06/04/2026
Rupert Lloyd Edwards (1945-2026) was a Jamaican reggae singer and record producer.
He was born in Goshen, St.Ann Parish. The family moved to Kingston in 1958, where he sang in talent contests, including those run by Vere Johns. He was spotted by producer S.L. Smith, for whom he recorded his debut single, "Guilty Convict" b/w "Just Because", released on Smith's Hi=Lite label nd licensed to Blue Beat Records in 1962.
After recording a few further singles, he formed the Ambassadors in 1965 with Paragons singer Junior Menz & guitarist Eric Frater, becoming the Virtues with the addition of Dobby Dobson. They recorded several singles for Harry J, as well as Edwards' first self-production, "Burning Love", credited to Rupie Edwards and the Virtues.
The Virtues broke up in 1968, & Edwards started to focus mainly on his work as a producer, although he continued to release his own records in the late 1960s & early 1970s. By the beginning of the 1970s, he had recorded artists like The Heptones, The Mighty Diamonds, Bob Andy, Johnny Clarke, Joe Higgs, Gregory Isaacs & The Ethiopians on his own record labels 'Success' & 'Opportunity', based at his Success record shop in Orange Street, & on the Trojan Records sub-labels Big Records & Cactus. He also worked with DJs such as U-Roy, Dennis Alcapone & I-Roy, & released some instrumental versions with his studio band, The Rupie Edwards All Stars. The group included musicians such as saxophonist Tommy McCook, trombone player Vin Gordon, drummer Carlton 'Santa' Davis, guitarist Hux Brown, pianist Gladstone Anderson, bassist Clifton 'Jackie' Jackson & organist Winston Wright.
In 1974, he released an album containing solely of tracks based on the Uniques' "My Conversation" riddim, credited as the first single-riddim album. In 1974-75, he scored hits in the UK with "Ire Feelings" & "Leggo Skanga". Both tracks were based on the same riddim, 1st used for Johnny Clarke's "Everyday Wondering", & the Ire Feelings album followed in 1975.
Edwards moved to London & continued producing & recording, working with artists such as Jah Woosh, Gladstone Anderson, Errol Dunkley & Dobby Dobson
He died in April 2026. aged 80.