LATE last year when lovers rock singer Tony Roy released his debut album, he was not only looking to make an impression on the United States east coast where he lives, but in Jamaica where he left in 1997.
After a slow start, Tony Roy says the self-produced Waiting List has been making the rounds in his adopted home of Baltimore, Maryland, and other major American locations where there is a strong Jamaican presence.
"Things definitely picking up even though airplay is still difficult, but wi getting more play in places like New York, Atlanta and south Florida," Tony Roy said in an interview with Splash.
Tony Roy, whose real name is Fitzroy Gordon, has been a regular on the Baltimore/Washington DC reggae club scene for over a decade. In December, he visited Jamaica to promote the album, performing in Montego Bay and St Elizabeth.
"The reaction was good, wi all know it's important to get a vibe in Jamaica," he said.
Waiting List is distributed in the US by Mudies Records out of New York City and in England by London's Stringbean International Records. Its main tracks are Jus' Gwaan and the patriotic Yard Mi Born.
The St Thomas-born Tony Roy says he first recorded Jus' Gwaan in 1985, shortly after leaving Seaforth High School. Most of his early music career, however, was as a drummer with the Chosen People band in his home parish.
After immigrating to Baltimore 15 years ago, he maintained his ties to music, playing drums in the Rising Sun and Covenant bands. The last eight years has seen him move out front as a vocalist.
Yard Mi Born is inspired by Tony Roy's years playing the club circuit in Baltimore and the US capitol where he performs at reggae venues like JoJo's, the Bukom Café and Cross Roads.
Many of his dates take place at the Bukom but Tony Roy hopes with the release of Waiting List, his popularity will transcend the Baltimore/DC region.
The album is expected to be released in Jamaica by May.
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