Welcome to hortense-ellis.com

the website dedicated to Jamaica's First Lady Of Songs HORTENSE ELLIS (1941-2000)
A Brief Introduction     Hortense 45's     Studio One Tracks     Albums/CD's     Record labels     Compilations featuring Hortense     Amazon     A Personal Memory      

  Jamaica's First Lady Of Songs

 

 

    This site has received the "Peace & Harmony" award from www.reggaetrain.com

for (quote) "its quality content, skilful design and Reggae Excellence (the promoting of Roots Reggae Music and Culture worldwide)"

 

WELCOME

 

This site is dedicated to Hortense Ellis - widely known in Jamaica and all over the world - as Jamaica's First Lady Of Songs.

Although I knew Hortense personally for some years, I have never been involved in any way in the music business.  We were simply good buddies since the end of the 1970's whose paths crossed as a direct result of her beautiful singing.

I have attempted to create a site that people worldwide who loved Hortense whether as a recording star or as a live performer will enjoy.  It should not be assumed that I know everything about her - I am still even now digging up little pieces of information about her.  However, all information on this site is as accurate as it can be and, in cases where doubt has entered my mind, has been verified with members of Hortense's family.

As I began creating this site, so many other sites offering a Hortense Ellis bio were quoting 1949 as her year of birth.  Hortense told me herself it was 1941 and I have seen that date 18th April 1941 in her passport.  I was looking at her array of visas, and I was amazed to see entertainer visas for Japan.  Yes, Hortense was loved and admired in the most unexpected places.

The biographical text below is my own creation (and will be expanded as time goes on).  I have personally added it to information websites such as answers.com and Wikipedia.  Any site wishing to use the text is welcome to do so, but a credit would be nice.

Please be aware that the Reverbnation media player on this page features Hortense's solo recordings only.

Unfortunately, certain visual effects that were on this page previously (and looked rather impressive) have reluctantly been removed as they were causing technical problems.

 

 

Hortense Mahalia Ellis, the younger sister of reggae superstar Alton Ellis, was born 18th April 1941 in Trench Town, Jamaica.  Her father worked on the railway while her mother ran a fruit stall.

Hortense was just 18 years old when she made her first appearance on Vere Johns Opportunity Hour which was then Jamaica's primary showcase for young undiscovered talent.  Her version of Frankie Lymon's "I'm Not Saying No At All" so impressed both audience and panel that she was invited back the following week.  She went on to enter many other talent contests and showcases managing to reach six semi-finals and four finals. 

 

Grateful thanks to Dudley "Manzie" Swaby for these three early pictures of Hortense performing on Vere Johns                                                    Mr. Alton Ellis

Opportunity Hour in 1960.  Many Hortense bios mistakenly refer to "Vere Johns Opportunity Hour" as "Vere Johns                                         (see his brilliant MySpace

Opportunity Knocks".  There was a talent show called "Opportunity Knocks" but it was a British TV talent show                                       at www.myspace.com/altonellisod)

very popular in the seventies and eighties hosted by Hughie Green.  Absolutely no connection between the two.                                    OD = (Jamaican) Order Of Distinction

 

 

One of Hortense's earliest recordings was "Twelve Minutes To Go" in 1962 swiftly followed by "I'll Come Softly" and "I Am In Love".  It was around this time that Hortense was recording duets with her brother, Alton.  Although Hortense remained primarily a solo performer, she recorded many duets over the years with stars such as Derrick Morgan, Jackie Edwards, John Holt and Johnny Clarke.

By the late sixties Hortense had acquired extensive experience both in live performances and also in the recording studio.  She toured Jamaica with Byron Lee and The Dragonaires and had begun recording with some of the island's top producers.  Among these was Ken Lack "I Shall Sing" and "Hell And Sorrow", Coxsone Dodd "Twelve Minutes To Go" and "I'll Come Softly" and also the great Duke Reid.

Clement "Coxsone" Dodd was the man behind the Studio One recording label and many of the sides Hortense recorded for him were later re-recorded for other producers.  One example is the hit "Secretly" recorded first for Dodd and then in later years for Dudley "Manzie" Swaby.

In the early days, Alton Ellis was also recording for Dodd who cleverly exploited the family connection by producing "female" adaptions for Hortense of several of Alton's own hits - "I'm Just A Guy" became "I'm Just A Girl" for example.

Alton and Hortense toured Canada in 1970, but during the following year, Hortense was back in Jamaica.  She married Mikey Saunders with whom she had five children in quick succession.  Although her live performances were severely reduced as a result, Hortense remained busy in the studio.  Recording as Mahalia Saunders for Lee "Scratch Perry" she cut several sides including "Right On The Tip Of My Tongue" and "Piece Of My Heart".

Hortense's biggest success came in the late seventies with a song cut for Gussie Clarke.  "Unexpected Places" was a hit in Jamaica and popular in many other countries.  For producer Bunny "Striker" Lee, Hortense became Queen Tiney for her "Down Town Ting" - an answer record to Althea & Donna's "Uptown Top Ranking" which had itself been sung over Alton's legendary "I'm Still In Love With You" rhythm.

It was around this time Hortense recut many of her Studio One sides with Soul Syndicate, The Aggrovators and the up and coming team of Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare.  The rise of the Lovers Rock genre in the late seventies and early eighties resulted in Hortense cutting cover versions of a number of popular soul classics such as "Down The Aisle" (Patti Labelle and "Young Hearts Run Free" (Candi Staton).

Following her divorce from Mikey Saunders, Hortense spent much of the eighties living in New York and Miami but on her return to Jamaica in 1989 began suffering health problems.  Despite being in considerable pain at times, she somehow managed to continue with her local live performances which is something she enjoyed immensely.

Following a private visit to New York in the summer of 1999 (the last occasion I would see her), she went to Miami the following year where ill health finally caught up with her.  Instead of seeking immediate treatment, she insisted on struggling home to her beloved Jamaica where she was almost immediately hospitalised.

Hortense died in her sleep in Kingston Public Hospital on 19th October 2000.  She left nine children, 26 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Her funeral took place at Andrews Seventh Day Adventist Church in Hope Road, Kingston on 9th November.

 

 


Visit www.musicstack.com for a varied selection

of Hortense Ellis recordings

 

LINKS

 

http://www.cariblinkz.com

http://www.strictly-vibes.com

http://www.roots-archives/artist/422

http://www.localmusicdirectory.com

http://www.elvisinfonet.com/cdreview_allshookup_reggae.html

http://www.musicstack.com

http://www.reggaetrain.com

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.ilike.com/artist/Hortense+Ellis