Edi Fitzroy

Fitzroy Edwards (17 November 1955 – 4 March 2017), better known by his stage name Edi Fitzroy, was a Jamaican reggae singer, active from 1975 but best known for his work during the dancehall era.

Early life Edwards was born on 17 November 1955 in Chapelton, Clarendon Parish, Jamaica, and attended Chapelton All-Age and Clarendon College. He was exposed to music from an early age via his father Vasco Edwards playing records for a sound system. After studying accounting at the West Indies Commercial Institute, he took a job as an accounts clerk with the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation while also singing in his spare time. His recordings came to the attention of Mikey Dread, a radio presenter at the station, and with Dread's assistance he released his first single, "Miss Molly Colly", which was a top ten hit in Jamaica in 1978. and also performed at Sunsplash USA in 1988.

Fitzroy's lyrics led to him becoming renowned as one of Jamaica's most socially conscious singers, with themes including equality for women, Only in the mid-1990s did he give up his day-job to pursue music as a full-time career.

Personal life and death Edi Fitzroy was a Rastafarian, stating that he has been "from birth".

Discography Youthman Penitentiary (1982) 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)