I-Roy

I-Roy (born June 28, 1944 in Saint Thomas , Jamaica , † November 27, 1999 in Kingston , Jamaica) was the stage name of Roy Samuel Reid , a Jamaican deejay des roots reggae . He is considered one of the pioneers of dancehall . He had his greatest successes in the 1970s.

Life

Private

Roy Samuel Reid was born in 1944 in a settlement in the southwest of Parish Saint Thomas. He had three brothers and three sisters. His parents were simple farmers. As a teenager, Reid moved to the capital Kingston and studied political science at Dinthill Technical College . He then worked in the public sector for the government.

Roy Samuel Reid was married for several years. He has two sons, one of whom was murdered shortly before his death.

Career

Although there was an overloaded range of impressions and opportunities for the music-loving Roy Samuel Reid in Kingston, he continued to pursue his career in the public service in the 1960s and was not particularly interested in deejaying , which was particularly well represented. However, he began to chat in private through microphones. By the mid-1960s at the latest, Reid was influenced by the great success of the sound systems commonly used in Jamaica . In 1968 he founded his own sound system called Soul Bunny and organized his own weekly reggae events near Victoria Pier in Kingston, which took place every Wednesday. To make the shows more varied, he founded another sound system with Turbo Sonic Sound.

In the same year he met the producer and label owner Harry Mudie and Reid got the opportunity for his first studio recordings. As a result, the first single with the name "Heart Don't Leap" appeared on the Jamaican label Moodisc Records International . He recorded the song with the Jamaican singer Dennis Walks , a member of the vocal band The Pioneers . At that time he was most inspired by the Jamaican Deejays U-Roy , from whom his stage name is derived, and Dennis Alcapone . They were among the first deejays that with the new at the time Toasting commercial success had. Previously, this form of singing was only common in sound systems and live events. I-Roy adopted this style of singing. In early 1969, Reid moved from Kingston to Spanish Town and began working there as Deejay on the most important local sound systems. Among others at Ruddy's Supreme , Son's Junior and Stereo . After further recordings with other artists, the first solo sung single called "Musical Pleasure" was released in 1970 , which was also produced by Harry Mudie. After 1971 I-Roy ended the collaboration with Mudie and began to work as a music producer for other artists himself and created commercial hits such as "Mood for Love" by Winston Blake or "Problems of Life" and "Musical Drum Sound" by Lloyd Daley . I-Roy himself also continued to release singles.

In 1973 his first album "Presenting I. Roy" was released on the Trojan Records label . His second album called "Hell And Sorrow" made him internationally known and received only good reviews , especially in the UK . Between 1973 and 1974 I-Roy embarked on his first European tour for eight months to promote his next album "Many Moods Of I Roy" . After he was back in Jamaica, he began to turn increasingly to the deejay clash . In 1975 he published more so-called battle songs with songs such as "Black Bullet" , "I Man Time" , "Roots Man" or the classic "Welding" . The best known were his clashes with the Deejay Prince Jazzbo. In 1976 I-Roy signed a contract with the major label Virgin Records . On this he released two albums in the same year. Between 1976 and 1979 I-Roy released a total of nine albums and various singles on various labels.

However, in the 1980s, its popularity fell sharply. But he continued to produce albums and singles, which, however, sold poorly. His last album came out in 1991. It was called "Straight To The Heart" . The last single called It A Badda Me was released in 1988. In 1997, the Blood & Fire label released another best-of album.

After I-Roy's death, singles and albums were released at irregular intervals. The last single, called Tribute To Marcus Garvey , was released in 2011. Heavier Than Lead was the last album and was released in 2008.

death

In the last few years of his life, I-Roy became so impoverished that he became homeless. Two weeks before his death, his son was shot in prison. Roy Samuel Reid died on November 27, 1999 in Kingston. Heart failure was diagnosed as the cause of death. He was 55 years old.

I-Roy in art

The 1972 song "Sidewalk Killer" is played in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas on the fictional radio station K-Jah West .

Discography

The discography contains only first publications. Remixes and sung riddims are not included.

Albums

1973 - Presenting I. Roy - Trojan Records 1973 - Hell And Sorrow - Trojan Records 1974 - Many Moods Of I Roy - Trojan Records 1975 - Truth and Rights - Grounations 1976 - Dread Bald Head - Klik 1976 - Musical Shark Attack - Virgin Records 1976 - Crisus Time - Virgin Records 1977 Can't Conquer Rasta - Justice 1978 - World On Fire - Front Line Records 1978 - Heart Of A Lion - Front Line Records 1978 - The Ten Commandments - Micron Music Limited 1978 - Hotter Yatta - Harry J Records 1978 - The Godfather - Third World 1979 - Cancer - Front Line Records 1979 - The General / Spider's Web - Virgin

1980 - Whap'n Bap'n - Virgin 1981 Doctor Fish The Harder Sound Of 1981 - African Herbsman - Joe Gibbs Music 1983 - Crucial Cuts - Virgin 1983 - Outer Limits - Intense Records 1989 - Head To Head Clash (feat.Prinz Jazzbo) - RAS Records Inc. 1989 - The Lyrics Man - Blue Trac Records 1991 - Straight To The Heart - Esoldun 1997 Don't Check Me With No Lightweight Stuff (1972-75) Blood & Fire 1999 - Sincerely Yours - Culture Press 2001 - Touting I Self - Heartbeat Records 2004 - Sattamassagana - Clock Tower Records Inc. 2007 - Original Deejay @ King Tubby's Studio - Attack 2008 - Heavier Than Lead - Kingston Sounds

Singles, dubplates

1969 - Musical Pleasure - Moodisc Records International 1970 Can I Change My Mind Jackpot 1970 - DJ Drifter - Moodies 1972 Black Talk Soul Beat 1972 Festival Mash Up - Jackpot 1972 - Hot Bomb - Jump Records 1972 Hot Stuff Mafia 1972 - Ken Boothe Special - Music House 1972 - Look A Boom - Music House 1972 Sidewalk Killer - SRS 1972 - Musical Drum Sound - Mistic 1972 Problems Of Life - Mistic 1972 - Sufferer's Psalm - Errol T 1972 - Tougher Than Tough - Crystal Records 1972 - Yamaha Ride - White Label 1973 Buck & The Preacher Soul Beat 1973 - Rival Warefare / Sudden Flight - Puppy 1973 Rose Of Sheron Explosion 1973 - Clappers Tail / Live And Learn - Downtown 1973 Leggo Beast / Magnificent - Impact! 1973 Sound Education Ackee 1973 - Deck Of Love - White Label 1973 - Free Style - White Label 1973 - Guns At Large - White Label 1973 - Hospital Trolley - Love Records 1973 - Licking Stick - Well Charge 1973 - Medley Mood - White Label 1973 - Melinda - Cristal Records 1973 Noisy Place Jackpot 1973 - Red Nuts And Gin - White Label 1973 - Space Flight - Upsetter 1973 - There Must Be A Way - Studio One 1973 - Thinking Cap - Studio One 1974 Big Tree Jackpot 1974 Bring It To Me jackpot 1974 - Camp Road Skanking - Observer

1974 War Zone Jackpot 1974 - Don't Get Weary Joe Frazier - Sunshine Showdown 1974 - Fire Burn - Errol T 1974 - Fresh And Clean - Observer 1974 - I And Equality - Jackpot 1974 - Jah Come Here - Observer 1974 Love Inspiration Jackpot 1974 - My Food Is Ration - Sunshot 1974 - Native Land (= Caveman Skank) - Observer 1974 - Point Blank - Third World 1974 - Roots Man - Love Records 1974 - Set Me Free - Jackpot 1974 - Step On The Dragon - Observer 1974 - Superfly - white label 1974 War And Friction - Caribbean 1974 Water Rate Observer 1975 - Welding - Hit Bound 1975 - Tea Pot - Black Art 1975 - Jazzbo Have Fe Run - student 1975 Step Right Up Bullet 1975 - Forward Yah - Love Records 1975 - Right Time - Well Charge 1975 - I Man Time - Lucky Records 1975 Outformer Parker / Knatty Down There - Attack 1975 - Padlock - Steady 1975 - Straight To Prince Jazzbo Head - Micron Music Limited 1975 - Message From The Top - Micron Music Limited 1976 - Who Is The One / Mind Your Business - Lucky Records 1976 African Tak jackpot 1976 - Crisus Time - Virgin Records 1976 - Satta Massaganna - Virgin Records 1976 - Time Bomb - World Wide 1977 Maggie Breast Third World 1977 Wicked Eat Dirt Observer 1977 - The Godfather - Weed Beat 1977 - Dub It On Deh - Love Records

1977 - Beast Game - GG's 1977 - Blacka Cinderella - GG's 1977 - Dr. Feelgood Meets Ms. Glover - GG's 1977 - Friday Child - GG's 1977 - Hard Times - GG's 1977 - Jordan River - Trojan Records 1977 - Love Is Universal - GG's 1977 - National Cry / Sis Inna De Yard - GG's 1977 - Natty Dread Get Around / Natty Dread The Lion - GG's 1977 - Sun Top Blouse - GG's 1977 - Weeping Widow - GG's 1978 - Fire Stick - Front Line Records 1978 New York City Third World 1978 - The First Commandement - Weed Beat 1979 - Fire In A Wire / Hill And Gully - Virgin Records 1979 - African Song - Virgin Records 1979 Dog War White Label 1979 - Ism And Schism - White Label 1979 - It's Alright - Arawak 1979 - Radical Music - White Label 1979 - Set The Captives Free - Midnight Rock 1979 - Stronger Strong - White Label 1979 World On Fire Ja-Man 1982 - Two Big Sounds - Volcano 1983 - Dance Hall Style - Tamoki 1983 - Monkey Fashion - Tamoki 1984 Peace And Love Observer 1984 - Sincerely Yours - Mr Tipsy 1984 - Wondering - Mr Tipsy 1986 Come To Warn - Jammy's 1986 - Melba - Rubun Records 1986 - Run Come - Rubun Records 1987 - Two Year Old A Solid Gold - Jah Life Time 1988 - It A Badda Me - Vibes 1994 - A Fi Talk - White Label

Collaboration with other artists

• 1968 - Heart Don't Leap (feat. Dennis Walks) - Moodisc Records International
• 1968 - The Drifter (feat. Dennis Walks) - Moodisc Records International
• 1969 - Let me tell you boy (feat. Ebony Sisters) - Moodisc Records International
• 1970 - Combination Drifter (feat. Dennis Walks) - Afro
• 1972 - Now Generation - Mood For Love ( feat.Heptones ) - Ashanti
• 1972 - Tripe Girl (feat. Heptones) - Crystal Records
• 1973 - Silver Platter (feat. Keith Hudson ) - Randy's
• 1973 - Tougher Than Tough (feat. The Crystalites) - Crystal Records
• 1973 - Take A Trip & Fresh And Clean (feat. Dennis Brown ) - Observer
• 1974 - Jah Is My Light & Wicked Eat Dirt (feat.Leroy Smart) - Observer
• 1975 - News Carrier (feat. Leo Graham) - Jogibs
• 1977 - Money Trouble (feat. The Maytones ) - GG's Records
• 1977 - Jah Come Here (feat. Dennis Brown) - Observer
• 1979 - I Trust You (feat.Delroy Wilson) - GG's Records
• 1979 - A Win Them (feat. Leo Graham) - Joe Gibbs Music
• 1981 - Dub It In The Morning (feat. Johnny Clarke) - Jackpot
• 1981 - Woman A Grumble (feat. Derrick Morgan) - Gorgon Records

Individual evidence

1. ↑ I-Roy - artist profile at das-musikmagazin.de  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
2. ↑ ^{a b c d e f} biography at reggae-vibes.com
3. ^ Memorial Tribute at Memorialja.com
4. ↑ ^{a b c d e} I-Roy in the National Library of Jamaica
5. ↑ Short biography at Yardie-Reggae.com
6. ^ I Roy - Tribute To Marcus Garvey at Discogs
7. ^ I Roy - Heavier Than Lead at Discogs
8. ↑ K-JahWest Playlist at IGN Music ( Memento of the original from November 15, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  

Web links

• I-Roy at Discogs (English)