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U-Roy

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

U-Roy, born Ewart Beckford, was a Jamaican singer and a pioneer of toasting, the rhythmic talking or singing over an instrumental recording. He was born in 1942 in Jones Town, Kingston, into a religious and musical family. His nickname came from a young relative who could not pronounce his first name. As a boy he listened to Louis Prima, James Brown and Fats Domino, and he was influenced above all by Louis Jordan's phrasing. In 1961 he began as a deejay with various sound systems, including that of Sir Coxsone Dodd, and later at King Tubby's Hometown Hi-Fi.

Music and breakthrough

In 1969 he toasted there over instrumental dubplates made from existing rocksteady recordings. His first single was Dynamic Fashion Way, followed by Earth's Rightful Ruler with Peter Tosh. After a tip from John Holt he ended up with producer Duke Reid. In 1970 Wake the Town, Rule the Nation and Wear You to the Ball occupied the top three places on both Jamaican charts at the same time. As a result, deejaying, which had previously belonged mainly to live performances, also became a successful form on record. In 1971 his version of The Paragons' The Tide Is High was released.

Influence

In 1972 he toured England for the first time. The album Dread in a Babylon (1975) was released on Virgin Records and sold well in the United Kingdom. Natty Rebel (1976), Rasta Ambassador (1977) and Jah Son Of Africa (1978) followed. In 1978 he started his own sound system, Stur Gav, which launched a younger generation of toasters. He died in 2021.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Wake the Town and notice how U-Roy lays his voice over the rhythm section like a second instrument. Where exactly does he sit in the rhythm?

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: Artists