U Roy - The Originator

Celebrating his birthday this month, here is a BIG UP to Daddy U Roy

U-Roy was born Ewart Beckford on 21st September 1942, in Jones Town, Jamaica. It is believed he received his famous moniker from a young family member who was unable to correctly pronounce Ewart and this nickname stuck. Also known as The Originator, he is credited as being a pioneer of toasting, the precursor to rapping.
U-Roy's musical career began in 1961 as he DJ'ed at various sound systems, Doctor Dickie's Dynamite sound system, Sir Mike the Musical Thunderstorm, Sir George the Atomic sound system, before he became a DJ for Sir Coxsone Dodd operating the Number Two set, in around 1968 / '69 while King Stitt "The Ugly One" ran the main set. He soon tired of playing second fiddle to Stitt, and he returned to Sir George. Also Around this same time working as a disc cutter at Duke Reid's studio, but he was also experimenting with his equipment, in the process of inventing dub and these experimental proto-dub discs he was giving away to a handful of his favourite DJs.
The following year, King Tubby launched his own Hi-Fi sound system and brought in U-Roy as his top DJ. By then, the DJ had established himself as one of the premier talents of the sound system scene. Producer Keith Hudson however was the first to recognize the recording possibilities of U-Roy and took him into the studio in late 1969 to cut the song "Dynamic Fashion Way". With its success he then went and worked with almost every producer on the island: Lee Perry, Peter Tosh, Bunny Lee, Phil Pratt, Sonia Pottinger, Rupie Edwards, Alvin Ranglin and Lloyd Daley.
For Lee Perry he was paired with Peter Tosh and recorded "Selassie," a version of Ras Michael & the Sons of Negus' "Ethiopian National Anthem." The single was originally credited to the Reggae Boys and on its later reissue, under the title "(Earth's) Rightful Ruler". The song was credited to Peter Tosh and Hugh Roy, a spelling the DJ would stick with for the next several years. U-Roy cut one more single with Perry "O.K. Corral". For Bunny Lee, he cut "King of the Road", and with producer Lloyd Daley he recorded two singles, "Scandal" and "Sound of the Wise," which like their predecessors, created a stir amongst the grassroots sound system crowds, but barely registered beyond them.
In 1970, that was all about to change as the singer John Holt became charmed with U-Roy's technique. He was attending a sound system party and caught U-Roy DJing. The singer was blown away, not least of all because the toaster was exhorting the enthusiastic crowd over his own hit "Wear You to the Ball."
The next day Holt went to see Duke Reid and adamantly stated that the producer must record the DJ. Reid was persuaded and U-Roy was promptly put into the studio to cut two songs, over classic Treasure Isle singles, of course. The first release was "Wake the Town", a version of Alton Ellis' "Girl I've Got a Date", and the tune did exactly as the title said, and an aroused the Jamaican record buying public, who swiftly sent the single to the top of the charts. The next song was "Rule the Nation," a cut over the Techniques' "Love Is Not a Gamble," and that single was as popular as the first. The next follow-up was, "Wear You to the Ball" which also went stratospheric. All three songs went down so well that for a month and a half, this trio of tunes stood triumphantly at all top three spots in the Jamaican charts. U-Roy went on to cut another 29 songs with Reid, all versions of Treasure Isle's most beloved singles. Every producer in town was now vying to record DJs, pillaging through their back catalogues for appropriate riddims. U-Roy's had got the ball rolling for the DJ style and with this came a flood of young hopefuls, Dennis Alcapone, I- Roy, Big Youth, Scotty, Lizzy, U-Roy Junior (no relation), and many, many others. U-Roy himself would never again place three singles at the top of the chart, but he continued to have smash hits and made his way happily around the studios.
Some of the more notable songs he recorded were a couple of tunes for producer Alvin Ranglin, including "Way Down South" (a version of Billy Dyce's hit "Take Warning") and "Nana Banana." Working with Glen Brown, he cut "Number One in the World" over the much-versioned "Dirty Harry" riddim, while also recording intriguing offerings for Niney Holness and Lloyd Daley. In 1975, U-Roy teamed up once again with Bunny Lee, cutting a number of songs with the producer, but he is perhaps most famously remembered for the LP "Dread in a Babylon" backed by the Skin, Flesh & Bones Band. It was produced by "Prince" Tony Robinson and released by major label Virgin, and its iconic picture of him disappearing in a thick cloud of cannabis smoke, while holding a chalice. There was also another famous 'smoking' song called "Chalice in the Palace", in which he fantasies about smoking with Queen Elizabeth II in Buckingham Palace.
U-Roy was now reaching the peak of his power. His toasts were totally relaxed conversational, and flowed perfectly with the riddimss. He didn't just spit a few phrases here and there, he rode the riddim from the starting gate to the last furlong. He was also gaining a significant following in the U.K, and in August 1976, visited Britain for the first time. He performed at the London Lyceum, backed by the always excellent Revolutionaries, and the 1978 a Live EP was drawn from this exceptional show. Back in Jamaica, U-Roy began recording his new album, Rasta Ambassador, filling the studio with musicians and singers, 15 strong in all. The Gladiators provided particularly sonorous backing vocals, while the band, led by the riddim team of Sly & Robbie, created a deep roots sound appropriate to the album's title and accentuated by Robinson's deeply dubby production. Never a man to rest on his laurels, U-Roy Somehow found time in his busy schedule to launch his own sound system, Stur-Gav, that year. He also continued to run his own labels, Del-Ma and Mego-Ann, which the DJ had set up a few years back. 1978 brought a new album, Jah Son of Africa, arguably U- Roy's best. Again, a deeply rootsy outing; with a superb supporting cast (this time the Gladiators were joined by Ken Boothe), the album showcased the DJ at his cultural height. It was to be his final album for Virgin.
By the early 1980s U-Roy had become one of the Jamaica's biggest stars; hero of the DJ scene and with also strong critical acclaim in the UK he was now beginning to get international attention via a totally unexpected source....The American soul-lite duo Hall & Oates. Who surprisingly enough recorded a cover of the DJ's hit "Soldering" on their eponymous album.
Also the early 80's brought troubled times as in the run-up to the 1980 election, Stur-Gav fell victim of the violence that swept Jamaica and the sound system was destroyed. Undeterred, U-Roy re-launched it the following year and brought in new DJs, including up and coming stars Josey Wales and Charlie Chaplin. U-Roy also dueted with Wales, for the amusing Teacher Meets the Student, whose tracks date from around this period. Perhaps however with all his sound system, labels, and live appearances the DJ was taking on too much as his next album, "Love Is Not a Gamble" showed a sharp decline in standards. U-Roy seemed to recognize this and subsequently his recorded output slowed to a trickle of singles. He did, however, continue to perform live and on-stage, where his power and presence remained undiminished. In 1982, he appeared at Reggae Sunsplash for the first time. In 1983, the DJ was behind the superb King Stur-Gav Hi Fi Lee Unlimited album, a live session recorded at his own sound system that featured a clutch of crucial DJs from Dillinger to the young Beenie Man, his two favorite protégés Charlie Chaplin and Josey Wales, as well as U-Roy himself. The follow-up, King Stur-Gav Sounds Live at Clarendon J.A., amazingly doesn't feature U-Roy at all, except in the capacity of selector. The next year brought the excellent "Hustling" single, cut for producer Gussie Clarke, "Get Ready" recorded for Ossie Thomas, and a return engagement at Reggae Sunsplash that year, and again in 1985. U Roy then dropped out of sight for the next two years before returning with a vengeance to recording in 1987. He first teamed up with Tappa Zukie for the "Line Up and Come" album. This was a stunning return to form that cruelly gained little notice. He also released a solo LP called "Music Addict". This was overseen by Prince Jazzbo. Unfortunately however, halfway through "Music Addict", the DJ seemed to run out of steam, and U-Roy once again lapsed into an extended silence, at least in the studio; he found his voice for Reggae Sunsplash the next summer, though, and kept it well exercised for another appearance in 1990.
The next year he was back in London, foe a live performance at London's Hammersmith Palais. During all this time though, the DJ he had continued to steer clear of the recording studio. Until U.K. producer Mad Professor managed to coax him back for "True Born African". 1991 also saw Virgin release the Natty Rebel — Extra Version album, which pulled tracks from both "Natty Rebel" and "Jah Son of Africa", and also included the Live EP. A limited edition three-CD box set "Three From the Frontline" appeared this same year, and bundled together "Version of Wisdom", "Rasta Ambassador", and "Natty Rebel — Extra Version".U-Roy has continued recording for the Professor's Ariwa label. "Smile awhile" came out in 1993 and featured a number of guest stars, including Yabby You, Aisha, Sandra Cross, and lovers rock heroine Susan Cadogan. Incidentally, the album's title was inspired by a line from the DJ's old hit "Flashing My Whip" ("smile awhile and give your face a rest"). Also in 1993, the DJ guested on Nolan Irie's album "Work So Hard". U-Roy joined Cadogan again in 1996 for a remake of her classic hit "Hurt So Good," which the DJ had previously versioned on "Smile Awhile". U-Roy also released his own new album that year "Babylon Kingdom Must Fall". Four more years passed before its follow-up hit the shops. "Serious Matter". This LP found the DJ toasting over classic songs, accompanied by a host of veteran vocalists, including the likes of Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, and Horace Andy amongst others, and brought about more of the same the next year in the shape of "Now".
He has continued recording with almost an album of some description released nearly every year, with his latest LP that was still mixed and produced by Mad Professor, "Old School New Rules" released just last year.
Also last year on the October 15th he was awarded 'The Order of Distinction' at the rank of Officer (an award to citizens of Jamaica who are deemed to have rendered outstanding and important service to Jamaica). The Motto of the Order is "Distinction Through Service" and nobody can argue that U Roy has certainly done more than his fair share of distinctive service to reggae music.