Billy Boyo (born Billy Theophilus Rowe, 21 September 1969 – 29 October 2000) was a Jamaican

reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, " Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use ...

artist born in

Kingston, Jamaica Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley Inter ...

, who was arguably the most prolific of the early-1980s child DJs. He is most well known for his songs "One Spliff a Day" and "Billy Boyo In The Area".

Biography

Billy Boyo was still in his teens when he emerged in the early 1980s. In 1983, he (together with

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and

Ranking Toyan Toyan aka Ranking Toyan (born Byron Letts, died 1991) was a Jamaican reggae deejay active since the mid-1970s and best known for his early 1980s recordings. Biography Toyan began his career in 1974, deejaying on Kingston's sound systems, suc ...

) went to London where he linked up with producer Silver Kamel. Along with the above noted "One Spliff a Day," Billy also charted in 1982 with the

Henry Junjo Lawes Henry may refer to: People *Henry (given name) * Henry (surname) * Henry Lau, Canadian singer and musician who performs under the mononym Henry Royalty * Portuguese royalty ** King-Cardinal Henry, King of Portugal ** Henry, Count of Portugal, ...

produced single, "Wicked She Wicked." This hit had the added charm of a 13-year-old child's voice on the microphone chanting about a wicked girl. Billy Boyo was not a prolific recording artist as he did not record much before, or after, the tracks for the first two albums, and was maybe more known as a live MC. His musical career was short-lived and little was heard of him since the second half of the 1980s. Billy Boyo died of a brain tumour on 29 October 2000, after a two-month-long struggle.

Discography

* ''The Very Best of Me'', 1980-82. * ''Zim Zim'', 1983. * ''DJ Clash vol 2'', Little Harry & Billy Boyo. 1983. ''Compilations'' * ''D.J. Clash'', Little Harry & Billy Boyo & Nicodemus. 1983.

External links

Billy Boyo at Roots ArchiveBilly Boyo on Youtube.comMyspace page with songs and videoclips of Boyo
{{DEFAULTSORT:Billy Boyo 1969 births 2000 deaths Musicians from Kingston, Jamaica Jamaican reggae musicians