shoulder is evidence of a son's love.

The indecision is not unwarranted. While lovers of old-school music here in Jamaica may be dwindling, over in Europe the crowds which turn out to vintage concerts are huge. David Williams, Christopher's manager, revealed that they sometimes play to crowds of 25,000 or more and the people love the music. It was the same type of love for the music that he felt at Stars R Us.

"To come to Jamaica and get that type of response was special for me, but to have that ability passed on to me was even more special," Christopher offered.

'Special' is a word he also often uses to describe his father. He said he believes that people only knew Alton Ellis for his music, but he was so much more. "There was something special about him that I can't explain, his humility, so cool," Christopher said.

good man

He tried to put his description of his father into context, saying Alton Ellis was a good man who was a father to his more than 20 children. "Every single one of us could go up to him and he would give us £50 or £20. He was a father to all of us," he said. Christopher also remembers his father as having a sense of humour. He recalls a time after they landed at an airport and the passengers applauded as the plane taxied, his father turned to him and said "Christopher, dem think is a stage show".

The memories, however, make it hard for him to cope. "I can't accept it," Christopher said. "I feel him every day. I wake up each morning and I feel him inside me, in my heart. I miss him physically, that's what I'm missing."

Christopher's elder brother Noel, who is also Alton's first son, offered this explanation of the sense of finality they feel. "Him usually go way and come back all the time," Noel said. "But this time him naw come back."

moral support

The younger Ellis said his mom, Sigma, calls each day just to find out how he is doing. Those calls help him, he said, to cope with the reality.

Inside the apartment Christopher and Noel share, there are no television sets and the walls are covered with pictures and posters of their father. The images are the source of energy for their daily jam sessions, as they create music that could become material for some of their future performances.

When he finishes his album next year, Christopher plans to return to touring in Europe. He has to somehow fill that void created by his father's death. "They are expecting something from me," he said.

Only this time he will be alone and suddenly he has big shoes to fill. However, he is not daunted.

"I feel no pressure," he said. "You know why? It's impossible to fill those shoes."