Ranking Toyan (born Byron Everton Letts, mid 1950s in Kingston, Jamaica) was one of the most influential deejays in the transition from roots reggae to dancehall in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

He kicked off his career in 1974 as a selector and deejay on Kingston sound systems like Socialist Roots and Romantic Hi-Fi, quickly gaining respect for his energetic stage presence.

His recording debut came in the late 1970s with producer Don Mais, starting with the single “Disco Pants” around 1979. His breakthrough arrived in the early 1980s when he linked up with producer Henry “Junjo” Lawes and joined the powerhouse Volcano Hi-Power Sound System where he became a mainstay alongside figures like Josey Wales and Burro Banton. This period marked his peak popularity: He recorded the landmark album How the West Was Won, widely regarded as his best work and a classic of early dancehall/rub-a-dub. He toured internationally, performed alongside legends like Dennis Brown, and guested on other top sound systems like Gemini, Prince Jammy’s Hi-Fi, Aces, Arrows, and Lees Unlimited.

By the mid-1980s, his chart dominance waned—partly tied to Lawes' relocation to New York and subsequent legal issues—leading to a quieter late decade with time spent in New York and Boston. Despite a near-hiatus from recording in the late ‘80s, Toyan’s early contributions helped shape dancehall’s golden era, influencing the style’s swagger, lyrical delivery, and sound system culture. He remained a foundational figure until his death in 1991.