Bobby Ellis

{{Use British English|date=January 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Bobby Ellis | honorific_suffix = OD | image = | caption = | image_size = | birth_date = 2 July 1932 | death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2016|10|18|1932|7|2}} | death_place = Kingston, Jamaica | birth_place = Kingston, Jamaica | instrument = Trumpet | genre = Reggae | occupation = | years_active = | label = | website = }}

'''Bobby Ellis''' OD (2 July 1932 – 18 October 2016) was a Jamaican trumpet player. He worked with many reggae artists including Peter Tosh, Burning Spear and The Revolutionaries.

==Biography== Born in Kingston on 2 October 1932,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reggae-vibes.com/concert/bobbyellis/bobbyellis.htm |title=Mr Hornsman... Interview with Bobby Ellis |publisher=Reggae-vibes.com |date= |accessdate=2010-08-12}}</ref> Bobby Ellis attended the Alpha Boys School which is famous for its musical alumni.<ref name="Campbell1408">Campbell, Howard (2014) "[http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Trumpet-honours_17403469 Trumpet Honours: Hornsman Bobby Ellis to receive national award] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022022236/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Trumpet-honours_17403469 |date=22 October 2016 }}", ''Jamaica Observer'', 24 August 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2014</ref> While at this school Ellis received tuition on the trumpet and flugelhorn. The school's music curriculum consisted of marches, waltzes and classical pieces which gave Ellis an extensive knowledge of timing, harmony and form. These factors have contributed to his work as a horn arranger for the Studio One. He also acted as arranger for producer Jack Ruby and was part of Ruby's studio band the Black Disciples, playing on Burning Spear's ''Marcus Garvey'' album and going on to tour as part of Spear's band for twelve years.<ref name="Campbell1408" /> He also played and co-arranged (with Tommy McCook) the horns on Bunny Wailer's 1976 album ''Blackheart Man''.<ref>"[http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Passage---Bobby-Ellis_83968 Passage - Bobby Ellis]", ''Jamaica Observer'', 18 December 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2016</ref>

In 1978, Ellis made a brief cameo in the film ''Rockers'' directed by Ted Bafaloukos. He was also part of the Rockers All Stars, the group responsible for the film's instrumental music.

In August 2014 it was announced that he would receive the Order of Distinction (Officer Class) in October that year.<ref>Campbell, Howard (2014) "[http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/With-Distinction_17310824 Marcia Griffiths to receive Order of Distinction] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416150000/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/With-Distinction_17310824 |date=16 April 2019 }}", ''Jamaica Observer'', 7 August 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2014</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Remembering Reggae Icons: Bobby Ellis |url=https://nljdigital.nlj.gov.jm/exhibits/show/reggae-icons-jamaica/bobby-ellis#:~:text=He%20was%20recognized%20for%20his,passed%20away%20in%20October%202016. |website=National Library of Jamaica |access-date=17 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Trumpet honours |url=https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/trumpet-honours/ |website=Jamaica Observer |access-date=17 October 2023 |date=24 August 2014}}</ref>

Ellis died at the University Hospital of the West Indies on 18 October 2016, aged 84, from a pneumonia-related illness.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dancehallreggaeworld.com/bobby-ellis-is-dead-he-died-from-pneumonia-related-illness.html |title=Bobby Ellis Is Dead, He died from Pneumonia related illness |access-date=21 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021131534/http://www.dancehallreggaeworld.com/bobby-ellis-is-dead-he-died-from-pneumonia-related-illness.html |archive-date=21 October 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20161020/features/trumpeter-bobby-ellis-dies-at-age-84 |title=Trumpeter Bobby Ellis dies at age 84 |access-date=21 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021132132/http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20161020/features/trumpeter-bobby-ellis-dies-at-age-84 |archive-date=21 October 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Solo discography== *''Rent a Tile'' (2014)

;with Tommy McCook: *''Green Mango'' (1974), Attack - Tommy & Bobby *''Blazing Horns'' (1977), Grove Music - Tommy McCook and Bobby Ellis *''Tommy McCook Featuring Bobby Ellis'' (2004), Attack

;other collaborations: *''Bobby Ellis & the Professionals Meet the Revolutionaries'' (1977), Third World

'''With Herbie Mann''' *''Reggae'' (Atlantic, 1973) *''Reggae II'' (Atlantic, 1973 [1976])

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * https://web.archive.org/web/20090628085915/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/throb/html/20030404t210000-0500_42070_obs_bobby_ellis_was_born_to_blow.asp

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ellis, Bobby}} Category:1932 births Category:2016 deaths Category:20th-century Jamaican male musicians Category:21st-century Jamaican male musicians Category:20th-century trumpeters Category:21st-century trumpeters Category:Male trumpeters Category:Musicians from Kingston, Jamaica Category:Jamaican reggae musicians Category:Jamaican trumpeters Category:Officers of the Order of Distinction Category:People educated at Alpha Boys School Category:Deaths from pneumonia in Jamaica Category:The Revolutionaries members Category:The Aggrovators members