Veteran Reggae rapper and king of the Dancehall DJs U Roy has passed away at the age of 78 in Jamaica

BY MICHAEL THOMAS

Ewart Beckford or U-Roy as his fans called him was an original with a unique style of lyrics and most important a delivery that until today still cannot be copied very easily.

The Originator as he was also called was born in Jones Town Jamaica in 1942. His rise to fame was slow but sure. He began in 1961 DJing at the Doctor Dickie’s Dynamite sound system, then moved around for a while before finding his musical feet and teamed up with King Tubby Hi Fi sound system.

Producer Keith Hudson quickly recognized Roy’s talent and recorded him with a song called “Dynamic Fashion Way.” in 1969.

U-Roy cut a number of songs with the late Peter Tosh, and Bunny Lee, which gained some traction locally, but did not go further.

Success finally started when the great Mr. John Holt heard the DJ, and convinced Duke Reid to record him with a song called “Wake the Town” which did just that, and like they say the rest is history.

U-Roy went on to make another 29 songs with Reid, all versions of Treasure Isle’s most popular singles. Some of U-Roy’s most popular hits include “Dread in a Babylon 1975, and Natty Rebel in 76,” and as a result of his ground-breaking success around that time almost every record producer in town wanted to record the DJs of that era. DJs like: Dennis Alcapone, I- Roy, Big Youth, Scotty, Lizzy, U-Roy Junior, and a host of others.

U-Roy cut a number of songs and worked with numerous artists throughout his career.

He had three smash singles “Wake the Town,” “Rule the Nation,” and “Wear You to the Ball,” and for a month and a half, all three singles boldly stood astride the top three spots in the Jamaican charts. Even though U-Roy would not repeat this feat again he remained a Dancehall force to be reckoned with.

The king of the Dancehall was now reaching the peak of his career. His toasting style was perfectly relaxed and conversational, yet always-in perfect sync with the rhythms. The DJ had now gained a significant following in the U.K., as well, and in August 1976, he visited that country for the first time. He performed at the London Lyceum, backed by the band called Revolutionaries. The 1978 Live EP was taken as a result of this phenomenal show.

In the midst of all this, Daddy Roy the teacher still found time to mentor up and coming DJs like: Josey Whales, Charlet Chaplin, Shabba Ranks, Ranking Joe, the young Beenie Man and Dillinger to name a few.

The veteran Dancehall boss with his silk-like lyrics never gave up on his music, returning time after time even when some thought he was over and done he would surprise his audience with another single, a box set or an album.

U-Roy once told an interviewer that he was so young when he started out as a DJ that he had to ask his grandmother’s permission to go out. “Sometimes,” he said “She would say bwoy gwan guh find a book and read, another time she would say Gwan nuh, but me would always wait till she gwan asleep then me gwan ah dance.”

This original “Godfather of Rap” has lived through many musical changes in Jamaica, like experiencing the island go from predominantly American music in the earlier times to Ska then Rocksteady and now Reggae.

For a man who once said, “I started doing this for fun I was never looking to make big money from this, so I give thanks to the father,” U-Roy has really created an impact on the world musically.

Sleep in power Daddy Roy. You will be missed.