BRENT HEROES

Click through the list below to find out about the achievements of these heroes from the Black community with a connection to Brent.

Daddy Ernie

Daddy Ernie was born in London to Jamaican parents. His father was a renowned sound system operator in the Caribbean community, so music was very much a staple within his household.

When he was a teenager he got together with his brother and some close friends to establish his own sound system: President Downbeat. Not only did this bring him kudos it provided an invaluable insight into what it really took to become a top operator and selector.

Ernie’s infatuation with the latest imports from Jamaica was born and nurtured under the King Trojan sound system, which was associated with the all powerful Trojan Record company, the leading reggae label in the UK at the time.

However, Hawkeye Records in Harlesden, North West London, was the place where everything really came together. In the early 1980s it was at the forefront of reggae music, and at the centre of it alongside Hawkeye International Sound System, was Daddy Ernie.

Daddy Ernie was involved with LWR, widely regarded as the UK’s first Black music station. Shortly after he had a brief stint with Time FM before hitting the big time with the first five-day-a-week reggae programme outside Jamaica. His show called Super Jam was born on Choice FM radio at the beginning of the 1990s.

Ernie’s entertaining and informative interviews with top reggae artists from Gregory Isaacs, Sugar Minot and Freddie McGregor to Shaggy and Sean Paul have helped him to achieve cult status with his fans. His skills as a radio presenter have grown over the years and as a result he has hosted ‘International Night’ at Sumfest in Jamaica and was the main host for Jamaica’s 50th anniversary celebrations in London. During his yearly trips to Jamaica he presented shows transmitted by Choice FM in London and also took part in one of the island’s most prestigious awards ceremony with Richie B.

When he’s not hosting his show Superjam on Vibes FM, Daddy Ernie is a DJ in some of London’s top clubs and also in Europe and USA.

Dame Betty Asafu-Adjaye

Dame Betty, the founder of the Mission Dine Club, who has supported thousands of people within the community. Ghanaian-born Dame Betty was honoured for her services to charity in 1997 and was the first black woman to hold the title.

Dame Elizabeth Anionwu

Elizabeth Nneka Anionwu is a British nurse, healthcare administrator, lecturer, and Emeritus Professor of Nursing at University of West London. In 1979, she became the United Kingdom's first sickle-cell and thalassemia nurse specialist, helping establish the Brent Sickle Cell and Thalassemia Counselling centre, and then helped to establish the Sickle Cell Society, along with many others including Sherlene Rudder, Cynthia McLetchie, Winston McLaren, and Ismay Nimblett.

Dandy Livingstone

Britain's most admired singing producer, Dandy Livingstone brought homegrown reggae to homesick West Indians, helped establish Trojan Records, and was instrumental in turning what was initially a novelty genre into a nationwide obsession. Born Robert Livingstone Thompson on December 14, 1943, in Saint Andrews, Jamaica, the star-to-be immigrated to London in 1959. The teen had little interest in music at the time, and when he left school he was intent on pursuing an engineering career. His friends, however, felt differently, and watching their practices slowly kindled his interest. Eventually Livingstone recorded a demo, which he gave to Lee Gothal, who then handed it on to Rita King, who released it. The first the singer knew about it was when he heard it on the street. Throwing caution to the wind, Livingstone threw himself into music. With duos all the rage, he took on the moniker Sugar & Dandy, initially double-tracking his own vocals, before bringing in first Roy Smith, then Tito "Sugar" Simone. In this guise, and as the solo "Dandy" (among many other aliases), Livingstone unleased a deluge of popular singles between 1964 and 1968. They appeared on myriad labels, although the singer remained under contract to Rita and Ben King. But with royalty checks few and far between, it never became an issue. In 1968, however, his contract lapsed, at which point Pama handed Livingstone an advance for his debut album. At precisely this point, Gothal offered him a job as an independent producer at the newly launched Trojan Records. Pama got its money back, and Trojan got itself a star. Livingstone provided all the label's recordings, at least until licensing deals were struck with a clutch of Jamaican producers.

Trojan's initial attempt to sell albums to the massive was a failure, but it did result in Livingstone's excellent Follow That Donkey and Dandy Returns sets. However, his third full-length, 1969's Let's Catch the Beat, was a smashing success, the first in Trojan's budget-priced series, and the label's first brush with the U.K. charts. Meanwhile, Livingstone's Down Town imprint was also going gangbusters, with such hits as his own "Reggae in your Jeggae" and Tony Tribe's "Red Red Wine." "I Need You" and "Morning Side of the Mountain" in duet with  were also hits, while 1970 brought the smash "Raining in My Heart." Even the latter, however, was kept out of the U.K. chart by the industry's refusal to include specialist record shops in its counts. This fate also awaited 1972's "Take a Letter Maria," with the eponymous Dandy Livingstone album arriving that same year. In September, however, the singing producer finally broke into the charts, when "Suzanne Beware of the Devil" wormed its way into the Top 15, with its follow-up, "Big City"/"Think About That," dancing into the Top 25. "Come Back Liza," however, failed to repeat these successes. Thoroughly disillusioned, Livingstone left Trojan soon after. He released a clutch of fine roots singles and a trio of excellent albums later in the '70s, though by then his interest in music was already waning. So were his feelings for Britain, and in 1983 Livingstone returned home to Jamaica. Helping to ignite the skinheads' love of reggae, penning classics that inspired the 2 Tone crowd (including "Rudy, a Message to You"), and overseeing myriad rocksteady and reggae masterpieces, Dandy Livingstone was synonymous with British reggae for an entire generation. ~ Jo-Ann Greene, Rovi

Dave Barker

Dave arrived in Brent in 1971 at age 23. A Reggae artist, Dave recorded ‘Double Barrell’ in Jamaica and arrived in the UK after receiving a phone call from Trojan Records informing him that the song was heading to number 1 in the UK singles chart. In May 1971 ‘Double Barrell’ became the second reggae single to top the charts in the UK for two consecutive weeks.

Dave V J

Dave VJ started out DJing back in 1982, where he joined the Mastermind Roadshow whilst working for Lightning Records. The following year, he began working at Arawak Records, and encountered his first taste of radio, where he presented shows on Invicta Radio and later Solar Radio.

In ’84 he left Mastermind and formed the Hardrock Soul Movement with Max LX, where he went on to join the pirate radio station Kiss FM. Dave also produced a couple of singles for Elite Records and Streetwise Records.

In 1990, Kiss FM became legal, and he co-hosted with Max LX on the Rap Show, where they interview the cream of the Hip Hop scene including, Public Enemy, Gangstarr, Salt ‘n’ Pepa, De La Soul, Busta Rhymes and more.

During his time with Kiss, he also began to host the early morning Breakfast Show as well as the Saturday morning Kiss Top 40 countdown.

In 1999, Dave became A&R of the legendary Street Sounds label owned by music mogul Morgan Khan, where he signed the artist D’Bora.

A few years later, he become a part of the team at Choice FM as the lunchtime show presenter and had the opportunity to interview artists such as Brandy, Musiq Soulchild, Ludacris, Russell Simmons & Tweet.

With nearly 30 year of wearing many hats during his time of working in the music scene, Dave continues to DJ at various clubs across the UK, whilst presenting on Mi-Soul.

Dawn Butler

Dawn Butler is a senior Labour party MP who grew up in East London with her Jamaican parents. Dawn was elected MP for Brent South in 2005 and became only the third Black woman elected to the House of Commons. Since Dawn has been the first elected Black woman to sit in the British Cabinet (Minister of State for Youth Affairs in 2009) and the first Black woman to speak from the dispatch box in December 2009.

Delroy Washington

Delroy Washington was a highly talented Rasta-imbued singer-songwriter and guitarist, whose mid-1970s Virgin albums 'I Sus' and 'Rasta', showed an accessible, funk-in­fused reggae akin to Bob Marley & The Wailers' version of reggae. The musician’s lineup featured members of Aswad. Jamaican-born, he lived in Brent from the early 1960s. Whilst working in the Pama record shop he met Bob Marley, and a friendship developed. Delroy sang harmonies on The Wailers’ Catch a Fire album and in several subsequent sessions. Delroy released a 1973 Lord Koos single entitled 'Jah Man A Come', and an earlier version of 'Freedom Fighters' as a 1975 single on his Axum label. Delroy passed away in March 2020. He went to school at John Kelly Boys High School in Neasden.

Dennis Alcapone

Dennis Alapone initially trained as a welder and worked for the Jamaica Public Services.Inspired by the big sound systems that he had visited in his youth such as those run by Duke Reid, Coxsone Dodd and Prince Buster, and particularly King Tubby’s Home Town Hi-Fi, which featured the DJ U-Roy, and the Kentone sound system featuring DJ Pamapdo, Alcapone teamed up with two friends, Lizzy and Samuel the First, to set up his own “El Paso” sound system in 1969. With Smith as DJ, the El Paso sound system grew in popularity and caught the attention of producer Keith Hudson, who asked him to record for him, starting with “Marker Version”,hits soon following in the form of “Spanish Amigo”, “Shades Of Hudson” – Alcopne then moved to Coxsone Dodd’s Studio One where he decided on a change of name, ‘Al Capone’ being a nickname that had stuck with him since going to see a gangster movie with friends. This resulted in the “Nanny Version” single, which was another big Jamaican hit, and his recordings for Dodd were collected on his debut album, Forever Version, Producer Duke Reid then employed the DJ on a series of singles in 1971 and 1972 such as “Number One Station”, “The Great Woggie”, “Teach The Children”, and “Musical Alphabet”, and in the same era, Alcapone also recorded singles for Bunny Lee including “Ripe Cherry” and “Guns Don’t Argue”. In the period from 1970 to 1973, Alcapone made over 100 singles and released three albums for a range of producers including Hudson, Dodd, Reid, Bunny Lee, Lee Perry, Joe Gibbs, Prince Buster, Alvin Ranglin, Prince Tony Robinson, J.J. Johnson and Phil Pratt. He also began working as a producer, working with artists such as Dennis Brown, Augustus Pablo and Delroy Wilson, as well as self-productions. He was named Best DJ by Jamaican magazine Swing in 1972. After several international tours in the first half of the 1970s, Alcapone relocated to London, England in 1974 and after releasing four further albums between 1974 and 1977, became less active musically, particularly after the death of his mother in 1979, although still recorded occasionally. He returned to live performance and recording in the 1988 and appeared at the WOMAD festival in 1989. He returned to Jamaica in 1990 to record again with Bunny Lee, and also made an appearance on Adrian Sherwood’s Two Bad Card album. He released an album with Mad Professor in 1997, 21st Century Version.

Dennis Bovell

Influential musician and record producer Dennis Bovell was born in Saint Peter, Barbados, and moved to south London at the age of 12. Dennis was a member of prominent 1970s British reggae band Matumbi, and has produced albums under his own name as well as the pseudonym ‘Blackbeard’. As a producer, songwriter and sound engineer Dennis revolutionised the sound of reggae and dub music in Britain. Dennis innovated sub-genres including Lovers Rock, which took its name from a record label founded in Brockley. He has collaborated extensively with poet Linton Kwesi Johnson, as well as artists from Janet Kay to Joss Stone.

Dennis Brown

Singer, lyricist and musician Dennis Brown ‘The Crown Prince of Reggae’ lived in Brent between 1993 and 1999. Brown launched his professional career at the age of 11 and made a huge contribution to the evolution of reggae music, both in Jamaica and worldwide. Brown recorded more than 150 albums, with many international hits including ‘Money in my pocket’ and ‘Love has found its way’.

Desmond

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Diane Shrouder Johnson

Diane was born in Brent and currently resides there. She was born to Jamaican parents the
late, Great Arthur and Linette Shrouder. She is passionate about Legacy, Health and Wellbeing, Music, Intergenerational working and more! Diane has strong connections in Brent and farther afield. She is extremely passionate about reaching out to people whenever and wherever she can. Her work with Food banks including the Trussell Trust and other organisations is evident of this. Diane has worked with Jason Roberts Foundation and others to deliver successful events for both elders and young people. She volunteered for the Borough Of Culture 2020 where she was a Storyteller for "No Bass Like Home'', capturing stories for Brent Archives. In 2020, she became a Health and Wellbeing Community Champion Volunteer for the Brent Health Matters Programme. Which is a joined up approach from Brent Council, NHS and others to tackle inequalities. Together with Pastor Mario Phillip (Pastor of Willesden Seventh Day Adventist Church) Individuals from Communities, Faith groups and Community organisations, Diane was instrumental in creating "Community Action Team" CAT, some of this work has included sending a 40ft container to St Vincent and and one to Haiti.

International Reggae Day UK, appointed her as the Reggae Tree Ambassador for the ReggaeTree in Harlesden. In February 2022 Diane worked on Brent Archive's "Conversations With Our Legacy" Project, where there were two events organised by BBMC. Diane is a member of the Learie Constantine Centre, a place that she has known since childhood. The new centre is due to open in December 2023. Her company "Serene Me" helps and supports individuals and organisations with their endeavours. She uses her skills, knowledge and experience to meet their needs.

Diane White (Akabu)

In 1981 a group of seven female musicians formed a band called African Woman - the world's first widely-known all female reggae band. They were Shelomi Coke, Diane White, Caroline Williams, Paulette Coke, Valerie Skeete, Barbara Grossett and Vyris Edghill. Their debut album 'African Woman Abroad' was released in 1982. In 1985 Valerie Skeete and Vyris Edghill took another avenue and recorded a soul track, "Watch Yourself" under the name of Akabu, released via the American-based Tommy Boy label. Subsequently it was decided to merge the two ventures, incorporating both reggae and soul under the name Akabu. In 1988 the self-titled album 'Akabu' was released on their own Viva Records label.

Dion Cousins

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Don Letts

Don Letts is a DJ, filmmaker and musician. He has lived in Kensal Rise for 30 years. Born to Jamaican parents, Letts introduced reggae to the British punk scene. Letts worked as a DJ at the UK’s first punk club, The Roxy. He made his first film, The Punk Rock Movie (1978), filming live acts at the club, including The Clash and X-Ray Spex. Today he hosts Culture Clash Radio on BBC Radio 6 Music.

Donald Palmer

Donald Palmer, born in 1962 in London, is Senior Lecturer in Immunology in the Comparative Biomedical Sciences Department of the Royal Veterinary College, London. His research is concerned with the role of the thymus in the ageing of the immune system. Donald’s parents emigrated from Jamaica in the early 1960s. Following secondary education in a comprehensive school in south London, Donald completed an Ordinary National Diploma in Medical Sciences at South London Technical College and then read Medical Sciences at the University of Bradford, 1980-1983. Donald completed an MSc in Immunology at King’s College, London, 1986-1989, and then a PhD investigating the genetic regulation of Beta-2-microglobulin in the Division of Transplantation Biology, Clinical Science Centre, Northwick Park Hospital, 1989-1992, in Brent. In 1998, following post doctoral work at Cancer Research UK and Imperial College, London, Donald was appointed a Research Lecturer at Imperial College, with a Medical Research Council Career Development Award. In 2002, he moved from Imperial College to the Royal Veterinary College as a Lecturer in Immunology.

Dread Broadcasting Corporation

Dread Broadcasting Corporation: Popularly known as DBC, it was the very first black owned, black music pirate station in Britain. It was founded by, the recently departed, Lepke, a music fan, and broadcast on medium wave for a few hours at weekends from his house on Aboyne Road, NW10 in Neasden. In addition to presenting, Lepke’s Sister Miss P, became an integral part of running the station. Despite poor strength and reception, due to the topography of its Neasden location, the station achieved a legendary status due to its strong brand image and musical menu of reggae, R&B, soca, calypso, jazz and African music, which could not be heard elsewhere. It also offered accessible radio advertising for small businesses. Miss P was soon poached to work on BBC Radio 1. Other notable names that worked on DBC include Neneh Cherry and the author Lloyd Bradley.