# REGGAE DANCEHALL PIONEERS: Alton Ellis — The Brixton Years Begin | Part 8 | The Singer Who Built His Own Lifeboat

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/history-of-the-caribbeans-exploring-resilience-and-culture-7129356/reggae-dancehall-pioneers-alton-ellis-the-brixton-years-begin-part-8-the-singer-who-built-his-own-lifeboat
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Podcast: [History of the Caribbeans | Exploring Resilience and Culture](https://stenobird.com/podcast/history-of-the-caribbeans-exploring-resilience-and-culture-7129356)
Published: 2026-06-01T00:30:00+00:00
Episode link: https://history-of-the-caribbeans-exploring-resilience-and-culture.castos.com/episodes/reggae-dancehall-pioneers-alton-ellis-the-brixton-years-begin-part-8-the-singer-who-built-his
Audio file: https://episodes.castos.com/696791fa7737c1-14460688/2473818/c1e-9z106f2jz70udk8xzp-ww45movmhg15-v64eqi.mp4
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Duration seconds: 142

## Resource

In 1972 Alton Ellis moved to London and opened All-Tone Records in Brixton. Six years later, two teenagers rode his rhythm to UK number one with Uptown Top Ranking. He never saw the money. Part 8 of the Reggae Dancehall Pioneers series tells the story of the lifeboat he built — and the question that never left him.

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