Veteran singer and vocalist Ewart Beckford, popularly known as Daddy U Roy, has died. He was 78 years old.
U Roy was one of dancehall’s most influential figures. He started his career in the 1960s on sound systems, and hit the charts in the early 1970s as a toaster on popular hit songs like Wear You to The Ball (alongside John Holt) and Tom Drunk (with Hopeton Lewis).
U-Roy, or Daddy U-Roy, was known for pioneering the vocal style of “toasting,” performing conversational, rhythmic speech over a reggae or dancehall beat. Throughout his career, U-Roy released some 20 records and contributed to Toots and Maytals’ Grammy-winning album True Love. He was awarded the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican government for his influence on the country’s music scene.
Born Ewart Beckford in Jones Town, Jamaica, in the 1940s, U-Roy was given his nickname by a younger family member who couldn’t pronounce Ewart.
He created his own sound system—a collective of deejays, engineers, and toasters—called Stur Gav that helped launch the careers of his protegées Charli Chaplin, Josey Wales, and Brigadier Jerry. He was also influential in the careers of Frankie Paul, Tenor Saw and Early B. He continued releasing music into the late 2010s, culminating with 2019’s Rebel in Styylle.
