Previous Page: The best DJ generally gets the crowd in a frantic state with his fast talking lyrical rhyming chatter. U-Roy and King Stitt were the top two DJ's. To flavour the sluggish sections of a song, the DJ's would toast over the record. The art of DJ toasting is a structure of impromptu speech-making comparable to what transpire at a tea party get-together and other individual forms of social events. Involved the creation of attention grabbing verbal sounds, delivered in lyrical rhyming verses that presented an every-day interpretation of events that took place. Successful toasting, or dee-jaying as it would later be called, depended on the ability to embody several different roles. The DJs had several tricks up their sleeves to get the public going and at most times they took on the role of a comedian, jive talking, dancing, cheerleader and wise cracking and even some nonsensical chatter. U-Roy for Duke Reid the Trojan and DJ King Stitt for Sir Coxsone the Downbeat Ruler. U-Roy the lyrical maestro became the first DJ in Jamaica to be recorded on the vinyl platter (vinyl record) launched by Duke Reid and at one stage during the early 70's, U-Roy had six records holding the first six positions in the Jamaican National hit parade charts. Duke Reid was the first to encourage other sound systems and artists to join in the Jamaican musical revolution. |
