Reggae musician and toasting pioneer U-Roy has died, aged 78
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U-Roy, aka Ewart Beckford, has died, aged 78.
Beckford began DJing at just 14, and worked under the tutelage of sound systems including Coxsone Dodd’s and King Tubby’s during the 1960s, and later launched his own Stur Gav sound system in 1978.
Alongside this, Beckford’s studio output was also prolific, with hundreds of singles across his career on labels including Studio One, Lee Perry’s Upsetter Records, and Virgin.
However, Beckford remains most famous for popularising the toasting style during the ’60s and ’70s, which helped shape the development of hip-hop.
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Jamaican reggae artist U-Roy dies aged 78
Pioneering Jamaican reggae artist U-Roy has died at the age of 78, his partner has confirmed.
The musician, whose real name is Ewart Beckford, had been undergoing surgery at a hospital in Jamaica s capital city, Kingston.
U-Roy, who is credited with popularising the vocal style known as toasting , died late on Wednesday.
Among those to pay tribute were Grammy award-winning artist Shaggy and British singer-songwriter Ghostpoet.
U-Roy s partner, Marcia Smikle, told local news website The Gleaner that the artist had been receiving treatment for diabetes and high blood pressure, and also suffered with kidney problems.
Sadly, iconic Jamaican toaster U-Roy, born Ewart Beckford in Jones Town, Jamaica, has passed away. He was 78 and passed away after surgery at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica. U-Roy was a pioneering toaster, first spotted by John Holt in 1970. His distinctive chatt.