Veteran rocksteady singer Alton Ellis has been admitted to the hospital in London, U.K. Known for his soaring, soulful voice, Ellis penned the original “I’m Still In Love,” and was known as Mr. Rock & Soul. Ellis still occasionally records new tracks and regularly performs. We wish him a speedy recovery.

One veteran clash DJ will sit out the late-December Guinness Sting concert at Jamworld in Kingston. Moses Davis (a.k.a. Beenie Man) announced he will not be performing, likely due to the fact that he’d be an easy target for personal attacks from his most notorious foil, Bounty Killer. Davis recently separated from his entertainer wife, Killer’s former girlfriend D’Angel. “You can look out for Beenie Man on Pepsi Teen Splash once again. However, I will not be on Sting this year,” said David via a press release.

“Man, spliff fly like plane when the blue clothes dem touch the place,” remarked a patron in reference to a trio of police raids at Jamaican concerts over the weekend. The Riding West show in Savanna-la-mar, Rasta Bash in Negril, and Reggae Fever in Montego Bay were all subject to raids and searches of patrons and artists alike.

University of West Indies Mona Campus in Kingston, Jamaica will host the annual Global Reggae Conference 2008 February 18-24.

Veteran roots reggae vocal trio The Congos have placed their song “Children Crying” in a new Heineken beer advertising campaign. The song is taken from The Heart of the Congos, recorded in 1977 and reissued by the U.K.’s Blood & Fire Records in 1995. The trio has reunited and will tour in 2008.

YardFlex reports that roots singer Etana (pictured above), whose new album is due in 2008 on VP, has lined up a clutch of live shows for December. She’ll appear December 21 at the Welcome to Jamrock concert. On December 25, she will rock GT Taylor’s Christmas Extravaganza, and on December 26 Etana will grace Sting’s Singers Paradise stage. The roots woman recently shot a video for her new tune, “Warrior Love.”

Speaking of videos, 2007 breakthrough singer Tarrus Riley released his fourth video from the Dean Fraser-produced album Parables, for the song “Lion Paw–Live.” The video has the look and feel of a live Tarrus Riley performance.

The Bob Marley/Rita Marley Foundation’s global initiative, the Africa Unite concert, will be held in Jamaica for the first time, on February 23, 2008, at James Bond Beach, St Mary. Additionally, the feature documentary, Africa Unite, will make its Caribbean debut as part of the celebrations marking what would have been Bob Marley’s 63rd birthday.

Beenie Man, Munga Honorable, Bugsy Malone, and dancer John Hype, plus L.A.’s Tazmania Sound will hit South Central L.A.’s Shatto Ballroom (3744 W. Slauson Ave.) on Saturday, January 5, 2008.

Top Ten Reggae Albums
Sean Kingston Sean Kingston (Beluga Heights/Epic)
Duane Stephenson From August Town (VP)
Cocoa Tea Biological Warfare (Minor 7 Flat 5)
Wayne Wonder Foreva (VP)
Jah Cure True Reflections (VP)
Chezidek Inna Di Road (Greensleeves)
Steele The Love of Jah (Mobs Production)
Courtney John Unselfish (Fi Wi Music)
Shaggy Intoxication (VP/Big Yard)
Various Artists The Biggest Reggae One Drop Anthems 2007 (Greensleeves)