Page 45 - Urban Kapital DECEMBER DIGITAL ISSUE

WHO CHANGED THE GLOBAL MUSIC LANDSCAPE
JAMAICAN ICONS

Record producer Trevor Horn unveiled the plaque BBM/BMC founder and consultant on the plaque
to reggae group The Wailers on the site of the project Kwaku said: “The Wailers’ story is a story
former Island Studios in Ladbroke Grove. of Jamaica, and of Britain. It was as a consequence
of this interaction with Britain, particularly of this
In attendance were reggae singers Winston Fran- area (Ladbroke Grove) and Island Records, that
cis, Audrey Scott, Prince Jahkey of The Royals, they went global.
Errol Reid of China Black, Les McNeil of Tradition,
producer/manager Mikey Campbell, producer/ “They released four albums, by the way, before
song-writer Tony Washington, producer Curtis they went on Island Records. But it was the Is-
Lynch, and former Notting Hill Carnival organiser land records that made them internationally well
Leslie Palmer. known. So it’s a British story in the sense that it
was a British record company that financed their
The unveiling ceremony was also attended by local break-through albums.”
political dignitaries, Royal Borough of Kensington
and Chelsea Mayor Cllr Will Pascall, Kensington The plaque was unveiled by multi-award winning
MP Emma Dent Coard and Golborne Ward council- producer Trevor Horn, whose SARM Studios busi-
lor Pat Mason. They all spoke highly of the area’s ness owns the site. He said although a number of
association with The Wailers and Bob Marley, with very high profile artists had recorded at his former
the Mayor describing the former as “the most suc- studios on the site, including the likes of George
cessful reggae band in the history of music.” Michael, he was especially honoured it was the
plaque to Bob Marley and The Wailers that was in-
Jamaican High Commissioner to the UK H.E. stalled on the building.
George Seth Ramocan’s statement of support was
read by the ceremony co-host Isis Imlak: “I am The plaque, which is in memory of Horn’s late wife
pleased that three iconic Jamaican musicians, the Jill Sinclair, who helped to run SARM business,
Honourable Robert Nesta Marley, OM, the Honour- reads: “Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer fin- Images courtesy of: BBM/BMC
able Peter Tosh, OM and the Honourable Neville ished the albums Catch A Fire and Burnin for Chris
O’Riley ‘Bunny Wailer’ Livingston, OM, founding Blackwell’s Island Records here. Exodus was also
members of the internationally renowned Wailers recorded here January-April 1997”.
are being honoured with a blue heritage plaque in
London. The unveiling ceremony was followed by an af-
ter-party at the nearby Mau Mau Bar in Portobel-
“Without a doubt, the global awareness and impact lo Road, where DJs Eclectic Goddess and Piers
of reggae music is largely due to the musical crea- Thompson of Portobello Radio, Kwaku BBM, Digital
tivity and the missionary message of liberation and D, Nzinga Soundz and Joey Jay played tribute sets
upliftment promoted by Bob Marley and the Wail- dedicated to tracks by Marley, Tosh and Wailer.
ers. It is therefore a fitting tribute to these pioneers Such was the success of the One Love Community
who helped to promote Jamaica’s culture, heritage tribute revelry, a public request for a repeat
and language to the world.” tribute night is being considered.

The audience, which had been hyped by drummer “This is the 47th Nubian Jak plaque, and it comes
and singer Niles Hailstones and singer and guitar- 13 years after we unveiled our very first plaque, // RECORD
ist Alexander D Great leading singalong renditions which marked the central London flat where Bob
of Wailers’ songs, heard from Marley’s closest Marley lived in 1972,” said NJCT founder Jak Beu- PRODUCER
and life-long friend Solomon ‘Sonny’ Graham, who la, who campaigned for a plaque that honoured the TREVOR HORN
gave personal insights into his relationship with Wailers’ members individually, rather than Bob
his then young mentee. Graham said he encour- Marley and The Wailers. UNVEILS WAILERS
aged Marley’s singing and paid for his first record-
ing session. PLAQUE IN
COURTESY OF: BBM/BMC LONDON
MAGAZINE // 44 MAGAZINE // 45