Rich, melodic and booming, Georgia-born Roy Hamilton’s voice was instantly recognizable and that’s why it eventually attracted the attention of Elvis Presley, who was influenced by his gospel style and catchy riffs. Hamilton’s legacy is carried on by his son Roy Hamilton Jr. and grandson Roy Hamilton III, who both live in Toronto.
“It was big, booming, and able to ‘sob’ with the best,” notes the Elvis Information Network. “Roy could convincingly deliver a rocker like ‘Don’t Let Go’ or gently build the tension of a dramatic ballad like ‘Unchained Melody.’”
To pay tribute to the musician who was instrumental in shaping Black country music as well as Southern music as a whole, Beyoncé featured a brief snippet of Hamilton’s hit “Don’t Let Go” in the prelude to “Texas Hold ‘Em” on her new album Cowboy Carter.
“Queen Beyoncé, I would like to personally thank you for featuring my dad Roy Hamilton’s song “Don’t Let Go” on your Cowboy Carter album. The album is wonderful,” Roy Hamilton Jr. commented on Beyoncé’s Instagram reel featuring his father’s song, which was later reported by Now magazine.
Following in his grandfather’s footsteps, Roy Hamilton III is a Grammy-nominated songwriter, producer, and A&R executive. He’s been instrumental in selling more than 70 million albums globally for Britney Spears, Michael Jackson, Justin Bieber, Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, Keri Hilson, Justin Timberlake, Ariana Grande, and many more. This year, he won Billboard Album of the Year, and he won the Gospel Music Award Album of The Year in 2018.
