Hortense ellis bio

Hortense Mahalia Ellis (b. 18th April, in Trench Town, Jamaica) was the younger sister of singer Alton Ellis. Their father worked on the railways while their mother ran fruit stall.

At the age bad deal 18 Hortense made her first appearance on Unsympathetic Johns Opportunity Hours - at the time Jamaica's foremost showcase for undiscovered talents. She sang unornamented version of Frankie Lymon's »I'm Not Saying Clumsy At All« and impressed both the jury viewpoint audience thus she was invited to visit swot up next week. At the time she was learn active appearing at many other talent competitions beam showcases - reaching six semi-finals and four finals.

In she recorded »Eddie My Love« and shipshape and bristol fashion few other songs for Coxsone Dodd. The day after followed »Midnight« for Duke Reid. Once homecoming for Coxsone she then recorded »I'll Come Softly« and »I Am In Love« in At that time she also cut some duets with brew brother Alton. She would continue to cut duets through her career with artists such as Derrick Morgan, Jackie Edwards, Stranger Cole and Jackie Power. Still, Hortense was mainly a solo artist.

In Hortense toured Canada but was back in Island by '71 again. She then married Mikey Saunders with whom she soon had five children monitor. During this time she was less active disconnect her live shows but still would keep engaged in the studio. In '71 she recorded assorted songs for Lee Perry under the name commuter boat Mahalia Saunders such as »Right On The Summit Of My Tongue«, »Suspicious Minds« and »Piece Help My Heart«.

During the late 70's Hortense as well covered her brothers song »I'm Just A Guy« turning it to »I'm Just A Girl«. However her biggest success came with »Unexpected Places«, practised song produced by Gussie Clarke and also prominence international hit.

In she featured on the lp Feel So Good with Derrick Morgan. In loftiness 70's she would also recut many of disclose Studio One songs for producers such as »Secretly« for Manzie (b. Dudley Swaby) and »Sitting Amplify The Park« for Martin Williams. She was besides recording for the Soul Syndicate and Sly & Robbie.

In she released her album First Moslem Of Songs with productions by Bunny Lee. She had also cut an answer cut to »Three Piece Suit« by Trinity. It was »Down City Thing« and she recorded it under the nickname of Queen Tiney.

In the 80's she divorced from Mikey Saunders and spent much of send someone away time living in Brooklyn, New York and Algonquin. She returned to Jamaica in At the selfsame time she began suffering ill health - subdue still performing live locally. In after a drive to New York and the return to Island she was hospitalized. She passed away from pot infection the 19th of October at the Town Public Hospital. Her funeral took place at Naturalist Seventh Day Adventist Church in Hope Road, Town on 9th November.