Delroy Williams

BIOGRAPHY

Delroy Williams was born on a farm in St Ann’s Jamaica, but left the island at nine years old with his parents to start a new life in England. Delroy was a devoted fan of Owen Gray, a prominent figure in Jamaica’s music scene, known for his contributions to R&B, SKA, Rocksteady, and Reggae genres. Owen Gray was recognized as one of Jamaica’s earliest singing sensations.

At the age of fifteen, Delroy had the privilege of meeting Owen in person in Brixton, London. Following their initial encounter, Owen Gray took Delroy under his wing, assuming the roles of both guardian and mentor in the music industry. Their bond has endured over the years, and they remain close friends to this day. During the early 1960s, Delroy was singing along to a tune playing on a jukebox in a cafe in Brixton. 

Bruce White and Tony Cousins of Commercial Entertainment overheard Delroy’s performance and offered him their business card. Delroy contacted Commercial Entertainment the next day and was promptly invited to their office for a meeting with Bruce and Tony. Upon arrival, Delroy was greeted by the duo in the company’s boardroom, where they expressed their admiration for his vocal talent and expressed interest in connecting him with one of their bands. Subsequently, Delroy was introduced to the Sugar Band, a group managed by Commercial Entertainment, marking the inception of his musical journey.

The Beginning of Delroy’s Musical Journey

After a few years of working with Commercial Entertainment, Delroy joined the Mecca Agency. The agency provided Delroy with more exposure and a heavier workload. Delroy traveled across England and Europe, performing at various Mecca Ballroom venues, including those at U.K and U.S military bases. One weekend, Delroy decided to take a stroll in Brockwell Park, Brixton. While walking, he heard a jazz band playing at the nearby bandstand. Upon reaching the bandstand, Delroy noticed only three elderly women in the audience. 

After the performance, Delroy approached one of the band members to ask who had hired them. Delroy discovered that Lambeth Council in Brixton had hired the jazz band. The next day, Delroy visited the town hall to find out who was responsible for organizing performances in Brockwell Park. He met with Roger Fox, the head of the department, and questioned why there was no entertainment for the Black community in the park. Roger confessed that he was unsure how to address this issue, as he was not familiar with the music of the Black community. Delroy looked at him and simply said, “I’m here.”

Delroy’s Contribution To Music

In 1966, Delroy created the first-ever open-air Reggae Festival in London’s Brockwell Park when he was still just a teenager. The festival grew in popularity during the festival’s five-year run until 1971. The idea was so popular that in 1969, The Rolling Stones adopted the idea and held their performance in Hyde Park where it was considered a live music breakthrough. The Pilton Festival, now known as the Glastonbury Festival, was created in 1970. Admission for a show at that time was 15 shillings and a pint of milk.

In 1968, Delroy signed with Bell Records and recorded his first single called “Daoambanda”, but Bell Records went into liquidation a week after the release. In 1969, Delroy recorded his first single with Trojan Records, Ben E. King’s R&B hit, “Don’t Play That Song”. In 1970, Delroy recorded “Down in the Boondocks” by Billy Joe Royal.

As the years have passed, Delroy Williams has remained one of the most popular Reggae and Soul artists performing across the UK and European music scenes. He continued to create more successful albums until he retired in 1978 due to the birth of his daughter. However, he did not stay away from performing permanently.

Delroy came back to the music scene in 1981 where he joined forces with Desmond Dekker, his long-time friend, as manager and backing vocals. Desmond Dekker’s last recorded album, produced by Delroy Williams was a re-recording of his most popular hits on the Secret Record label. Leeds University was Desmond’s and Delroy’s last show.

Four years after the death of Desmond Dekker, Delroy was persuaded to go back on the road with the Aces to keep Desmond Dekker’s music alive. Delroy and the Aces still tour to this day. Delroy has also performed with his friend, Prince Buster who was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and producer.

Delroy Williams & The Sugar Band / Delroy Williams Show 1965

The following is a sample of Delroy Williams first Tour in 1965:

• Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire – 29th January
• Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with Spirit of John Morgan – 10th February
• Galashiels, Scotland – 1st & 2nd March
• Edinburgh, Scotland – 3RD March
• Aberdeen, Scotland – 4TH March
• Elgin, Scotland- 5TH March
• Stonehaven, Scotland – 6TH March
• Dundee, Scotland – 7TH March
• Forfar, Scotland – 8TH March
• Edinburgh, Scotland – 9TH March
• Glasgow, Scotland – 10TH March
• Playboy, London – 11TH – 16TH March
• Leytonstone, Essex – 17TH March
• Playboy, London – 18TH-23RD March
• Burton-on-Trent – 24TH March
• Recording – 25TH March
• Bournemouth, Dorset – 26TH March
• Catford, Kent – 27TH March
• Ealing, Middlesex – 28TH March
• Flamingo, Soho, London – 29TH March
• Gloucester, Gloucestershire – 30TH March
• Gillingham, Kent – 31ST March
• Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire – 1ST April
• Colchester, Essex – 11TH April
• Eastbourne, East Sussex – 12TH April
• Yeovil, Somerset – 13TH April
• Stockport, Great Manchester – 14TH April
• Leeds – 15TH April
• Hanley, Staffordshire – 16TH April
• Revolution, London – 17TH April
• Abingdon, Oxfordshire – 18TH April
• Perton – 19TH April
• Waddington – 20TH April
• Silver Ends – 21ST April
• London – 22ND-23RD April
• Weymouth, Dorset – 26TH April
• Torquay, Devon – 27TH April
• London – 29TH April
• Alex Disco, Salisbury – 14TH September
• Flamingo, London – 8TH & 20TH October