It was revealed that pioneering reggae and dancehall artist U-Roy passed away on Wednesday (February 17). The Gleaner reports that U-Roy passed away at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica after he had surgery earlier this week.
Jamaican singer John Holt, the lead vocalist of the Paragons, discovered U-Roy toasting over a Duke Reid track while DJing at a sound system party in 1970. Holt went on to tell Reid about U-Roy, and Holt set up an informal record deal, which led to the release of two tracks- "Wake the Town" and "Wear You to the Ball."
He's best known for his albums 1975’s Dread In A Babylon, Natty Rebel (1976), Rasta Ambassador (1977), and Jah Son of Africa (1978). His latest album, Talking Roots, was released in 2018. His latest album, Talking Roots, was released in 2018. In 1978, U-Roy started his own sound system which he named Stur Gav after his son, which helped launch the music careers of the likes of Josey Wales, Charlie Chaplin, and Ranking Joe. In 2007, U-Roy was awarded the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican government.
Source: The Gleaner
