Like Dennis Brown and Freddie McGregor, Delroy Wilson (b. 1948, Kingston
Jamaica) was barely out of short pants when he cut his debut single for
Coxsone Dodd's Studio One label. His first hit "Joe Liges" (1963) was
written by Lee Perry, then working as a talent spotter/songwriter/singer
for Dodd, and was a lyrical attack on former Coxsone employee and now
rival, Prince Buster. The record was so popular that his follow-up,
"Spit In The Sky", another Perry penned barb aimed at the Prince, was
actually credited to Joe Liges when it was released in th UK on the
Bluebeat and Black Swan labels. Delroy went on to cut numerous records
in the same vein for Dodd, including "One Two Three", "I Shall Not
Remove", a duet with Slim Smith entitled "Look Who Is Back Again", and
the anti-Buster "Prince Pharaoh", notable for being the only occasion in
which Coxsone himself is heard on record, admonishing Buster in a coded,
spoken outburst.
Delroy's voice broek just in time for the emergence of rocksteady in
1966, and his version of the Tam's "Dancing Mood" of that year, one of
the first rocksteady records, became a monstrous hit, alerting music
fans to a new soul-styled crooner to match Alton Ellis. Throughout the
rest of the decade Delroy, still recording mainly for Studio One,
increased his popularity with titles like "Riding For A Fall", another
Tams cover, "Once Upon A Time", "Run Run", "Won't You Come Home", "Never
Conquer", "True Believer", "One One", "I'm Not A King", "Rain From The
Skies" and "Feel Good All Over", as well as covering the Temptations'
"Get Ready". Leaving Studio One in 1969, Delroy sojourned briefly at
Bunny Lee's camp, which resulted in a popular reading of the Isley
Brothers' "This Old Heart Of Mine" (1969), before he drew his brakes at
Sonia Pottinger's Tip Top Records, where he cut the excellent "It Hurts"
and a version of the Elgins' "Put Yourself In My Place".
He teamed up once more with Bunny Lee to score a huge Jamaican hit with
the anthemic "Better Must Come" (1971), which was so popular it was
adopted as a theme song by Michael Manley's PNP to increase their vote
amongst 'sufferers', during that year's election campaign. In 1972 his
success continued with "Cool Operator", again for Lee, and throughout
the next few years he maintained his position as one of reggae's best
loved singers sith such songs as "Mash Up Illiteracy" and "Pretty Girl"
for Joe Gibbs, "Love" for Gussie Clarke, "Rascal Man" for Niney Holness,
a cover of the Four Tops' "Ask The Loneley" for Harry J Johnson, "It's A
Shame" (a version of the Detroit Spinners' song) for JoJo Hookim, "Have
Some Mercy" for A.Folder and "Keep On Running" for Prince Tony. In 1976
his career took a further step forward when he recorded a hugely popular
version of Bob Marley's "I'm Still Waiting" for Lloyd Charmers LTD
label, later followed by the well received "Sarge", still regarded by
most aficianados as his best set. The misnomered Greatest Hits was also
issued by Prince Tony during this period.
Further recordings towards the end of the decade, including "All In This
Thing Together", "Halfway Up The Stairs" and "Come In Heaven" for Gussie
Clarke, did well, but Delroy's career floundered somewhat during the
early part of the 80s, apart from a few sporadic sides, including the
popular "Let's Get Married", for London's Fashion Records. The digital
age, however, saw him back in the running with the massive "Don't Put
The Blame On Me"/"Stop Acting Strange" for King Jammy in 1987, and "Ease
Up", a cut of the famous "Rumours" riddim for Bunny Lee as well as
albums like "Looking For Love" for Phil Pratt and "Which Way Is Up"
produced by Roots Radics' Flabba Holt for Blue Mountain, since when he
has once again drifted into semi-retirement. Despite being one of the
best singers Jamaica has ever produced, Delroy has rarely been able to
meaningfully consolidate the success that has come his way, but he
remains a much-loved and respected, but sorely under-used and, outside
reggae circles, underrated performer. He died in March 1995, ravaged by
the drink that had overtaken his life, leaving behind a catalogue of
impassioned tunes that were superbly voiced and seemingly immortal.

Albums discography:
I Shall Not Remove        Studio One       1966
Best of Delroy Wilson    Studio One        1969    (aka Original 12)
Good All Over                                        1969
Songs For I                                             1974
Greatest Hits                                           1976
Sarge                                                      1976
Looking For Love                                   1986
Which Way Is Up                                   1987

Compilations:
Collection                    Striker Lee          1985
Cool Operator             Music Club         1996
        Tracklisting:
        Cool Operator
        Suspicion
        Better Must Come
        I'm In A Dancing Mood
        I'm Not A King
        Riding For A Fall
        Once Upon A Time
        I Can't Stand It
        Rain From The Skies
        Here Comes The Heartaches
        Trying To Conquer Me
        Just Say Who
        Sun Is Shining
        Closer Together
        What Am I Living For
        Tune In
        I'm Still Waiting
        Take It Easy
        Push Comes To Shove

Respect,
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The only job where you start at the top
is when digging a hole

   I & I say:
     EACH ONE TEACH ONE

    Souljah: janallard.hummel@pi.net
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