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Delroy Wilson

Delroy Wilson (1948–1995): Kingston singer and Jamaica’s first child star. “Dancing Mood” (1966, Studio One), “I’m Not a King”, “Better Must Come” (1971) and “Cool Operator” (1972).

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Child star

Delroy Wilson was born on 5 October 1948 in Kingston. He began recording for Coxsone Dodd at the age of 13 while a pupil at Boys Town Primary School, and his first single, "Emy Lou", was released in 1962. He is often described as Jamaica's first child star.

Ska and the sound clash

During the ska years Wilson recorded songs written by Lee "Scratch" Perry, then working for Dodd, including "Joe Lies", a musical attack on Dodd's rival Prince Buster. Many of those sides were backed by the Skatalites.

Dancing Mood and rocksteady

"Dancing Mood" (1966) for Studio One is counted among the first rocksteady records. Wilson followed it with "Riding for a Fall", "I'm Not a King" and "True Believer in Love". In the 1970s he recut several of his Studio One songs, including "Dancing Mood", for Bunny Lee, whose Gorgon catalogue holds many of his later recordings.

Bunny Lee and the 1970s

From the late 1960s Wilson worked with producer Bunny Lee. "Better Must Come" (1971) was adopted by Michael Manley's People's National Party as a campaign song in the 1972 general election, which Manley won. "Cool Operator" (1972) gave him his nickname, and The Clash name-checked him in 1978 on "Safe European Home", from the album Give 'Em Enough Rope, with the line "Delroy Wilson, you're a cool operator". In 1976 he cut "I'm Still Waiting" for Lloyd Charmers.

Death and honours

Wilson died on 6 March 1995, aged 46, at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston. Jamaica awarded him the Order of Distinction posthumously in 2013.

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I'm Not a King
I'm Not a KingDelroy Wilson - Topic
Delroy Wilson - Dancing Mood | Official Video
Delroy Wilson - Dancing Mood | Official VideoGorgon Music - Bunny Lee Productions
Delroy Wilson - Better Must Come | Official Audio
Delroy Wilson - Better Must Come | Official AudioGorgon Music - Bunny Lee Productions
Delroy Wilson - The Cool Operator | Official Audio
Delroy Wilson - The Cool Operator | Official AudioGorgon Music - Bunny Lee Productions
Every record

Discography

Pulled from Discogs. Titles in yellow have a full page on Breakbeat Archive.

Studio albums 34

  1. 1964I Shall Not RemoveStudio OneeBayDiscogs
  2. 1969Good All OverCoxsone RecordseBayDiscogs
  3. 1971Better Must ComeDynamiceBayDiscogs
  4. 1972Greatest HitsJaguareBayDiscogs
  5. 1972The Best Of Delroy Wilson (Original Twelve)Coxsone RecordseBayDiscogs
  6. 1973CaptivityBig ShoteBayDiscogs
  7. 1975Mash It UpMicron Music LimitedeBayDiscogs
  8. 1975Sings For I & ITotal SoundseBayDiscogs
  9. 1977UneditedHulkeBayDiscogs
  10. 1977NowReal Wax RecordseBayDiscogs
  11. 1977Last Thing On My MindHarry J RecordseBayDiscogs
  12. 1977SargeCharmers RecordseBayDiscogs
  13. 1977Mr. Cool OperatorEji RecordseBayDiscogs
  14. 1978True Believer In LoveCarib GemseBayDiscogs
  15. 1978Lover's RockBurning SoundseBayDiscogs
  16. 1979Who Done ItThird WorldeBayDiscogs
  17. 1979MoneyClocktower RecordseBayDiscogs
  18. 1980ProphesyGorgon RecordseBayDiscogs
  19. 1981Living In The FootstepsJoe Gibbs MusiceBayDiscogs
  20. 1982Go Away DreamBlack MusiceBayDiscogs
  21. 1983Super Mix Hits EchoeBayDiscogs
  22. 1984Worth Your Weight In GoldBurning SoundseBayDiscogs
  23. 1984Reggae ClassicsTop RankeBayDiscogs
  24. 1985The Dean Of ReggaeHigh Power MusiceBayDiscogs
  25. 1985Gold Busters In ReggaeTop RankeBayDiscogs
  26. 1986Which Way Is Up?Blue Mountain Records, Blue Trac RecordseBayDiscogs
  27. 1987Honey LoveLove People RecordseBayDiscogs
  28. 1988I Am Aware Of LoveAngella RecordseBayDiscogs
  29. 1989My Special LadyJusticeeBayDiscogs
  30. 1993SpecialReal Authentic SoundeBayDiscogs
  31. 2000Doing My Own ThingWestsideeBayDiscogs
  32. 2025There Is No Sunshine (The Blackbeard Years 1976-1985)Patate Records, HulkeBayDiscogs
  33. 2026Sunshine Dubs & Versions (The Blackbeard Years 1976-1985)Patate Records, HulkeBayDiscogs
  34. —Straight From The HeartNicoleeBayDiscogs

Collaborative albums 5

  1. 1975Live As OneDelroy Wilson, Sir Collins · WarickaeBayDiscogs
  2. 1979Lovers Rock Vol. 2Johnny Clarke, Delroy Wilson, Doreen Shaffer · Third WorldeBayDiscogs
  3. 1986Till You Say You Love MeJennifer Lara / Delroy Wilson · Brick HouseeBayDiscogs
  4. 2024Sarge / UnlimitedDelroy Wilson & Ken Boothe · Doctor BirdeBayDiscogs
  5. —Dance With MeDelroy Wilson Featuring Donna Marie · Top Priority (2), Top Priority (2)eBayDiscogs

EPs & mixtapes 1

  1. 1981Giant ReggaeS.I.G.H.T.eBayDiscogs

Compilations 7

  1. 197820 Golden HitsThird WorldeBayDiscogs
  2. 1998Best Of Delroy Wilson - Once Upon A TimeTrojan RecordseBayDiscogs
  3. 2004ResurrectionCou$ins RecordseBayDiscogs
  4. 2004Better Must Come - The AnthologyTrojan RecordseBayDiscogs
  5. 2009DowntownKingston SoundseBayDiscogs
  6. 2017Here Come The HeartachesKingston SoundseBayDiscogs
  7. —22 Magnificent HitsStriker LeeeBayDiscogs
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