‘Wake The Town And Tell The People’, a dance celebrating the 84th birthday of pioneer deejay U Roy, is scheduled for September 19 in Kingston. The event features many artists who got their break on Stur Gav, U Roy’s legendary sound system.
Also known as Daddy Roy, he died on February 17, 2021 in Kingston at age 78.
Named for his most famous song, the show will be held at the Cling Cling Oval in Kingston. U Roy and Stur Gav played at that venue numerous times.
His daughter, Dionne Beckford, spoke about the importance of keeping her father’s legacy alive.
“I believe that we as his children should keep his legacy going, because in actuality our Dad is one of the first deejays in Jamaica,” she said.
Josey Wales, Little John, Little Twitch and Lone Ranger are some of the acts billed for ‘Wake The Town And Tell The People’. They were regulars on Stur Gav during its heyday in the 1980s.
U Roy was born Ewart Beckford in Manchester parish, central Jamaica. He made his name toasting on sound systems in the early 1960s, before becoming a recording artist late that decade.
His deejay spin Alton Ellis’ on Girl I’ve Got A Date featured his signature, ‘Wake The Town And Tell The People’. It set the pace for other hit singles such as ‘Wear You to The Ball’ and ‘Tom Drunk’ (with Hopeton Lewis).
Through Stur Gav, U Roy mentored many artists who became famous. They include Charlie Chaplin, Early B, Tenor Saw and Yami Bolo.
WRITTEN BY HOWARD CAMPBELL