On Tue, 30 Nov 1999 14:44:15 +0000, in rec.music.reggae Bob Harding
<bob@bandf.u-net.com> wrote:

Just received a phone call from Mafia of Mafia & Fluxy informing me that
I-Roy has died in Kingston.  Tragic news.  He had been dogged by ill
health for the last few years, and all the doctors he had seen weren't
able to tell him exactly what the problem was, but it seems to have had
something to do with swelling around the heart.  Mafia was in Jamaica
shortly before Roy's death and was working on setting up a UK show for
him and getting him some medical treatment at the same time.   Sadly,
it's too late for that now.  Sadder still, Mafia told me one of Roy's
sons was killed in prison two weeks ago and after that "he just seemed
to lose it".  Roy didn't even have a home any more - he was living on
the street at the time he died.  What a tragic end for such a wonderful
man and artist.

I have relayed the news to the Blood and Fire posse who are en route to
the first show of their European tour in Montpellier tonight.  All of
them - U Brown, Ranking Joe, Trinity, Steve Barrow and Dom are
devastated at the loss of one of the mightiest deejays ever to come out
of Jamaica.  They will be livicating tonight's show to the great man's
memory and Steve will be kicking off with an I-Roy selection.

All of us at Blood and Fire send our sympathy and condolences to Roy's
family and friends - we loved I-Roy and we're going to miss him.

       ROY SAMUEL REED  1944 - 1999  REST IN PEACE


Bob Harding