Delroy Washington (5 November 1952 – 27 March 2020) was a Jamaican-British reggae singer best known for his releases for Virgin Records in the late 1970s.
Born in Westmoreland, Jamaica, Washington moved with his family to London in the early 1960s.[1] His early experience in the music industry was as a session musician and tour manager.[1] As a member of the band Rebel he recorded material for CBS Records which was not released.[1]
In 1973 he released an independently produced single "Lonely Street" on the Count Shelly label. He recorded backing vocals for The Wailers on the Catch a Fire album, after befriending Bob Marley in the early 1970s, and he continued to provide backing vocals for Wailers albums until the late 1970s.[1][2] Washington wrote songs with Marley and worked with him on making Marley's lyrics more suitable for European listeners.[3]
He also provided backing vocals on the debut album from Aswad. He continued to record as a solo artist and was one of the first reggae artists signed by Virgin Records in the mid-1970s, his "Give All the Praise to Jah" single became a success on the British reggae charts.[1] He released two albums on Virgin, I Sus in 1976 and Rasta in 1977.[1] Both albums featured musicians such as Al Anderson, Rico Rodriguez, and George Oban.[2]
After leaving Virgin he released a handful of singles on different labels up to the early 1980s. He appeared on the 1984 Jah Shaka album Message From Africa, singing the opening track "Help One Another".
Both of his Virgin albums were reissued in the early 2000s.[4]
Washington founded the Federation of Reggae Music, which worked with Brent Council to install a blue plaque on the house in Neasden where the Wailers lived in the early 1970s.[5]
Washington was diabetic, but he followed a healthful lifestyle to manage the disease: He was a pescetarian and practiced karate.
Washington died in London on 27 March 2020 from COVID-19.[6][7]
^ abcdefLarkin, Colin (1998) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae, Virgin Books, ISBN0-7535-0242-9, p. 315
^ abMoskowitz, David V. (2006) Caribbean Popular Music: an Encyclopedia of Reggae, Mento, Ska, Rock Steady, and Dancehall, Greenwood Press, ISBN0-313-33158-8, p. 315-6
^Masouri, John (2010) Wailing Blues: The Story of Bob Marley's Wailers, Omnibus Press, ISBN978-1847727060
^Birchmeier, Jason "Delroy Washington Biography", Allmusic, retrieved 22 September 2012
^Bewley, Hannah (2012) "Bob Marley's mark on Neasden honoured with a plaque", Harrow Observer, 20 September 2012, retrieved 22 September 2012
^Peru, Yasmine. "Reggae music pioneer dies from coronavirus". jamaica-gleaner.com. The Gleaner. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
^British reggae pioneer Delroy Washington dies Published by Voice Online on March 27, 2020, and retrieved on the same day
delroy, washington, november, 1952, march, 2020, jamaican, british, reggae, singer, best, known, releases, virgin, records, late, 1970s, born, 1952, november, 1952westmoreland, jamaicaoriginlondon, englanddied27, march, 2020, 2020, aged, london, englandgenresr. Delroy Washington 5 November 1952 27 March 2020 was a Jamaican British reggae singer best known for his releases for Virgin Records in the late 1970s Delroy WashingtonBorn 1952 11 05 5 November 1952Westmoreland JamaicaOriginLondon EnglandDied27 March 2020 2020 03 27 aged 67 London EnglandGenresReggaeYears activeLate 1960s mid 1980sLabelsVirgin Contents 1 Biography 2 Discography 2 1 Albums 2 2 Singles 3 References 4 External linksBiography EditBorn in Westmoreland Jamaica Washington moved with his family to London in the early 1960s 1 His early experience in the music industry was as a session musician and tour manager 1 As a member of the band Rebel he recorded material for CBS Records which was not released 1 In 1973 he released an independently produced single Lonely Street on the Count Shelly label He recorded backing vocals for The Wailers on the Catch a Fire album after befriending Bob Marley in the early 1970s and he continued to provide backing vocals for Wailers albums until the late 1970s 1 2 Washington wrote songs with Marley and worked with him on making Marley s lyrics more suitable for European listeners 3 He also provided backing vocals on the debut album from Aswad He continued to record as a solo artist and was one of the first reggae artists signed by Virgin Records in the mid 1970s his Give All the Praise to Jah single became a success on the British reggae charts 1 He released two albums on Virgin I Sus in 1976 and Rasta in 1977 1 Both albums featured musicians such as Al Anderson Rico Rodriguez and George Oban 2 After leaving Virgin he released a handful of singles on different labels up to the early 1980s He appeared on the 1984 Jah Shaka album Message From Africa singing the opening track Help One Another Both of his Virgin albums were reissued in the early 2000s 4 Washington founded the Federation of Reggae Music which worked with Brent Council to install a blue plaque on the house in Neasden where the Wailers lived in the early 1970s 5 Washington was diabetic but he followed a healthful lifestyle to manage the disease He was a pescetarian and practiced karate Washington died in London on 27 March 2020 from COVID 19 6 7 Discography EditAlbums Edit I Sus 1976 Virgin Rasta 1977 VirginSingles Edit Jah Man a Come 1973 Lord Koos Lonely Street 1973 Count Shelly Papa Was a Rolling Stone 1973 Sir Christopher Freedom Fighters 1976 Axum Give All the Praise to Jah 1977 Virgin 12 inch Memories 1978 Burning Sounds Delroy Washington amp Jah Son It s Like Magic 1980 Burning Vibrations 12 inch Magic 1980 Direction Discs Ballistic Delroy Washington Band Cool Rasta 1980 Ballistic For Your Love 1981 Ankh PinnacleReferences Edit a b c d e f Larkin Colin 1998 The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae Virgin Books ISBN 0 7535 0242 9 p 315 a b Moskowitz David V 2006 Caribbean Popular Music an Encyclopedia of Reggae Mento Ska Rock Steady and Dancehall Greenwood Press ISBN 0 313 33158 8 p 315 6 Masouri John 2010 Wailing Blues The Story of Bob Marley s Wailers Omnibus Press ISBN 978 1847727060 Birchmeier Jason Delroy Washington Biography Allmusic retrieved 22 September 2012 Bewley Hannah 2012 Bob Marley s mark on Neasden honoured with a plaque Harrow Observer 20 September 2012 retrieved 22 September 2012 Peru Yasmine Reggae music pioneer dies from coronavirus jamaica gleaner com The Gleaner Retrieved 2 May 2022 British reggae pioneer Delroy Washington dies Published by Voice Online on March 27 2020 and retrieved on the same dayExternal links EditDelroy Washington discography at Discogs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Delroy Washington amp oldid 1105200366, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
