Latest Release
- 15 NOV 2023
- 12 Songs
- Original DJ · 1976
- The Voices of Sweet Jamaica (All Star Remix) - Single · 2012
- Foundation Skank 1971 - 1975 · 2009
- Dread in a Babylon · 1975
- Dread in a Babylon · 1975
- Now Unreleased Alternate Versions · 2001
- Dread in a Babylon · 1975
- Lloyd Daley's Matador Productions 1968-72: Reggae Classics From The Originator · 1992
- Version Galore (Expanded Version) · 1971
- The Seven Gold · 1987
Essential Albums
- This is the album that truly introduced U-Roy to the world. The pioneering toaster unfurls his loose-limbed, melodic flow over a bass-heavy batch of straight-up roots rhythms harking back to his earliest soundsystem days. The dub touches on tracks like "Natty Don't Fear" add an extra layer of atmosphere, but it's U-Roy's charismatic vocal presence that dominates, whether he's dispensing Rasta-themed messages ("The Great Psalms"), bestowing inspirational visions ("Silver Bird") or promoting more earthly pursuits ("I Can't Love Another").
Music Videos
Artist Playlists
- The pioneering deejay did more than “Wake the Town”—he shaped reggae and dancehall forever.
- 2022
Live Albums
- 2022
- 2021
- 2023
- 2023
- 2011
- 2007
- The Wailers
- The Falcons
- Antonee First Class
- Quantic & Flowering Inferno
- Ziggy Marley
About U-Roy
Jamaican deejay U-Roy, who died at age 78 in early 2021, may not have been reggae's first practitioner of toasting—where performers sing and casually chat over a rhythm track—but his 1970 hits “Wake the Town” and “Wear You to the Ball” certainly helped popularize it. Those early recordings, among others, proved to be dancehall’s DNA, particularly as U-Roy stretched the sound even further on his key 1975 album Dread in a Babylon and collaborations with pioneering dub producer King Tubby. And as dancehall production moved to digital and became more compact, U-Roy’s voice only became an even more dynamic presence in the mix. These selections not only highlight U-Roy's indelible mark on all of reggae’s modern strains, but bring to light his influence on early hip-hop as well.
- HOMETOWN
- Jones Town, Jamaica
- BORN
- 21 september 1942
- GENRE
- Reggae