ArtistInfo

Billy Boyo

1969-2000 JM, Kingston Parish
Producer of Reggae
A.k.a. Billy Theophilus Rowe Billy Rowe (2)

Billy Boyo, born on September 21st, 1969 in Kingston, was a teenage star of pre-digital dancehall. In 1981, while just 12 years old, he was discovered by the legendary producer Henry "Junjo" Lawes and also became part of his Volcano Soundsystem. When Billy Boyo was discovered by Junjo he was dating Billy's sister, Rosemarie Rowe. Junjo recorded an album with him and another young deejay, Little Harry, entitled "DJ Clash Volume 2" and released through Greensleeves Records. Little John and Billy Boyo were both interviewed in the book "Reggae Inna Dancehall Style". In 1983, Boyo went to London and recorded another album for the Silver Camel label, but it didn't get released until 2003, when it saw the light as "Zim Zim" on the Silver Kamel Audio re-issue imprint. Billy Boyo later moved to Brooklyn. Billy Boyo was more a live deejay rather than a recording artist. After the digital era set in, it became quiet around him, and he never achieved any kind of comeback. On October 29th, 2000, he apparently died of a brain tumor. This is the most widely accepted theory for Billy Boyo's death, however no records of this can be found. Billy Boyo is mentioned in Simple Simon's "Murderer" produced by Courtney Cole in 1994. Billy Boyo is mentioned in Eek-A-Mouse's "Gunshot A Cry" but is called "Billy Bowe" rather than "Billy Boyo". This song is Eek-A-Mouse's version of "Big Iron" by Marty Robbins. Billy Boyo is featured on Lee Hi-Power in 1983. Billy Boyo has a very short interview in the BBC documentary "Musical Roots" about the group Musical Youth. Billy Boyo has some footage in the documentary "Jools In Jamaica" filmed in 1983.