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It was with great sadness that we learned of the death of Roy Shirley in July 2008 at the age of just 64. Roy Shirley was a legend in the world of reggae music and amongst other things wrote and performed a song called "Hold Them", widely credited as the first "rock steady" song, and a massive hit in Jamaica and internationally.
Roy was a familiar face at the GCDA office. He was very keen to develop community work to help disaffected youth and we assisted him with his community development work particularly in the field of fundraising. In 2005, Roy, with the community organisation Greenwich Artistic Music Association (GAMA), successfully applied for funding from the Arts Council of England to put on a series of talent shows for young people in south-east London. More recently Roy, with others, set up the British Universal Talent Development Association and had recently obtained funding from the Arts Council for a local history project which would involve young people.
He will be greatly missed. In the words of his obituarist, David Katz, "he will be remembered by all who knew him as a kind soul whose outlook on life matched the uniqueness of his musical creations".
Roy Shirley, singer, songwriter and producer, born July 18 1944; died July 2008.
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