U ROY The King For Startime: Final Chapter May 5.

Today, almost five decades after he first set rock steady music alight and on a different course, U Roy is still in demand and constantly on tour.

He was the first deejay to appear on Startime, the first to be honoured with Startime’s “DJ Immortal” award; and he will be coming with a special package of his hits guaranteed to set Mas Camp alight on Saturday May 5, when he joins a start-studded cast for what is to be thefinal chapter of Jamaica’s No.1 vintage show.

No one who is a true lover of Startime, U Roy and  Jamaica’s foundation music should miss The Original Startime: Final Chapter  brought to you by TVJ, RJR 94FM Kool 97FM,  Jamaica Observer,  True Tone,  Christar Villas Hotel,  Chung’s Catering Service,  General Paintings Ltd,  Catherine’s Peak Pure Spring Water,  Charles Chocolates,  MaxMar Graphics,  Independence Park Ltd.,  Irie FM,  Devon Bourne’s Rubis HWT,  Pure National      Ice,  Kingston Hireage,  Mello FM,  Ellco Jamaica Ltd.,  A & E Ambulance,  Security  by  Securipro  and  Interlinc Communications – host of the startime.com.jm website.

The highly anticipated line up reads like a who’s who of Jamaica’s foundation music and also includes Reggae Queen Marcia Griffiths, Lovers rock Prince Sanchez, Leroy Sibbles, Horace Andy, Ernie Smith, Boris Gardiner and reggae crooner Cornel Campbell, with a special guest appearance talented star of tomorrow Xylophone by all backed by the Startime Orchestra – Lloyd Parks & We The People.

Although coming in the wake of Count Machukie, Lord Comic and King Stitt, U Roy was the toaster who has had the greatest impact on that musical form.

He made his recording breakthrough in 1969 using classic Treasure Isle rock steady rhythms to showcase his revolutionary style with snatches of the original vocals by groups like the Melodians, the Paragons, the Jamaicans and the Techniques.

U Roy created history in 1970 when Wear You To The Ball, Rule the Nation and Wake The Town were ranked #s 1, 2 and 3 on both national charts, and not only gave him the distinction of being the first deejay to take charge of radio’s hit parade, but also gave  renowned producer Duke Reid the right to lay claim to being the initiator of the deejay craze which was sweeping the island.

As the main man behind King Tubby’s Hi Fi and later King Stur Gav sound systems, U Roy      used his rich-toned voice and jive-saturated lyrics to “wake the town” and indeed “rule the nation”. His impact and his many classics including  Wear You To The Ball, Earth’s Rightful Ruler, Dynamic Fashion Way, Scandal, Flashing My Whip, Sound of  the Wise, True True,    Tom Drunk and Drive Her Home (both with Hopeton Lewis), Ace from Space, Words of Wisdom, Version Galore, Chalice In The Palace, Jah Jah Call You, Natty Rebel and You’ll   Never Get Away  not only earned him the respectful titles “DJ King” and “Daddy Roy”, but spawned  generations of deejays and gave credence to an art form that has reached universal proportions.

Tickets go on sale April 15 at the following outlets : Mas Camp National Stadium Complex      754-5396;  Kool 97FM  1 Braemar Avenue 978-9161 / 978-3886 / 978-4037;  Bryson Rubis         1 Border Avenue 941-1038;  Christar Villas Hotel 99A Hope Road 978-8066-71;  Devon    Bourne’s Rubis 85 Half Way Tree Road 968-2247;  The New’s Café 2 ¼ King Street 922-9191   and Portmore Mall Pharmacy 988-7639 / 988-7997.