Introduction
Billy Boyo (born Billy Theophilus Rowe, 21 September, Kingston, Jamaica 1969 – 29 October 2000) was a reggae artist and was arguably the most prolific of the early-1980s child DJ’s. He is most well known for his song "One Spliff a Day".
Biography
Billy Boyo was still in his teens when he emerged in the early 1980s. In 1983, he (together with Little John and Ranking Toyan) went to London where he linked up with producer Silver Kamel.
Along with the above noted "One Spliff a Day," Billy also charted in 1982 with the Henry Junjo Lawes produced single "Wicked She Wicked."This hit had the added charm of a 13-year-old child's voice on the microphone chanting about a wicked girl.
Billy Boyo wasn't a prolific recording artist as he did not record much before or after the tracks for the first two albums and was maybe more known as a live MC. His musical career was short-lived and little was heard of him since the second half of the 1980s. In the early 1990s, rumor spread that Billy Boyo and Little Harry had been shot and killed. However this proved to be untrue. Billy in fact died of a brain tumour on 29 October 2000, after a two-month-long struggle to beat the disease.
Discography
- The Very Best Of Me. 1980-82.
- Zim Zim 1983
- DJ Clash vol 2 (Little Harry & Billy Boyo). 1983.
Compilations
- D.J. Clash Little Harry & Billy Boyo & Nicodemus. 1983.