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U-Roy

Person · male · Jamaica · Kingston · born 1942 · died 2021 · recording since 1970

Jamaican musician (1942-2021)

reggae dub music rub-a-dub

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Also known as Euwart Asman Beckford · Ewart Beckford · Hugh Roy · U Roy · U Roy & The Children · U. Roy · +1 more

Debut: 1970
Recording span: 51 years
Release groups: 53
Awards: 2
Timeline events: 30
Wiki language versions: 13

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Timeline

30 events▣ Album 26◦ Birth 1★ Debut release 1✦ Award 1† Death 1

1940s
1. 21 September 1942 · Birth
  Born 1942-09-21
  source: wikidata
1970s
1. 1970 · Debut release
  Debut release: Version Galore
  First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
  source: musicbrainz
2. 1970 · Album
  Album: Version Galore
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
3. 1974 · Album
  Album: U. Roy / With Words of Wisdom
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
4. 1975 · Album
  Album: Dread in a Babylon
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
5. 1976 · Album
  Album: The Originator
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
6. 1976 · Album
  Album: Natty Rebel
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
7. 1976 · Album
  Album: African Roots
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
8. 1978 · Album
  Album: Jah Son of Africa
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
1980s
1. 1987 · Album
  Album: Music Addict
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
1990s
1. 1991 · Album
  Album: True Born African
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
2. 26 July 1991 · Album
  Album: Rasta Ambassador
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
3. 1993 · Album
  Album: Smile a While
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
4. 1996 · Album
  Album: Babylon Kingdom Must Fall
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
5. 1998 · Album
  Album: The Lost Album — Right Time Rockers
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
2000s
1. 2000 · Album
  Album: Serious Matter
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
2. May 2001 · Album
  Album: Now
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
3. 2003 · Album
  Album: Babylon Kingdom Must Fall
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
4. 2003 · Album
  Album: Rebel in Styylle
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
5. 19 August 2003 · Album
  Album: The Rightful Ruler
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
6. 26 September 2006 · Album
  Album: Love Trio in Dub
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
7. 30 September 2006 · Album
  Album: Old School / New Rules
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
8. 2007 · Award
  Won: Order of Distinction
  source: wikidata
2010s
1. 12 October 2012 · Album
  Album: Pray fi di People
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
2. 2018 · Album
  Album: Talking Roots
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
3. 21 February 2018 · Album
  Album: Greatest Hits Anthology
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
2020s
1. 19 June 2020 · Album
  Album: My Cup Runneth Over
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
2. 17 February 2021 · Death
  Died 2021
  source: wikidata
3. 16 July 2021 · Album
  Album: Solid Gold
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
4. 17 February 2022 · Album
  Album: Dread In A Africa
  Album
  source: musicbrainz

Biography

English biography1,226 words · 6 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1379272843

Biography

Ewart Beckford OD (21 September 1942 – 17 February 2021), known by the stage name U-Roy, was a Jamaican vocalist and pioneer of toasting. U-Roy was known for a melodic style of toasting applied with a highly developed sense of timing.

Early life

Ewart Beckford was born in Jones Town, Saint Andrew Parish, Kingston, Jamaica, on 21 September 1942. He was raised within a religious and musical family; his mother was an organist for the choir at a local Seventh-day Adventist church. The sobriquet U-Roy originated from a younger member of his family who found it difficult to pronounce his first name. Beckford attended Denham Town High School in Kingston. As a young man Beckford listened to the music of Louis Prima, James Brown, Ruth Brown, Fats Domino, Rufus Thomas, Smiley Lewis and was especially influenced by the vocal phrasing of Louis Jordan.

Career

Inspired by Count Matchuki, U-Roy started his professional career as a deejay in 1961 on Dickie Wong's sound system (originally called Doctor Dickies later changed to Dickies Dynamic) moving later to the Sir George the Atomic sound system. He then worked on Sir Coxsone Dodd's sound system where he ran the number two set while King Stitt "The Ugly One" ran the main set. This was followed by a period with Sir Percy before he moved to King Tubby's Hometown Hi-Fi sound system. His first single "Dynamic Fashion Way" (1969) was a Keith Hudson production. It was followed by the Lee "Scratch" Perry production "Earth's Rightful Ruler" with Peter Tosh.
While working with the Hometown Hi-Fi sound system in 1969, U-Roy toasted over instrumental dub plates created from existing rocksteady recordings. One such dub plate was a version of the Techniques' "You Don't Care", with Tubby switching from the original vocal recording to the stripped-down rhythm while U-Roy toasted over it. The customized version soon became Hometown Hi-Fi's signature tune.
In 1970, Jamaican singer John Holt (lead vocalist of the Paragons) heard U-Roy toasting over a Duke Reid track at a dance. Holt told Reid about the performance and on his recommendation Reid asked him to come and see him and an informal recording deal was arranged.
"Wake the TownWake the Town1999 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Wake the Town2:402Rule the Nation2:353Version Galore3:104Things You Love2:475The Same Song2:506Wear You to the Ball2:327On the Beach2:408Rock Away3:019Super Boss2:3410Happy Go Lucky Girl3:0411The Tide Is High2:4012I Can't Lose2:4713Don't Stay Away2:3214What Is Catty?2:4915My Girl2:4116True Confessions2:34" and "Rule the Nation" both topped Jamaica's JBC and RJR charts, and "Wear You to the Ball" subsequently joined them, giving U-Roy the top three positions on both charts simultaneously for several weeks. The success of U-Roy's recordings helped establish deejaying, which had previously been primarily associated with live sound system performances, as a commercially successful recorded form.
He went on to work with other major producers on the island including Lee "Scratch" Perry, Bunny Lee, Phil Pratt, Sonia Pottinger, Rupie Edwards, Alvin Ranglin and Lloyd Daley. 1971 saw the release of his deejay version of The Paragons' "The Tide Is High". He first toured the UK in 1972 with the artists Roy Shirley and Max Romeo. The tour was organized by Rita and Benny King, the owners of R & B Records based in Stamford Hill, London.
U-Roy's album Dread in a BabylonDread in a Babylon1975 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1Runaway Girl3:47A2Chalice in the Palace3:29A3I Can’t Love Another3:24A4Dreadlocks Dread2:47A5The Great Psalms2:50B1Natty Don’t Fear2:29B2African Message2:44B3Silver Bird3:12B4Listen to the Teacher2:40B5Trench Town Rock2:48 was released in the US, Europe and Jamaica by Virgin Records in 1975. The album achieved significant sales in the UK, due in part to the ongoing expansion of the Virgin label and stores. The track "Runaway Girl" from the album was released as a single in Europe that same year. The success of Dread In A Babylon led to a series of Tony Robinson produced albums: Natty RebelNatty Rebel1976 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracksA1Babylon Burning2:40A2Natty Rebel3:27A3So Jah Jah Say3:02A4Natty Kung Fu2:48A5If You Should Leave Me2:55B1Do You Remember3:15B2Travelling Man2:49B3Have Mercy3:28B4Badie Boo2:59B5Go There Natty2:41B6Fire in a Trenchtown2:50 (1976), Rasta AmbassadorRasta Ambassador26 July 1991 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Control Tower3:442Wear You to the Ball3:003Evil Doers3:494MR. Slave Driver3:495Small Axe5:246Come Home Little Girl3:407Say You4:108No More War3:439Tide Is High4:2910Jah Jah4:2511Small Axe (version)2:32 (1977) and Jah Son Of AfricaJah Son of Africa1978 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Jah Son of Africa7:402Rivers of Babylon5:043Tom Drunk3:474Peace and Love in the Ghetto4:165Running Around Town With Tom, Dick and Harry4:496I Got to Tell You Goodbye4:307Herbman Skanking2:418Africa for the Africans4:139Love in the Arena6:45 (1978). His international popularity led to the album Natty Rebel being released in 1976 on Virgin's Front Line label in Nigeria as well as in France on Virgin and Polydor.
U-Roy started his own sound system in 1978, which he named Stur Gav after his sons. The sound system would launch the careers of a younger generation of toasters and singers including Ranking Joe, Jah Screw, Charlie Chaplin and Josey Wales. The pop group Blondie had a world-wide hit with a cover of "The Tide Is High" in 1980, prompting Virgin to re-release the original Paragons' recording from 1967 and the 1971 U-Roy version as a single that same year. His album Pray Fi Di PeoplePray fi di People12 October 2012 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Questions2Pray fi di People3Border Line4The Hard Way5Call on Jah6Cheating Girl7Ebony Eyes8Got a Date9Pumps and Pride10Power of Love11Reason With Jah12Ungrateful Girl13War Question was released in 2012.
U-Roy was featured on the album True Love by Toots and the Maytals, which won the Grammy Award in 2004 for Best Reggae Album, and showcased many notable musicians including Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Trey Anastasio, Gwen Stefani / No Doubt, Ben Harper, Bonnie Raitt, Manu Chao, The Roots, Ryan Adams, Keith Richards, Toots Hibbert, Paul Douglas, Jackie Jackson, Ken Boothe, and The Skatalites.
He was awarded the Order of Distinction in 2007 by the Jamaican government for his contribution to music.
His last recording was the song "The Coming of Jah Jah" for the project "The Deejay Battle: Sly & Robbie vs Roots Radics" released in April 2023 produced by the Grammy nominated musician and producer Hernan "Don Camel" Sforzini.

U-Roy's music and Rastafari

Rastafari has been a feature of U-Roy's lyrics from his earliest singles to his latest album Pray Fi Di PeoplePray fi di People12 October 2012 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Questions2Pray fi di People3Border Line4The Hard Way5Call on Jah6Cheating Girl7Ebony Eyes8Got a Date9Pumps and Pride10Power of Love11Reason With Jah12Ungrateful Girl13War Question. Beckford's second single "Rightful Ruler" (1969) opens with a profession of Rastafari faith given in the Ethiopian language Amharic:

His "Joyful Locks" (1975) is a DJ version of Linval Thompson's "Don't Cut Off Your Dreadlocks"; an encouragement to others to keep their dreadlocks and to "let it grow". The original song and U-Roy's DJ version both allude to the biblical Samson who as a Nazarite was expected to make certain religious vows including the ritual treatment of his hair as described in Chapter Six of the Book of Numbers:

All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the Lord, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.

Death

Beckford's death was confirmed on 17 February 2021 when his partner, Marcia Smikle, told the Jamaican newspaper The Gleaner. Trojan Records was also informed about his death. While no cause of death was made public at the time, he suffered from diabetes, hypertension, and problems with his kidneys prior to his death, and had been undergoing surgery at the hospital.

Legacy

Beckford was preceded by the toasters Count Matchuki, King Stitt and Sir Lord Comic who themselves were influenced by the jive talk of the US disc jockeys that they heard on American radio stations whose broadcasts reached the Caribbean. Beckford was the first toaster to popularize the form through a series of successful releases on the Duke Reid label gaining a wider audience for toasting. This approach to production and the remixing of previously recorded tracks with a new vocal influenced the early hip-hop pioneers. Kool Herc states:

"Hip-hop….the whole chemistry of that came from Jamaica…..In Jamaica all you needed was a drum and a bass. So what I did was go right to the ‘yoke’. I cut off all the anticipation and just played the beats. I’d find out where the break in the record was and prolonged it and people would love it. So I was giving them their own taste and beat percussion wise….cause my music is all about heavy bass."
Many internationally known dancehall deejays have acknowledged U-Roy as an influence on their careers, including Sean Paul and Shabba Ranks.

Discography & profile

Normalised profile

Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.

Normalised profile metrics with percentile rank
Metric	Value	Percentile
Wikipedia language versions	13	67.6th
Spotify monthly listeners	—	no data
Release groups in DB	53	94.7th
Studio albums	29	98.1th
Awards recorded	2	92.6th
Timeline events	30	96.8th
Recording span (years)	51	91.8th
Genres	8	94.5th

Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.

Discography (53 release groups · 29 studio albums)

Albums · 29

Version Galore
1970 · studio album
Search Spotify Search YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks · 34:34
A1Your Ace From Space2:54
A2On the Beach2:44
A3Version Galore3:13
A4True Confession2:38
A5Tide Is High2:45
A6Things You Love2:55
B1The Same Song3:07
B2Happy Go Lucky Girl3:15
B3Rock Away3:07
B4Wear You to the Ball2:34
B5Don't Stay Away2:37
B6Hot Pop2:45
U. Roy / With Words of Wisdom
1974 · studio album
Search Spotify Search YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks · 30:22
A1Honey Come Back2:50
A2Treasure Isle Skank2:37
A3Rule the Nation2:35
A4Drive Her Home1:50
A5Tom Drunk2:11
A6Words of Wisdom2:36
B1The Merry Go Round2:52
B2Wake the Town2:28
B3What Is Catty?2:50
B4Everybody Bawling2:19
B5Ain't That Loving You2:33
B6Behold2:41
Dread in a Babylon
1975 · studio album
Search Spotify Search YouTube Music
Tracklist · 10 tracks · 30:10
A1Runaway Girl3:47
A2Chalice in the Palace3:29
A3I Can’t Love Another3:24
A4Dreadlocks Dread2:47
A5The Great Psalms2:50
B1Natty Don’t Fear2:29
B2African Message2:44
B3Silver Bird3:12
B4Listen to the Teacher2:40
B5Trench Town Rock2:48
The Originator
1976 · studio album
Search Spotify Search YouTube Music
Tracklist · 11 tracks · 38:23
1The Originator3:11
2Ride On3:40
3Jump For Joy2:34
4Conference At The Temple4:06
5Feed Jah-Jah Spirit3:15
6A Catch You Red-Handed4:40
7King Tubby's On The Scene2:55
8Parasite Gal3:47
9Heavy Duty3:01
10Don't Be No Folly4:23
11Coming On Strong2:51
Natty Rebel
1976 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 32:54
A1Babylon Burning2:40
A2Natty Rebel3:27
A3So Jah Jah Say3:02
A4Natty Kung Fu2:48
A5If You Should Leave Me2:55
B1Do You Remember3:15
B2Travelling Man2:49
B3Have Mercy3:28
B4Badie Boo2:59
B5Go There Natty2:41
B6Fire in a Trenchtown2:50
African Roots
1976 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 34:43
1Joyful Locks3:11
2Rock for I2:56
3I Shall Not Be Moved2:35
4Too Much War3:23
5Gorgon Wise2:25
6Don't Worry3:08
7Dub From the Roots4:32
8Mine Field2:40
9African Roots3:54
10Double Cross3:50
11East of Arrows2:09
Jah Son of Africa
1978 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 43:45
1Jah Son of Africa7:40
2Rivers of Babylon5:04
3Tom Drunk3:47
4Peace and Love in the Ghetto4:16
5Running Around Town With Tom, Dick and Harry4:49
6I Got to Tell You Goodbye4:30
7Herbman Skanking2:41
8Africa for the Africans4:13
9Love in the Arena6:45
Music Addict
1987 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 31:56
1I Originate3:24
2Music Addict4:26
3King Tubby's Skank2:56
4Jah Jah Call You3:05
5Come Fe Warn Them3:49
6Reggae Party2:49
7Haul and Pull4:42
8I Feel Good3:35
9Waterboot3:10
True Born African
1991 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 42:55
1True Born African4:12
2Ghetto Youth3:37
3Everlasting Rap3:38
4Rob the Natty2:56
5Mi Brethren3:36
6Your Wish Is My Command2:47
7Black the Natural Fact4:24
8False Prophecy3:18
9Money Honey3:59
10Bird of a Feather3:04
11Jump Up Soca2:26
12Bye Bye City Living4:58
Rasta Ambassador
1991 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 42:45
1Control Tower3:44
2Wear You to the Ball3:00
3Evil Doers3:49
4MR. Slave Driver3:49
5Small Axe5:24
6Come Home Little Girl3:40
7Say You4:10
8No More War3:43
9Tide Is High4:29
10Jah Jah4:25
11Small Axe (version)2:32
Smile a While
1993 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 47:07
1Smile a While4:09
2I'm a Rasta Man4:02
3A Chapter a Day3:52
4Steppin Pon the Right Track2:42
5Freedom3:31
6The Hurt Is Good3:42
7Can't Do Them Time3:51
8Lip Service4:39
9More Love3:21
10Choice DJ4:05
11Leaders of the World4:01
12Unity in the Community5:12
Smile a While
1993 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 47:09
1Smile a While4:10
2I'm a Rasta Man4:02
3A Chapter a Day3:52
4Steppin Pon the Right Track2:42
5Freedom3:33
6The Hurt Is Good3:40
7Can't Do Them Time3:51
8Lip Service4:39
9More Love3:21
10Choice DJ4:05
11Leaders of the World4:01
12Unity in the Community5:13
Babylon Kingdom Must Fall
1996 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 45:32
1Shaking Up the City3:29
2Taken From Africa4:07
3Long Time in Bondage3:18
4Loving Gone Forever4:03
5Keep On Running2:20
6Babylon Kingdom4:02
7I’m Not in the Mood4:12
8Reggae Hip Hop4:27
9She’s a Rastawoman4:02
10Chant of the Psalms3:29
11Jah Jah Love4:00
12Moses Dub4:03
The Lost Album — Right Time Rockers
1998 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 36:33
1Merciful Dub3:01
2Rightful Reggae3:20
3Bury The Razor2:47
4Crashie Sweep2:58
5Ital Vital3:39
6Full Time3:37
7People A Go Lingua2:48
8Swell Head Skank3:22
9Truthful Dub3:07
10Can Man Shuffle2:55
11Back Stabbing2:17
12Poor Marcus2:42
Serious Matter
2000 · studio album
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Tracklist · 18 tracks · 1:04:44
1Intro0:11
2Half Me Get3:37
3Attention4:00
4Money3:54
5A Cappella0:44
6Same Vibe3:58
7Half 3 The Hard Way3:55
8Know Yourself4:00
9Love Fe Me3:35
10Serious Matter3:56
11Ska Version4:07
12When Jah Come3:58
13Interview0:48
14Bass Power3:50
15Know Who I Am3:59
16Night Nurse3:48
17Miss Till I Kiss3:43
18Love Fe Me 3 The Hard Way8:41
Now
2001 · studio album
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Tracklist · 24 tracks · 1:46:16
Disc 111 tracks · 46:44
1I Need a Roof4:07
2Dreamland4:02
3Material Man3:53
4Ok Fred7:00
5I've Got the Boogie4:51
6I'm Still in Love4:22
7Run Run (Guitar)3:26
8Run Run3:31
9Equal Rights5:53
10Coming Home3:58
11Nyabinghi Chant1:41
Disc 213 tracks · 59:32
1Intro0:13
2OK Fred3:36
3Equal Rights5:46
4Dreamland4:01
5Come On Come On3:49
6Coming Home3:52
7I Need a Roof4:12
8I'm Still in Love4:20
9I've Got the Boogie4:48
10Run Run3:26
11Wanted4:01
12Material Man3:52
13Nyabinghi Chant13:36
Babylon Kingdom Must Fall
2003 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 45:32
1Shaking Up the City3:29
2Taken From Africa4:07
3Long Time in Bondage3:18
4Loving Gone Forever4:03
5Keep On Running2:20
6Babylon Kingdom4:02
7I’m Not in the Mood4:12
8Reggae Hip Hop4:27
9She’s a Rastawoman4:02
10Chant of the Psalms3:29
11Jah Jah Love4:00
12Moses Dub4:03
Rebel in Styylle
2003 · studio album
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Tracklist · 14 tracks · 56:25
1Sweet Reggae Music3:46
2Step Into My Room3:52
3Greedy Little Deggie4:03
4Treasure Your Love3:55
5Crush On You4:03
6It's Only Jah3:25
7Believers in Jah3:47
8Herbfield3:47
9Babylon Will Be Begging3:41
10Now That You Have Changed3:56
11Never Leave You4:07
12Reggae Nation3:31
13I Blow Through Here4:11
14Run for Cover6:21
The Rightful Ruler
2003 · studio album
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Tracklist · 36 tracks · 1:33:22
Disc 118 tracks · 46:16
1Wake the Town2:29
2Earth's Rightful Ruler2:28
3Words of Wisdom2:15
4Copasetic2:58
5What Is Catty2:49
6Super Boss2:22
7Earthquake3:07
8Do It Right2:11
9Drive Her Home1:50
10Treasure Isle Shank2:27
11Wear You to the Ball2:24
12Love I Tender2:25
13Dynamic Fashion Way2:52
14True True2:10
15The Hudson Affair3:24
16Version Galore2:57
17Dreamland Version2:37
18Behold2:31
Disc 218 tracks · 47:06
1Wet Vision2:51
2Medley Train2:43
3You Keep on Running2:28
4Flashing My Whip2:46
5On the Beach2:39
6On Top of the Peak2:40
7Rule of the Nation2:35
8Stick Together2:46
9The Higher the Mountain2:30
10King Tubby's Special2:53
11Tom Drunk2:11
12Tide Is High2:41
13Double Six2:20
14Don't Stay Away2:29
15Festival Wise2:45
16Ain't That Loving You2:27
17Hard Feeling2:22
18Rock Away3:00
Love Trio in Dub
2006 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 51:44
1Rock the Rhythm4:00
2Hard Livin'4:36
3Lovers Rock4:38
4Shug Shimme and Shake5:26
5Goth Dub4:37
6Version Galore4:39
7Flight in Dub4:53
8Flight in Dub (DJ Cil's Organic mix)6:55
9Lovers Rock (Deadbeat Knockout)6:18
10Rub a Dub Style5:42
Old School / New Rules
2006 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 45:31
1Revisit The Palace3:41
2Aint No Stranger3:28
3Old School Music4:04
4Build Up The Nation3:40
5DJ Phonics3:55
6Give Me The Reason4:59
7Papa Of Creation4:17
8Sharper Than Joe Fraser3:43
9Real Man2:40
10Burning Shame2:29
11Thicker Than Mud4:28
12Sounds Of The Ghetto4:07
Pray fi di People
2012 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks
1Questions
2Pray fi di People
3Border Line
4The Hard Way
5Call on Jah
6Cheating Girl
7Ebony Eyes
8Got a Date
9Pumps and Pride
10Power of Love
11Reason With Jah
12Ungrateful Girl
13War Question
Talking Roots
2018 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 38:58
1Repatriation3:51
2Teacher Morris3:24
33 Minutes Of Talk4:06
4Bitter Nut3:14
5Mother Of Civilisation4:18
6Jamaica3:46
7Black Man3:25
8Dog & Bone2:31
9Brimstone & Fire3:12
10Come Follow Me3:45
11Tide Is High3:26
Greatest Hits Anthology
2018 · studio album
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Tracklist · 45 tracks · 2:35:51
1Reggae Party (Live)3:04
2Dub Yourself4:04
3Dub Who I Am4:12
4She's a Rasta Woman (Live)4:03
5Bury the Razor2:49
6Crashie Sweep2:59
7Ital Vital3:40
8Swell Head Skank3:23
9Truthful Dub3:10
10Border Line3:54
11Power of Love4:10
12War Question4:02
13Chalice in the Palace3:29
14Lagos Rock4:31
15Half Me Get3:37
16Money3:54
17Same Vibe3:58
18Serious Matter3:56
19Ok Fred3:36
20I'm Still in Love4:19
21Nyahbingi Chant13:36
22Small Axe2:31
23You Keep on Running2:29
24Love I Tender2:27
25Medley Train2:47
26On Top of the Peak2:41
27Earthquake (Alternate Version)3:07
28Yama Khy3:31
29Joyful Locks3:11
30Rightful Ruler2:34
31Tide is High DJ Style4:21
320062:45
33Train from the West2:39
34Wake the Town2:43
35Rule the Nation2:36
36Wear You to the Ball2:31
37Drive Her Home1:58
38Double Six2:22
39Stick Together2:48
40On the Beach2:40
41Happy Go Lucky Girl3:08
42Ain't That Loving You2:37
43The Tide is High2:43
44Wear You to the Ball Organ2:32
45I Shall Be Released Live3:44
My Cup Runneth Over
2020 · studio album
Search Spotify Search YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks
1Try Me (vocal)
2It’s Alright (dub)
3Lively Up Yourself (vocal)
4Kaya (vocal)
5Cornerstone (dub)
6Trenchtown Rock (vocal)
7Mr. Brown (vocal)
8Brainwashing (vocal)
9African Herbsman (vocal)
10African Herbsman (dub)
11No Sympathy (vocal)
12Keep On Moving (dub)
Solid Gold
2021 · studio album
Search Spotify Search YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks · 1:13:14
1Trenchtown Rock4:29
2Man Next Door4:31
3Rule the Nation3:53
4Tom Drunk4:03
5Wake the Town4:02
6Stop That Train4:23
7Soul Rebel5:02
8Queen Majesty / Chalice in the Palace4:21
9Small Axe5:15
10Wear You to the Ball2:55
11Every Knee Shall Bow15:19
12Every Knee Shall Bow (Scientist dub)15:01
Dread In A Africa
2022 · studio album
Search Spotify Search YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks · 36:56
1Children Of Jah Jah2:20
2Move Out Of Pharoah Land2:17
3Dread In A Earth3:12
4Dreadlocks In A Africa3:39
5Nana Banana2:44
63543:23
7Idlers Rest3:27
8Ghetto Dub3:27
9Rental Skank2:48
10Danger's Track3:15
11War In A Jam Down3:10
12Dreadlocks Dub3:14
No Lost Time
— · studio album
Search Spotify Search YouTube Music
Tracklist · 8 tracks · 44:10
1Rightfull Time6:23
2Black Brothers6:40
3More Mercy More Dub6:10
4Head and Teeth Skank4:20
5Poor Marcus5:09
6Crashing Roof5:55
7No Stabbing Natty4:55
8Rightfull Conversation4:38
Version Galore
— · studio album
Search Spotify Search YouTube Music
Tracklist · 42 tracks · 1:51:19
Disc 121 tracks · 57:23
1Your Ace From Space aka Your Ace From Outer Space2:53
2On the Beach2:40
3Version Galore2:58
4True Confession2:39
5Tide Is High2:43
6Things You Love aka I Can't Lose2:53
7The Same Song2:58
8Happy Go Lucky Girl3:10
9You Will Never Get Away aka Rock Away3:04
10Wear You to the Ball2:32
11Don't Stay Away2:35
12Hot Pop2:44
13Nehru2:51
14True, True2:10
15Wake the Town (take 2)2:49
16Flashing My Whip2:53
17The Ball2:32
18Do It Right2:16
19Ain’t That Loving You (alternate version)2:39
20Do Re Mi aka the Last Train2:39
21Super Boss2:45
Disc 221 tracks · 53:56
1Honey Come Forward aka Honey Come Back2:58
2Treasure Isle Skank2:42
3(This Station) Rule the Nation2:37
4Drive Her Home1:58
5Tom Drunk2:33
6Words of Wisdom2:38
7The Merry Go Round2:52
8Wake the Town2:43
9What Is Catty? aka Big Boy and Teacher2:48
10Everybody Bawling2:23
11Ain’t That Loving You2:38
12Behold2:54
13Way Back Home2:53
14My Girl2:43
15My Girl (version)2:38
16Peace and Love2:38
17Peace and Love (version)2:37
18Love I Tender2:29
19Drive Her Home (Part Two)1:52
20You Will Never Get Away aka Rock Away (take 5)3:03
21Studio Chatter1:19

Single · 7

Single release groups, by first release date
Year	Title	First release
1971	Love I BringSearch Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 2 tracks ALove I Bring B(Love I Bring) Version	1971
1972	Way Down in South / Be My GuestSearch Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 2 tracks 1Way Down in South 2Be My Guest	1972
2005	RootsmanSearch Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 2 tracks · 14:43 ARootsman6:45 BRoots Dub7:58	10 May 2005
2005	Lovers RockSearch Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 4 tracks · 22:34 1Lovers Rock4:41 2Flight in Dub (DJ Cils Organic dub)7:00 3Goth Dub6:15 4Lovers Rock (Deadbeat Knockout)4:38	12 December 2005
2014	Nah ComplainSearch Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 1 track · 3:45 1Nah Complain3:45	9 December 2014
2015	Natty RebelSearch Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 4 tracks · 19:10 1Natty Rebel5:12 2Natty Rebel feat. Art-X4:08 3Natty Rebel - Liquid Dub5:06 4Natty Rebel - Supa Kete Dub4:44	4 October 2015
—	Wear You To The Ball / Wear You To The DanceSearch Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 2 tracks AWear You To The Ball BWear You To The Dance	—

Album · 16

Album release groups, by first release date
Year	Title	Notes	First release
1990	The OriginatorSearch Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 12 tracks A1The Originator A2Jump For Joy A3Heavy Duty A4I Shall Not Remove A5Too Much War A6Musical Vision B1King Tubby Shank B2Gorgan Wise B3Don't Worry B4Feel The Spirit B5Joyful Locks B6Rock For I	Compilation	1990
1990	Version of WisdomSearch Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 20 tracks · 53:18 1Your Ace From Outer Space2:55 2Rule the Nation2:34 3Honey Come Forward2:52 4Version Galore3:11 5Things You Love2:50 6Wear You to the Ball2:32 7On the Beach2:40 8Rock Away2:56 9True Confession2:37 10Everybody Bawling2:19 11Wake the Town2:28 12Words of Wisdom2:40 13Treasure Isle Skank2:43 14The Same Song3:01 15Tide Is High2:44 16Hot Pop2:35 17Tom Drunk2:11 18Drive Her Home1:50 19Merry Go Round2:52 20What Is Catty?2:48	Compilation	1990
1991	Three From the FrontlineSearch Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 46 tracks · 2:30:30 Disc 115 tracks · 57:00 1Babylon Burning2:41 2Natty Rebel3:29 3Badie Boo2:58 4If You Should Leave Me2:58 5Do You Remember3:14 6So Jah Jah Say3:02 7Jah Son of Africa7:35 8Peace and Love in the Ghetto4:14 9Running Around With Tom Dick and Harry4:46 10I Got to Tell You Goodbye4:25 11Africa for the Africans4:09 12Runaway Girl3:40 13Babylon Burning2:37 14Chalice in the Palace4:00 15Wear You to the Ball3:12 Disc 211 tracks · 42:18 1Control Tower3:41 2Wear You to the Ball2:58 3Evil Doers3:46 4Mr. Slave Driver3:47 5Small Axe5:21 6Come Home Little Girl3:38 7Say You4:07 8No More War3:40 9Tide Is High4:27 10Jah Jah4:22 11Small Axe (version)2:31 Disc 320 tracks · 51:12 1Your Ace From Outer Space2:32 2Rule the Nation2:32 3Honey Come Forward2:49 4Version Galore3:09 5Things You Love2:43 6Wear You to the Ball2:30 7On the Beach2:38 8Rock Away1:53 9True Confession2:34 10Everybody Bawling2:17 11Wake the Town2:27 12Words of Wisdom2:38 13Treasure Isle Skank2:40 14The Same Song2:59 15Tide Is High2:42 16Hot Pop2:33 17Tom Drunk2:08 18Drive Her Home1:49 19Merry-Go-Round2:51 20What Is Catty?2:48	Compilation	1991
1992	Rock With ISearch Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 12 tracks · 35:27 1The Originator3:05 2Jump for Joy2:26 3Heavy Duty2:57 4I Shall Not Be Moved2:33 5Too Much War3:26 6Musical Vision2:46 7King Tubby's Skank2:46 8Gorgon Wise2:27 9Don't You Worry3:42 10Feel Jah Spirit3:10 11Joyfull Locks3:13 12Rock With I2:56	Compilation	25 August 1992
1993	Musical VisionSearch Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 12 tracks · 35:49 1Musical Vision2:48 2King Tubby's Skank2:48 3Gorgon Wise2:28 4Don't You Worry3:44 5The Originator3:06 6Jump for Joy2:28 7Heavy Duty2:58 8I Shall Not Be Moved2:35 9Too Much War3:27 10Feel Jah Spirit3:12 11Joyful Locks3:14 12Rock With I3:01	Compilation	1993
1994	Super Boss: The Great Treasure Isle Collection, Volume 1Search Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 27 tracks · 1:12:06 1What' Is Catty? (Big Boy and Teacher)2:50 2Rock Away (You'll Never Get Away)3:02 3Wake the Town2:41 4Rule de Nation2:34 5Version Galore3:10 6Wear You to the Ball2:31 7True Confession2:34 8Things You Love2:46 9On the Beach2:40 10Everybody Bawling2:19 11Ain't That Loving You2:28 12Flashing My Whip2:42 13Way Back Home2:42 14Drive Her Home1:48 15Hot Pop2:44 16Your Ace From Space2:46 17Treasure Isle Skank2:33 18Words of Wisdom2:29 19Super Boss (Do Re Mi)2:33 20The Same Song2:50 21The Tide Is High2:40 22Merry Go Round2:51 23Happy Go Lucky Girl3:04 24My Girl2:43 25Don't Stay Way2:32 26Honey Come Back2:48 27I Can't Lose2:46	Compilation	18 October 1994
1995	Your Ace From SpaceSearch Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 30 tracks · 1:17:05 1Tide Is High2:43 2On the Beach2:40 3Flashing My Whip2:48 4Wear You to the Ball2:25 5Happy Go Lucky Girl3:04 6Same Song2:50 7Merry Go Round2:46 8Drive Her Home1:52 9Tom Drunk2:12 10Rock Away3:01 11Super Boss2:23 12Everybody Bawlin'2:21 13Version Galore2:59 14Words of Wisdom2:16 15My Girl2:30 16Rule of the Nation2:35 17Ain't That Loving You2:28 18Wake the Town2:29 19Hot Pot2:46 20Peace and Love in the Ghetto2:40 21Things You Say You Love2:47 22Treasure Isle Skank2:28 23True Confessions2:32 24Do It Right2:12 25True True2:11 26Big Boy and Teacher2:38 27Behold2:33 28Don't Stay Away2:29 29Honey Come Forward2:44 30Your Ace From Space2:43	Compilation	1995
1995	Original DJSearch Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 25 tracks · 1:16:01 1Babylon Burning3:00 2Natty Rebel3:26 3Evil Doers3:46 4Jah Jah4:18 5Rule the Nation2:30 6On the Beach2:33 7Tide Is High2:37 8Rock Away2:47 9Peace and Love in the Ghetto4:16 10Say You4:03 11I Can't Love Another3:19 12Trench Town Rock2:44 13Hot Pop2:23 14Wear You to the Ball2:27 15True Confession2:29 16Everybody Bawling2:14 17Words of Wisdom2:34 18The Great Psalms2:44 19African Message2:36 20Listen to the Teacher2:34 21Control Tower3:35 22Runaway Girl3:41 23Natty Don't Fear2:23 24Chalice in the Palace3:24 25Come Home Little Girl3:38	Compilation	26 September 1995
1999	Wake the TownSearch Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 16 tracks · 43:56 1Wake the Town2:40 2Rule the Nation2:35 3Version Galore3:10 4Things You Love2:47 5The Same Song2:50 6Wear You to the Ball2:32 7On the Beach2:40 8Rock Away3:01 9Super Boss2:34 10Happy Go Lucky Girl3:04 11The Tide Is High2:40 12I Can't Lose2:47 13Don't Stay Away2:32 14What Is Catty?2:49 15My Girl2:41 16True Confessions2:34	Compilation	1999
1999	Trenchtown RockSearch Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 14 tracks · 50:47 1Small Axe5:24 2Wear You to the Ball3:01 3Mr Slave Driver3:50 4Merry Go Round2:53 5Natty Don't Fear2:30 6Babylon Burning2:43 7Jah Son of Africa7:38 8Words of Wisdom2:40 9Trenchtown Rock2:49 10No More War3:43 11Runaway Girl3:47 12Tide Is High4:30 13Dreadlocks Dread2:48 14Rule the Nation2:31	Compilation	1999
2001	Super Boss - The Best Of U-RoySearch Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 21 tracks · 53:59 1Rule The Nation2:33 2Dynamic Fashion Way2:50 3The Higher The Mountain2:29 4You Keep On Running2:26 5Love I Tender2:24 6Way Down In South2:53 7Rightful Ruler2:26 8Love I Bring3:10 9Tide Is High2:39 10True True2:08 11Ain't That Loving You2:25 12Treasure Isle Skank2:26 13Version Galore2:56 14Big Boy & Teacher2:35 15Tom Drunk2:09 16Super Boss2:20 17My Girl2:27 18Behold2:30 19Wet Vision2:49 20Festival Wise2:44 21On Top Of The Peak2:40	Compilation	2001
2002	Babylon Burning: The Mighty Sounds of U-RoySearch Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 17 tracks · 45:11 1Wake the Town2:27 2Rightful Ruler2:26 3Rule the Nation2:33 4Tom Drunk2:09 5My Girl2:27 6Wear You to the Ball2:22 7Flashing My Whip2:40 8Ain't That Loving You2:25 9Hot Pot2:42 10Treasure Island Skank2:31 11Peace and Love2:37 12King Tubby's Skank2:45 13Feel Jah Spirit3:10 14Rock With I2:56 15The Originator3:04 16I Shall Not Be Moved2:33 17Too Much War3:24	Compilation	2002
2009	I Am the OriginatorSearch Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 16 tracks · 50:05 1Call on Me3:08 2You Never Get Away2:23 3Every Knee Shall Bow4:25 4Gorgon Wise2:26 5Hold On3:42 6Number 12:57 7Joyful Locks3:10 8I Originate3:04 9Cool Down Your Temper3:11 10Creation Rebel3:32 11Stick Together2:43 12Riot2:54 13King of the Road4:03 14Wet Dream2:44 15Ain't Too Proud to Beg3:11 16I Shall Not Remove2:32	Compilation	2009
2009	Foundation Skank 1971-1975 Rare Sides By The DJ OriginatorSearch Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 21 tracks 1Foundation Skank 2Foundation Version 3True Love 4Mr. Warner 5Nanny Skank 6Nanny Skank Version 7Linger You Linger 8Real Cool 9Real Cool Version 10Rhythm Train 11The Other Half (Extended Version) 12Cool Down Your Temper 13Creation Rebel 14Love I Bring/ Version (Extended Version) 15Hudson Affair 16DJ Special 17Call On I 18Dreamland Version 19Never Get Away (Extended Version) 20Down Deh 21Down Deh Version	Compilation	21 April 2009
2015	Dub Is All I Got (Remix Clash) - Tribute To Style ScottSearch Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 17 tracks · 1:18:50 1Dub Is All I Got5:05 2Dub Is All I Got (Sensi Dub Remix)4:25 3Dub Is All I Got5:00 4Dub Is All I Got4:37 5Dub Is All I Got (Dubsyndfood Raw Remix)4:00 6Dub Is All I Got3:51 7Dub Is All I Got5:02 8Dub Is All I Got (4 Dubbiest Version)4:38 9Dub Is All I Got5:09 10Dub Is All I Got4:56 11Dub Is All I Got4:41 12Dub Is All I Got (Dub Version)4:52 13Dub Is All I Got4:59 14Dub Is All I Got4:43 15Hi Hat .04_015:00 16Kick.04_014:57 17Bass.05-122:55	Compilation	9 October 2015
—	Reggae Live Sessions, Volume 1Search Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 14 tracks · 1:00:12 1Reggae Party3:05 2Ghetto Youth Stand Up3:50 3Commercial Dreadlocks4:46 4Boy on My Mind4:49 5True Born African5:48 6She’s a Rasta Woman4:04 7Jah Jah Love4:15 8Keep On Running2:32 9Go There Natty4:55 10Soul Rebel4:55 11Taken From Africa4:09 12Amen6:08 13Wear You to the Ball2:48 14Pass the Kutchie4:08	Live	—

EP · 1

EP release groups, by first release date
Cover	Year	Title	Notes	First release
	2010	Luv 'n LivSearch Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 5 tracks · 25:59 1Luv ’n Liv5:38 2Luv ’n Liv (Ming vs. Subatomic Soundsystem remix)4:01 3Luv ’n Liv (Lloop remix)5:14 4Luv ’n Liv (Timeblind remix)6:25 5Luv ’n Liv (Dub Gabriel Roots Rewind mix)4:41		9 March 2010

Stats & PK

Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put U-Roy head-to-head →

U-Roy metrics with percentile rank among published artists
Metric	Value	Percentile
Wikipedia language versions	13	67.6th
Spotify monthly listeners	—	no data
Release groups in DB	53	94.7th
Studio albums	29	98.1th
Awards recorded	2	92.6th
Timeline events	30	96.8th
Recording span (years)	51	91.8th
Genres	8	94.5th

Awards & honours

Awards and honours, by year
Year	Award	Category	Result
2007	Order of Distinction		won
2007	Order of Distinction		won

Where this record comes from

portrait—Wikimedia Commons · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:URoy2021.png
aliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/c40fa847-7501-4eee-9a20-12d5d1c5c0db
discography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/c40fa847-7501-4eee-9a20-12d5d1c5c0db
core—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1356920
genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1356920
seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U-Roy
biography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U-Roy

Why this artist is in the database

List of reggae musicians

Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: Incalum · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q1356920 · MusicBrainz: c40fa847-7501-4eee-9a20-12d5d1c5c0db

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Timeline

1940s

Born 1942-09-21

1970s

Debut release: Version Galore

Album: Version Galore

Album: U. Roy / With Words of Wisdom

Album: Dread in a Babylon

Album: The Originator

Album: Natty Rebel

Album: African Roots

Album: Jah Son of Africa

1980s

Album: Music Addict

1990s

Album: True Born African

Album: Rasta Ambassador

Album: Smile a While

Album: Babylon Kingdom Must Fall

Album: The Lost Album — Right Time Rockers

2000s

Album: Serious Matter

Album: Now

Album: Babylon Kingdom Must Fall

Album: Rebel in Styylle

Album: The Rightful Ruler

Album: Love Trio in Dub

Album: Old School / New Rules

Won: Order of Distinction

2010s

Album: Pray fi di People

Album: Talking Roots

Album: Greatest Hits Anthology

2020s

Album: My Cup Runneth Over

Died 2021

Album: Solid Gold

Album: Dread In A Africa

Biography

Biography

Early life

Career

U-Roy's music and Rastafari

Death

Legacy

Discography & profile

Normalised profile

Discography (53 release groups · 29 studio albums)

Albums · 29

Single · 7

Album · 16

EP · 1

Stats & PK

Awards & honours

Where this record comes from

Why this artist is in the database

Similar artists

Big Youth

Keith Hudson

Augustus Pablo

Horace Andy

Max Romeo

Prince Far I

King Tubby

Lee "Scratch" Perry