Welcome to Michael Valentine Studio

Reggae Britannia

Reggae Britannia
@ the Barbican Centre
Featuring: Dennis Alcapone and Winston Reedy,
Dave Barker, Pauline Black, Ken Boothe, Ali Campbell,
Brinsley Forde, Janet Kay, Neville Staple,
Carroll Thompson, Big Youth, Dennis Bovell
5 February 2011 (Photography during Soundcheck)

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Reggae Britannia Tribute

Reggae & lovers rock stars filled the Barbican stage for Reggae Britannia. Tickets for this anticipated event sold out quickly… not surprising really as many of the patrons who rushed to part with their extremely hard earned cash will most definitely be eager to reminisce...

This is a rare opportunity for many to gorge on the soundtrack of their lives ‘in a live setting’. This will without doubt evoke memories of private house parties, night clubs, smart newly ‘recycled fashions’, as well as the West Indian - British and (British - West Indian) cultural transition that seemed to accelerate at astounding pace in the mid 1970’s – 1980’s. Powerful political statements, insecurities, love, passion, innocence, naivety, unrequited love and much more. Still, somehow these amazing musicians managed to tightly weave the above into a sweet musical fabric that made you feel great. (Especially if you were entwined with the woman, or man of your dreams at ‘that party or club’ at the time)!

Reggae Britannia is not just a tribute to the many naturally talented and tenacious individuals present and past who have contributed to this amazing musical heritage, but also to the many supporters of the music both inside and outside the industry who continue their journey in this forever-changing cultural transition.

Reggae Britannia was recorded for broadcast on BBC4, Friday 11 February 2011. Times have changed… but still a long way to go. You never know…could be BBC1 next year!

Janet Kay biography

Born Janet Kay Bogle (the first of 6 children) in London to Jamaican parents, Clifton and Monica Bogle. Janet is a descendant of the Jamaican National Hero the Rt Excellent Deacon Paul Bogle.

As a sixties child, Janet was exposed to the singing greats, especially those from the Tamla Motown stable and as a result of the exposure and inspiration, Kay’s love for singing was born.

In 1977, whilst in Secretarial College, Kay was invited by her school friend Sonia Ferguson (who recorded a cover version of Smokey Robinson's “Oh Baby Baby” in the late 70’s) to a band rehearsal. Destiny saw to it that band member Tony Gad heard Kay singing in the rehearsal room. He was so impressed with the sweetness of Kay’s voice that he introduced her to the reggae legend, the Late Great Alton Ellis.

That meeting resulted in Kay recording a cover version of Minnie Ripperton’s “Loving You” (produced by Alton Ellis), which became a reggae smash hit spending many weeks at No. 1 in the reggae charts.

The following year, 1978, saw Kay record 2 more cover versions, '” Do Love You” and “That's What Friends Are For”, again, both spending weeks at No. 1 in the reggae charts.

In 1979, Kay made history by becoming the first British born black female to have a reggae song at the top of the British charts. The song “Silly Games”, (produced by Dennis Bovell) was a hit not only in the UK but also in Europe. Kay’s history making has been recorded in the Music Guinness Book of Records.

Janet Kay’s songwriting prowess became evident on the release of her first album “Capricorn Woman”. The album was, and still is a best seller. All the songs except 2 were penned by Janet Kay.

By now, Kay had become known as the “Queen of Lover's Rock”. In that same year Kay was presented with the awards for Best 7” single, Best 12” single and Best Female Vocalist 1979 by Black Echoes Music Newspaper.

Kay’s voice was not exclusive to only reggae music and in the early 80’s she also penned and sung the soulful “Eternally Grateful” which became an underground hit.
The early 8’'s also saw the collaboration between Kay and reggae legend the Late Jackie Mitto with the Randy Crawford classic, “You Bring The Sun Out”.

In 1980, after a chance meeting with actor/singer Victor Romero Evans, Janet was introduced to the theatre company ‘Black Theatre Co-operative’. A successful audition saw the birth of Janet's theatrical career, in the play ‘Mama Dragon’ by Faroukh Dhondy’s which toured England and Europe.

Kay has since appeared in several films, numerous TV appearances, theatre plays touring the UK and Europe and radio plays. In 1981, Kay also starred in the ‘Black Theatre Co-operative’s' TV sitcom ‘No Problem’ (LWT/Channel 4), the first black TV show which was created and conceived by a black theatre company. The show became a cult classic.

The late 80’s saw Kay’s collaboration with the singer/producer Lloyd Charmers with the cover album “Sweet Surrender”. In 1990 Kay collaborated with Beats International (Norman Cook aka Fat Boy Slim) on their track Burundi Blues. Following this collaboration, Kay was invited to feature on Lindy Layton’s version of Silly Games.

In the early 90’s Kay, along with fellow actresses Judith Jacob, Suzanne Packer, Suzette Llewellyn, Beverley Michaels, Josephine Melville and the Late Joanne Campbell formed the highly successful female theatre company the Bibi Crew. All the shows were written produced and directed by the Crew. In 1991, the album “Sweet Surrender” was renamed “Lovin' You, Best of Janet Kay”, (which included a newly recorded version of “Lovin' You”), and was released in Japan.; The track “Lovin' You” propelled Janet to stardom in Japan. Kay subsequently signed to Sony Music (Japan).

Over the years Janet Kay has collaborated with top producers, Drummie Zeb and Tony Gad (Aswad), Junior Giscombe, Jeremy Meehan, Shinichi Osawa (Japan), Kodama & Gota (Japan), Omar and Sly and Robbie. Kay’s albums have sold in excess of a million copies in Japan, “Love You Always” selling over 400 thousand copies in its first year alone. Japan entitled “La Dolce Vita”, alongside the renowned Japanese composer Taro Iwashiro.

In recent years Kay has visited Japan, performing at the exclusive Blue Note Night Club for 2 to 3 weeks at a time in Fukuoka, Osaka, Yokohama, Nagoya and Tokyo.

In 2006/7 Kay returned to theatre, where she appeared as the Fairy Godmother in Hackney Empire’s Pantomime, ‘Cinderella’, which the Evening Standard rated the best ‘Panto of the season’. Kay is currently promoting and performing, along with Victor Romero Evans and Carroll Thompson, their newly devised ‘Lover’s Rock Unplugged’ shows.

Kay has recently recorded a cover version of “Take A Bow” which appears as the No. 1 track on the “Covers for Reggae Lovers” album on the VP Label. Kay has also crossed genres by recording and releasing a Funky House track entitled “So Good” where she features along side Spoonface (available for download only).

Kay’s talents are not exclusive to singing and drama. Janet is an accomplished Machine Knitter/Designer and Lacemaker her works have been published in craft editorials. Janet also designs and builds websites and has recently completed a Film Editors course and already she has co-edited a short feature film by Clive Gandison ('Evergreen Man'), starring Victor Romero Evans, which was recently nominated for an award by the BFM.

Janet Kay has been voted one of Britain’s Top 100 Black Britains by the Evening Standard and she has also been presented with many awards over the years including, Silver Disc for Silly Games, Best Female Singer, Best 7” and Best 12” Single (1979), Memorial Disc to Commemorate the overall success of Janet Kay Albums in Japan, presented by Sony Music Japan (1995), Women of Merit by Darker than Blue in Association with Barclays (2002), Contribution to British Black Music Industry (2001) and Outstanding Contribution to British Reggae (2009) to name but a few.

Carroll Thompson biography

Carroll Thompson was raised in the gospel traditions of her grandmother’s house, and the church she was minister for, Thompson’s vocal and musical talents soon became evident.

Studying classical piano from the tender age of eight, by the time she was twelve she scored first place in the National Youth Convention with her own composition “I Know He Is With Me”. By the time she left college with a business degree, Thompson was running her own production company and Record label.
As songwriter and producer Thompson experienced her first real chart success. The timeless ‘I’m So Sorry” shooting straight to number one in the British Reggae Charts.

With the release of singles like “Simply In Love”, ‘Just A Little it”, ‘Happy Song”, Hopelessly In Love” and “Yesterday” and her classic debut solo album “Hopelessly In Love” she was quickly established as one of the UK’s finest female vocalist affectionately dubbed the Queen of Lovers Rock selling over 750,000 units worldwide.

The timeless album ‘Hopelessly in Love’ still remains a best seller and has now achieved iconic status, with Thompson’s warm vocals and honest songwriting, symbolising and capturing the magical era of Lover Rock.

Her talents as Music composer and music consultant where credited on the the UK Channel Four film and soundtrack “Babymother” and also the UK film “Knights And Emeralds” where the self penned and produced “Ready or not” featuring her lead vocal.

Carroll Thompson’s writing and production skills have been utilised by the likes of Channel Four, the BBC and Comedy Central USA to name just a few. Recent documentary credits include Kings and Queens of Comedy, History of Female Comedy and History of Jewish Comedy, The history of Hip Hop comedy (featuring the likes of Richard Pryor, Bernie Mac, Bill Cosby and many more.

After a brief stint collaborating and arranging vocals for Jools Holland and creating specialised remixes with the Mad Professor for acts including Sade and Massive Attack, Carroll started a new project writing and featuring on vocals with Japanese music guru Gota And The Heart Of Gold Band which also featured Heitor T.P. and Ian Kirkham (Simply Red) and Drummie Zeb and Tony Gad (Aswad) and Japanese guitar Guru Kenji Jammer. With the success of GOTA, Thompson’s production company signed to Toshiba/EMI and released three top charting solo albums in Japan.

Thompson’s vocal arranging talents being in demand can be currently heard on adverts such as “Celebrate Good Times” (Celebration Chocolates) “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” for DHL and “I’m Every Woman”.

When time permits Thompson works as A&R consultant, writing and producing for new talent and occasionally facilitating singing/song writing master classes and also ‘surviving the music industry’ workshops for aspiring musicians.
She regularly contributes on BBC Radio London ‘Sunday Night Special” and co presents a relationship program BBC 5 Live.

2007 saw her entrepreneurial spirit help launch Colourtelly.TV; ‘Britain’s first online television station for black interest programming’ created with her partner Dotun Adebayo MBE. Primarily due to the dissatisfaction of the lack of African/Caribbean presence on mainstream television This platform also screens the ever popular “Lovers Rock Lounge” a program which she hosts and produces, highlighting established and new Lovers Rock artists singing live in session once a month. A club session and program dear to Thompson’s heart, “An opportunity to keep alive and breathe life into a quintessentially British Genre which is much loved and under represented.” quotes Thompson.

All biographies from artists’ own websites (edited by Robin Francis)