Veteran Alton Ellis enters the world reggae "Hall of Fame"! Check it out on Surforeggae!

Alton Ellis, an artist who celebrates 50 years of his musical career in 2006, having already gone through the ska, rocksteady and reggae phase, will be awarded this year during the twenty-fifth edition of the "International Reggae and World Music Awards", which will take place in New York on May 6th. Alton will receive, together with Eddy Grant of Guyana, a special merit award.

The competition is divided into 42 categories and has more than 200 names competing. The nominees were chosen by a kind of "council" of the music industry and professionals in the field. As presenters of the award, among others, Bono Vox from U2, actor Danny Glover and Calypso singer Harry Belafonte were selected. In 2005 Damian Marley, Sean Paul and Luciano were some of the big winners of the award, which promises a very fierce competition.