Ewart Beckford, widely known as U-Roy, played a crucial role in the development of reggae music, particularly as a pioneer of toasting. His melodic technique of toasting, characterized by a refined sense of timing, set him apart in the music scene. Born on September 21, 1942 in Jones Town, Kingston, Jamaica, U-Roy was raised in a religious and musical family. His early influences included artists like Louis Prima, James Brown, Ruth Brown, Fats Domino, Rufus Thomas, and Smiley Lewis, with a special emphasis on the vocal phrasing of Louis Jordan. He started his professional career as a Deejay in 1961 on Dickie (Dynamic) Wong’s sound system and later worked with notable figures like Count Matchuki, King Stitt, Sir Coxsone Dodd, Sir Percy and King Tubbys. His first single, “Dynamic Fashion Way” (1969), was produced by Keith Hudson, followed by the Lee “Scratch” Perry production “Earth’s Rightful Ruler” with Peter Tosh.

John Holt was impressed with U-Roy toasting ability over a Duke Reid track in 1970 and persuaded him to join Treasure Isle label.  The introduction lead to a recording deal that garnered the release of treasured hits like “Wake the Town”, “Tide is High” with the Paragons and “Wear You to the Ball”. U-Roy collaborated with various producers; including Lee “Scratch” Perry, Bunny Lee, Phil Pratt, Sonia Pottinger, Alvin Ranglin and others. With the spurt of a growing popularity, he capitalized on the opportunity by joining Roy Shirley and Max Romeo on a UK tour in 1972. His album “Dread in a Babylon” (1975) released by Virgin records gained significant success, leading to a series of albums like “Natty Rebel” (1976), “Rasta Ambassador” (1977), and “Jah Son of Africa” (1978).

U-Roy’s international appeal led to the release of “Natty Rebel” in 1976 on Virgin’s Front Line label in Nigeria and France. King Tubbys sound was destroyed by police so U-Roy started his own sound system “Stur Gav” in 1978, named after his sons. The main artists on the sound were Rankin Joe, Charlie Chaplin, Josey Wales, Super Cat and Brigadeer Jerry. In 1980 the rock band “Blondie” found success with a remake of “The Tide is High”. The outcome enabled Virgin Records to re-release both reggae versions that same year.

He was featured on Toots and the Maytals album “True Love,” which won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 2004. U-Roy received the Order of Distinction from the Jamaican government in 2007 for his contribution to music. He continued his musical career, and his last recording was “The Coming of Jah Jah” in 2023 for the project “The Deejay Battle: Sly & Robbie vs. Roots Radics”

Daddy Roy influence extended to the early hip-hop pioneers, as his approach to production and remixing of tracks with new vocals played a role in shaping the hip-hop genre; Dj Kool Herc spoke highly of U-Roy being a trendsetter. Many dancehall deejays, including Sean Paul, Rygin King and Shabba Ranks, have acknowledged U-Roy as a significant influence on their careers. As a devoted Rastafarian he promoted the rituals of Samson by never cutting his hair. The legendary toaster passed away on February 17, 2021. The cause of death was not publicly disclosed, but he had faced several health issues.  U-Roy’s contributions to reggae and his impact on subsequent genres like hip-hop make him a legendary figure in the history of music.