U-Roy, Whose âToastingâ Transformed Jamaican Music, Dies at 78
He popularized the genre in which the D.J. adds a vocal and verbal layer to a recorded track, a precursor of rap.
U-Roy performing in 1984 in Montego Bay, Jamaica. “I think we can call him the ‘Godfather of Rap,’” an authority on reggae music said.Credit.David Corio/Redferns, via Getty Images
Feb. 19, 2021
U-Roy, who helped transform Jamaican music by expanding the role of D.J. into someone who didnât just introduce records but added a layer of vocal and verbal improvisation to them, a performance that was known as toasting and that anticipated rap, died on Wednesday in Kingston, Jamaica. He was 78.
U-Roy, influential reggae artist, dies at 78
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An influential singer of gently melodic reggae, his conversational rapping was also known as “toasting.”
“As we mourn the loss, we have the memories of this amazing talent,” wrote producer, studio operator and U-Roy collaborator Mad Professor on Facebook. “We have the stories. Without him there would be no Dancehall, no Hiphop, no Rap, no Afrobeat.”
The Professor wasn’t just boasting.
As a traveling sound system DJ in the 1960s and ’70s, alongside the legendary likes of King Tubby (for whom he rapped, famously), and Coxsone Dodd, U-Roy lent his often lovely and mellifluous conversational chatter rapping with a flow and an intuitive feel for the rhythms to sparsely arranged reggae, dancehall and dub tracks in a live setting. Not only did this make him one of dancehall’s toasting innovators, U-Roy crafted some of the earliest forms of rap, for which he won sobriquets
Pioneering Jamaican artist U-Roy has died
Tributes to the veteran toaster have been pouring in from the likes of Ghostpoet, Shaggy and David Rodigan
U-Roy, the pioneering reggae and dancehall artist, has died at the age of 78.
The artist, MC and veteran toaster passed away last night (February 17) at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica following surgery earlier this week,
U-Roy, who was born Ewart Beckford in Jones Town, Jamaica in 1942 and was also known as Daddy U-Roy or The Originator, was renowned as a pioneer of the toasting vocal style in reggae and dancehall, and was a key figure in the popular development of Jamaican music in the 1970s.
True King of Dancehall – U Roy, dies at 78
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On Wednesday night the veteran toaster died in Jamaica, according to a report.
Shaggy was one of the dancehall stars who posted on social media, saying, we lost one of our heroes today who was a true legend in this game of dance hall/ Reggae if you’re a fan of Jamaican sound system, then you’re a fan of Stur Gav sound. With greats such as Colonel Josey Whales and Charlie Chaplin, who were pioneers in this game. U Roy had a catalogue of amazing recordings, he was a master at his craft. Rest Well daddy Roy!! R.I.P. Walk good, Shaggy stated.
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