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Culture Minister Olivia Grange Saddened At The Passing Of Daddy U-Roy

By
uroy-gange
U-Roy, Olivia Grange

Culture and Entertainment Minister Olivia Grange is saddened at the sudden passing of Jamaican vocalist and veteran toaster, Ewart “Daddy U-Roy” Beckford.

U-Roy passed away at 11:10 last night at the University Hospital of the West Indies after undergoing surgery there. He was 78.

“I am deeply saddened at news that veteran DJ, U Roy, has made his transition to a higher order. Daddy U Roy earned his crown as ‘King of the Dancehall’ for the role he played in pioneering the art of ‘toasting’ on sound system rhythms. His Stur Gav sound system launched the careers of many of reggae’s stars including Charlie Chaplin, Josey Wales and Super Cat,” Grange said in a statement today.

“Who can forget his ‘Wake The Town and Tell the People’ and ‘Wear You To the Ball’? — just two of the songs that will remain forever in the rich legacy of Jamaica’s Reggae music culture,” Minister Grange said.

Grange said U-Roy’s songs will forever remain in the rich legacy of Jamaica’s reggae music culture.

“Let us pause to reflect on the life and musical achievements of this great Jamaican artiste. Daddy U Roy, love you forever,” the Minister stated.

U-Roy’s first two singles released on Duke Reid’s Treasure Isle label, Wake the Town (1970) and Wear You to the Ball (1970), were monster Jamaican hits and established his reputation as one of Jamaica’s most popular toasters. He achieved commercial and critical acclaim with his ‘Dread in a Babylon’ album , and continued to excel with the albums: Natty Rebel (1976), Rasta Ambassador (1977) and Jah Son of Africa (1978). The artiste’s most recent album was ‘Pray Fi Di People’ which was released in 2012.

His death was confirmed by British label Trojan Records in a statement posted to Instagram today, which read “we are very sad to announce that pioneering DJ who revolutionised the sound of Jamaican music in the early Seventies – Ewat Beckford aka U Roy”.

There has also been an outpouring of tributes from the Jamaican music fraternity including Shaggy, Sean Paul, Popcaan, Mavado, Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Spice and several others.