ArtistInfo
Roy Shirley
voc, 1944-2008 JM, Kingston Parish
Singer of Reggae
A.k.a. Ainsworth Roy Rushton Shirley Ashley Bennett
Ainsworth Roy Rushton Shirley (18 July 1944 – July 2008), better known simply as Roy Shirley, and also known as King Roy Shirley and The High Priest, was a Jamaican singer whose career spanned the ska, rocksteady and reggae eras, and whose "Hold Them" is regarded by some as the first ever rocksteady song. He was also one of the original members of The Uniques
Genres
Popular Tracks 
Hold Them on Unearthed Gold of Rocksteady Vol. 2 by Various Artists Hold Them on Reggae Anthology - Joe Gibbs: Scorchers From The Early Years [1967-73] by Various Artists Dance Arena on Hold Down Miss Winey / Dance Arena by Roy Shirley & Glen Adams If I Did Know on Legend by Roy Shirley Dance up the Reggae Music on Legend by Roy Shirley Get in the Groove on Legend by Roy Shirley Israelites Leave Babylon on Legend by Roy Shirley Musical Train (feat. Glen Adams) on Legend by Roy Shirley Rolling Rolling on Legend by Roy Shirley Facts Of Life on Reggae Pioneers: Bunny Lee by Bunny LeeTrack list and 30sec audio provided by 
Band Members
Discography
| Title | Artist | Year | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revelation / Musical War | Alva "Reggie" Lewis, Roy Shirley | 2012 | Single |
| Music Field | Roy Shirley | 2011 | Single |
| Israelites Leave Babylon | Roy Shirley | 2011 | Single |
| Face To Face | Roy Shirley | 2010 | Album |
| Get On The Ball / Don't Want To Let You Go | Roy Shirley / The Emotions | 2010 | Single |
| When You Are Young | Roy Shirley | 2005 | Single |
| Your Musical Priest (Classic Ska, Rocksteady & Reggae 1966-72) | Roy Shirley | 2004 | Compil. |
| Music Is The Key-The Anthology 1967 To 1975 | Roy Shirley | 2003 | Compil. |
| To Know | Roy Shirley | 2003 | Single |
| Children On The Road | Roy Shirley | 2003 | Single |
| The High Priest | Roy Shirley | 1998 | Album |
| Rock Steady Greats (Get In The Groove) | Roy Shirley, Stranger Cole, Ken Parker | 1996 | Compil. |
| Black Lion Negus Rastafari | Roy Shirley | 1995 | Album |
| Abolish Apartheid Now | Roy Shirley | 1989 | Album |
| Just Too Young / All I Need Is Love / Once Bitten | Lacksley Castell / Roy Shirley / Lascelles Douglas | 1986 | Album |
| My Loving / Reggae Girl | Roy Shirley | 1986 | Album |
| Don't Trouble Nobody Girl | Roy Shirley | 1982 | Single |
| Love Is Forever | Roy Shirley | 1982 | Single |
| The Return Of The High Priest | Roy Shirley | 1982 | Album |
| Stick By I | Roy Shirley | 1977 | Single |
| Time | Roy Shirley | 1977 | Single |
| Cryin' Time | Roy Shirley | 1976 | Single |
| The Winner | Roy Shirley | 1976 | Album |
| La.La.La | Roy Shirley | 1976 | Single |
| Rasta Love (Is The Greatest Love) | Roy Shirley | 1976 | Single |
| Love Your Mother | Roy Shirley | 1975 | Single |
| Heartbreaking Gypsy | Roy Shirley | 1975 | Single |
| Welcome (Home) | Roy Shirley | 1974 | Single |
| The Great Roy Shirley | Roy Shirley | 1974 | Single |
| Hold Them | Roy Shirley & The Undivided | 1974 | Album |
| Heart Breaking Jepsey | Roy Shirley | 1974 | Single |
| Don't Destroy The World / Golden Festival | Roy Shirley | 1974 | Single |
| George Foreman Versus Mohammed Ali / Deejay Race | Roy Shirley | 1974 | Single |
| The Great Roy Shirley | Roy Shirley | 1974 | Single |
| I Fancy You / Pretty Brown Eyes | Roy Shirley | 1973 | Single |
| This World / Return To Me | Roy Shirley | 1973 | Single |
| Send Them Home / People You Are Greatest | Roy Shirley | 1973 | Single |
| Jingle Bells / High School Dance | Roy Shirley And Pete Campbell / Earl George | 1973 | Single |
| Dancing Girl | Roy Shirley | 1973 | Single |
| Mama We're All Crazee Now / A Lady Is A Man's Best Friend | Denzil Dennis / Roy Shirley | 1973 | Single |
| Come Children Come | Roy Shirley | 1973 | Single |
| Joshua Wearing The Crown / Live Up To Love Version | Roy Shirley | 1972 | Single |
| Rum Rhythm / Rhythm (Version) | Roy Shirley & Lloyd Charmers | 1972 | Single |
| Don't Be A Loser / Jamaican Girl | Roy Shirley | 1972 | Single |
| Dance The Auna | Roy Shirley | 1971 | Single |
| Hold Them One / Two Three Four | Roy Shirley | 1971 | Single |
| The Mighty Roy Shirley Part I | Roy Shirley | 1971 | Single |
| Wonderful People | Roy Shirley | 1971 | Single |
| If I Did Know | Roy Shirley | 1971 | Single |
| Get Ready / Music Beat/ Hold Them | Roy Shirley | 1971 | Single |
| You Girl / Facts Of Life | Roy Edwards, Slim Smith & Roy Shirley | 1970 | Single |
| Don't Mind Me / Angel | Higgs & Wilson / Glen Adams And Roy Shirley | 1970 | Single |
| Don't Do That | Roy Shirley | 1970 | Single |
| Black Love/More Black Love | Roy Shirley | 1970 | Single |
| Praying For The Problem | Roy Shirley | 1970 | Single |
| Flying Reggay / Prophecy Fulfilling | Roy Shirley, The Mighty Vikings | 1969 | Single |
| Thank You Jamaicans | Roy Shirley | 1969 | Single |
| Public Reggay / I'd Like To Know Where In The World | Roy Shirley, The Ambassadors | 1969 | Single |
| On Board / Do Good | Roy Shirley / The Upsetters | 1969 | Single |
| Life / I Like Your Smile | Roy Shirley | 1969 | Single |
| She's So Fine / Girlie | Glen Adams / Roy Shirley | 1968 | Single |
| Never Let Them Go / My Loving Queen | Roy Shirley | 1968 | Single |
| Hush A Bye / Musical Dinner | Roy Shirley | 1968 | Single |
| Golden Festival / My Bride | Roy Shirley With The Soul Syndicate | 1968 | Single |
| Golden Festival / My Bride | Roy Shirley With The Soul Syndicate | 1968 | Single |
| Facts Of Life | Roy Shirley, The Uniques | 1968 | Single |
| Million Dollar Baby / Rolling Rolling | Roy Shirley, Bobby Aitken & The Carib Beats | 1968 | Single |
| Fantastic Lover | Roy Shirley | 1968 | Single |
| Freedom Land/Actions Speak Louder | Roy Shirley | 1968 | Single |
| Move All Day | Roy Shirley | 1968 | Single |
| Long Time No See You Girl / Million Dollar Baby | The Sensations / Roy Shirley | 1968 | Single |
| Jumping with Mr Lee | Val Bennett / Roy Shirley | 1968 | Single |
| Musical Train / Facts Of Life | Roy Shirley / The Uniques | 1968 | Single |
| Dancing Reggae / Musical Priest | Roy Shirley | 1968 | Single |
| Warming Up The Scene / Lonely Girl | Roy Shirley / Glen Adams | 1968 | Single |
| Seeing Is Knowning / Music Is The Key | Stranger & Gladdy / Roy Shirley | 1968 | Single |
| I'm The Winner | Roy Shirley | 1968 | Single |
| Spanish Harlem / If I Did Know | Val Bennett / Roy Shirley | 1968 | Single |
| Dance Arena / Musical Train | Roy Shirley | 1968 | Single |
| Golden Festival / Think About The Future | Roy Shirley With Prince Buster's All Stars | 1968 | Single |
| Tighten Up / Good Ambition | Untouchables / Roy Shirley | 1968 | Single |
| Get On The Ball / Sound And Soul | Roy Shirley And The Caltone Studio Orchestra / Johnny Moore With Tommy McCook & The Supersonics | 1967 | Single |
| Return Of Ezekial / Music Is The Key Of Love | Roy Shirley | 1967 | Single |
| Get On The Ball / Do Me Good | Roy Shirley | 1967 | Single |
| Music Field / Trial And Crosses | Roy Shirley / Lee Perry And The Dynamites | 1967 | Single |
| Rock Steady / Gently Set Free | Prince Buster's All Stars / Roy Shirley & The Rude Boys | 1967 | Single |
| Musical War | Roy Shirley | 1967 | Single |
| Hold Them / Be Good | Roy Shirley With Lynn Taitt & Lynn Taitt Band | 1967 | Single |
| Who Will You Tell Your Lies | The Gaylads, Roy Shirley | 1966 | Single |
| Lollipop Tonight / The Jerk | Roy Shirley & Ken Boothe, The Baba Brooks Band, Granville Williams | 1966 | Single |
| Every Body Needs A Friend | Roy Shirley | Single | |
| Good Guys / Cecilia | Willie Lindo & Roy Shirley With Sonny Bradshaw And Young Jamaica | Single | |
| I Can't Stop Loving You | Roy Shirley | Single | |
| Who God Bless No Man Curse | Roy Shirley | Single | |
| Good News | Roy Shirley | Album | |
| Send The Children To School | Roy Shirley | Single | |
| Music Feel | Roy Shirley | Single | |
| A Sugar | Roy Shirley | Single | |
| One, Two, Three / Plus One | Roy Shirley | Single | |
| Joe Razor / Thank You | Roy Shirley | Single | |
| The Prophet | Roy Shirley | Single | |
| Gypsy | Roy Shirley | Single | |
| When You're Young / Traitor | Roy Shirley | Single | |
| Endlessly / Put Your Sweet Lips | Roy Shirley | Single | |
| Flying Reggay / Sweet Rose | Roy Shirley / The Melodians | Single | |
| Evil Love / Wonderful You | The Uniques / Roy Shirley | Single | |
| Guide Me On | Roy Shirley | Album | |
| Joshua Wearing The Crown / Monkey Princess | Roy Shirley | Single | |
| Love Will Never End | Roy Shirley | Album | |
| Joe Razor / Thank You | Roy Shirley | Single | |
| Train To Skaville / Hold Them; Doctor Dick | The Ethiopians / Roy Shirley and Lynn Taitt Band ; Lee Perry | Single | |
| Dancing Reggae | Roy Shirley | Single | |
| Music Field | Roy Shirley With Lynn Taitt & The Jets | Single | |
| Bright Life / Golden Festival | Roy Shirley With Drumbago All Stars | Single | |
| Money And Love / Smile With The World | Roy Shirley | Single | |
| Warm Love | Roy Shirley | Single | |
| Plus One / Hold Them | Roy Shirley | Single | |
| Keep Your Eyes On The Road / Keep On Moving | Roy Shirley | Single | |
| Just For Only You / Tenderness / Wonderful World / When You Are Young | Sandra Reid / X-Press / Barber Jones / Roy Shirley | Album | |
| Oh Doctor / Tenderly I Love You Medley | Lloyd Telfer, Roy Shirley | Album | |
| Stay With Me | Roy Shirley | Single | |
| Bubble Up | Roy Shirley | Single | |
| For Every One | Roy Shirley | Single | |
| Gather Around / Dancing Train | Donnie Elbert / Roy Shirley & Glen Adams | Single | |
| Plan For The Future | Roy Shirley | Single | |
| Don't Show Off | Roy Shirley | Single | |
| Calling / Paradise | Roy Shirley & Ken Boothe | Single | |
| My Loving Queen | Roy Shirley | Single | |
| Prayer (Part 2) / Prayer From The Priest | Roy Shirley | Single | |
| Stay By My Side | Roy Shirley | Single | |
| The Musical Train / Welcome | Roy Shirley | Single | |
| The World Needs Love | Roy Shirley | Single | |
| Medley | Roy Shirley | Album | |
| The One I Love / Get On The Ball | Ken Boothe / Roy Shirley | Single | |
| Stop Your Fussing & Fighting | Roy Shirley | Single | |
| Your Young / Sweet Lips | Roy Shirley | Single | |
| The Great Roy Shirley / Johnny Reggae | Roy Shirley / Big Youth | Single | |
| The World Need Love / Hold Them | Roy Shirley | Single | |
| The Great Roy Shirley / Johnny Reggae / Buck And The Preacher | Roy Shirley, Big Youth, Roy Samuel Reid | Album |
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To all the music fans that are contributing on Discogs, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia. Thanks to Franz Flückiger for providing Storygram used to visualize band membership.ArtistInfo for Mac, iPad, and iPhone
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