Three artists of Jamaican heritage, Reggae singers Janet Kay, Paul Dawkins and Carroll Thompson, were recognised at the BBM/BMC (BritishBlackMusic.com / Black Music Congress) Awards for five decades of promoting the British reggae genre known as lovers rock and for putting the London Borough of Brent on the musical map.
The event also provided an opportunity to learn some local music history through the Brent Black Music History Quiz, led by BBM/BMC Founder - Kwaku.
Jamaica's High Commissioner to the UK - H.E. Seth Ramocan sent a message ahead of the event stating: “I am therefore pleased that this evening’s event, while highlighting the history of British black music, will also recognise some of the British Jamaican pioneers of reggae music such as Janet Kay, Carroll Thompson and Paul Dawkins.”
Brent Central MP - Dawn Butler, who presented the awards and is also of Jamaican heritage, asserted “Brent is the centre of a lot of music, reggae music, lovers rock, all avenues to (black) music have flown through Brent.”
Picture by Des Chisholm
Dawn Butler, Janet Kay, Paul Dawkins
“Ten years after producing the ‘Brent Black Music History Project’ DVD and booklet, I’m glad we were able to recognise three of the contributors as a way of marking Jamaica at 55 and British Black Music Month 2017,” added Kwaku.
Picture by Des Chisholm
Paul Dawkins, Victor Romero Evans, Janet Kay, Kwaku
The event, which was hosted by Cllr James Allie, attracted a cross-section of guests including leader of Brent Council - Muhammed Butt, singer and actor Victor Romero Evans, and reggae singer-songwriter Tony Washington, whose song 'Something's Gotta Be Done', was the b-side to Millie's 1964 UK crossover hit 'My Boy Lollipop.'