Edi Fitzroy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edi Fitzroy
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Fitzroy performing in 2011
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Fitzroy Edwards |
| Born | 17 November 1955 Chapelton, Clarendon Parish, Jamaica |
| Died | 4 March 2017 (aged 61) May Pen, Clarendon Parish, Jamaica |
| Genres | Reggae |
| Occupation(s) | Singer/songwriter |
| Years active | 1975–2017 |
| Labels | Musical Ambassador Alligator VP RAS Confidence |
Fitzroy Edwards (born November 17, 1955 – died March 4, 2017), known as Edi Fitzroy, was a famous Jamaican reggae singer. He started making music in 1975. He became very well-known for his songs during the dancehall music era.
Contents
Early Life and First Songs
Edi Fitzroy was born in Chapelton, Jamaica. This was on November 17, 1955. He went to Chapelton All-Age and Clarendon College. Music was a big part of his life early on. His father, Vasco Edwards, played records for a sound system. A sound system is like a big mobile DJ setup.
After studying accounting, Edi worked as a clerk. He also sang in his free time. His songs caught the ear of Mikey Dread. Mikey was a radio host at the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation. With Mikey's help, Edi released his first song. It was called "Miss Molly Colly" in 1978. This song became a top ten hit in Jamaica. More hits followed. Edi toured the United Kingdom with Mikey Dread in 1978. They even opened for the famous band The Clash.
Music Career and Important Messages
In the early 1980s, Edi Fitzroy worked with different music producers. These included Lloyd Norris and Trevor Elliot. Trevor Elliot produced Edi's first album, Youthman Penitentiary, in 1982. Another album, Check For You Once (1982), was very popular. It was number one on the Jamaican albums chart for four weeks.
Edi performed at the big music festival Reggae Sunsplash in 1984. He returned to perform there many times. He also played at Sunsplash USA in 1988.
Edi Fitzroy became known for his meaningful song lyrics. He was one of Jamaica's most socially aware singers. His songs often talked about important topics. These included fairness for women. In 1984, he won a Rockers Award. This was for being the Most Conscious Performer. He won it for his song "Princess Black". This song celebrates black women. He wrote it for his mother.
He had a major hit in Jamaica with his song "The Gun". Edi also helped with a charity song called "Land of Africa". This song helped people during the Ethiopia famine. Other famous singers like Gregory Isaacs and Freddie McGregor were also part of it. Edi Fitzroy became a director of the Music Is Life organization. This group aimed to help Africa in a lasting way.
After his 1993 album Deep in Mi Culture, Edi toured the United States. He toured with his band, Massawa. In the mid-1990s, he started his own music label. It was called Confidence. He used it to release his own music. He often performed at the yearly Peter Tosh memorial concerts in Jamaica. It wasn't until the mid-1990s that he became a full-time musician. Before that, he kept his day job.
Personal Life and Passing
Edi Fitzroy was a follower of the Rastafarian faith. He said he had been Rastafarian "from birth". He passed away on March 4, 2017. He was 61 years old. He died in May Pen Hospital.
Discography
- Youthman Penitentiary (1982)
- Check For You Once (1982)
- Eclipse (1988)
- Deep in Mi Culture (1993)
- Pollution (1994)
- We a Lion (2000)
- Hold the Vibes (2006)
- First Class Citizen (2013)
- Compilations
- Best of Edi Fitzroy: The Musical Ambassador Years (2008)
