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Jamaican musician U-Roy has died
Jamaican Reggae DJ Pioneer U-Roy has died, Jamaican media sources report.
Daddy U Roy, God rest his soul! When you talk about a Legend in music, very rarely can you get any greater than this Godfather. The culture of sound systems was first made popular in the ghettos of Kingston, Jamaica in the 1940s. Up until the 1950′s, it was the DJ Count Machuki who set the pace. However, by the 1960s, U Roy came on the dancehall scene and changed everything forever. His phrasing, lyrical content, and “riddim” riding flows set the standard in Reggae music for decades to come.
It was his phenomenal feat of having Numbers 1,2 & 3 on the Jamaican music charts in 1970 was that really put the commercial possibilities of Reggae DJs (MCs/Toasters) to another level.
U Roy first made his name on Jamaican sound systems like Sir Coxsone, King Tubbys and King Attorney (later known as Socialist Roots). This brought him to the attention of Duke Reid, owner of Treasure Isle, who was the one who produced him on the track “Wear You To The Ball” which featured U Roy and The Paragons, led by John Holt. This track became the most influential mix of a singer and DJ and opened the doors to this style of recording that still resonates and sells and streams millions to this day.
In 1975, U Roy became the first DJ/MC to be signed to a major label when his album, Dread in a Babylon, was produced and distributed by Virgin Records. Now when you consider that the mainstream credits “Rapper’s Delight”, released in 1979 as the first breakthrough record Rap record, the culture of D-jaying/rapping over popular rhythm tracks was influenced by U Roy’s contribution 10 years prior. Now in 2021, getting MCs to “spit” on a remix is taken for granted across many music genres.
It was this Reggae dancehall/sound system culture that led to Jamaican immigrant, Kool Herc setting up his sound system in the Bronx, New York in 1973, that spawned Hip-Hop culture in America.
U Roy’s world significance cannot be underrated:
- Hip-Hop culture is well intertwined into mainstream culture. It has produced literal billionaires like Puff Daddy, Jay Z and Dr Dre.
-Sound systems can be found across the world in places like Australia (e.g. Heartical Hi Powa), India (e.g. Reggae Rajah) and Italy (e.g.Sud Sound System), let alone across Africa, the US and here in the UK
- Each one of these sound systems has an DJ/MC who will introduce a track and “spit” on the non-vocal side, i.e. the “riddim”, just like how U Roy would. Even today they may use certain phrases that the Godfather originated and they would not even know it.
- The popularity of U Roy’s recordings encouraged Reggae music producers to focus as much on the version of their releases as they did on the original vocal material. This led to the creation and development of 12″ vinyl releases (aka Disco mixes – remember them). More recently this went on to create the sub-genres of Dub Step, Reggaeton, Garage and even Grime where rhythm tracks are made to suit the styles of the MCs
- The whole culture of music remixes, dub music, and sound effects all came from the culture of giving the DJ/MC a chance to put his own content on the tracks and for people to enjoy the recordings even more.
U-Roy, or Daddy U-Roy, was known for pioneering the vocal style of “toasting,” performing conversational, rhythmic speech over a reggae or dancehall beat. Throughout his career, U-Roy released some 20 records and contributed to Toots and Maytals’ Grammy-winning album True Love. He was awarded the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican government for his influence on the country’s music scene.
John Downie said ” U Roy is a pillar and foundation stone in the history of music FULL STOP, POINT BLANK & PERIOD!!! His influence needs to be internationally recognized with a posthumous Reggae Grammy at the very least. All the Grammy-winning Reggae DJs can trace back their lineage to him.”
He said “Even Koffee told me in an interview that she was influenced by Super Cat who always paid his respects to the Godfather, Daddy U Roy.”
… Much Love to you Daddy U Roy… One Love Y’All
