Delroy Wilson
Jamaica’s first child star grew up inside the music itself. Delroy Wilson recorded ska at thirteen, sang rocksteady into being and gave “Better Must Come” a life far beyond the love song he wrote.
GO DEEPER
Delroy Wilson began recording for Coxsone Dodd in 1962 while still a schoolboy. His early ska records included musical “shots” aimed at Prince Buster, placing a teenage singer inside sound-system rivalry and producer competition. As his voice matured, “Dancing Mood,” “I’m Not a King” and other late-1960s records helped define rocksteady’s emotional center. Wilson continued through reggae and early dancehall, working with Bunny Lee, Joe Gibbs, Harry J, Channel One and others. “Better Must Come” became a major song and was adopted as a political campaign theme in 1972, despite Wilson’s insistence that he wrote it from personal frustration rather than party politics. He died in 1995 after a career that crossed every major early Jamaican popular-music shift.
Where the history is argued
- “Dancing Mood” is regularly named among the first rocksteady records, but the first-song question remains disputed.
How they stand with the others
Came togetherWilson’s career is especially useful because the same singer can be followed from ska through rocksteady, reggae and dancehall-era production.
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Last checked 1 September 2026