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1 July 1962 – 15 January 2009

Jean Adebambo was found dead at her London home on 15 January 2009. Her brother Claudius confirmed to her manager, Orlando Gittens, that Adebambo’s death is thought to be suicide and that there was no one else involved. Her funeral was held in Hackney, 29 January 2009. Adebambo is survived by her two teenage daughters.

She may not have achieved global recognition, but Adebambo’s contribution to the black British music scene in the early 1980’s cannot be ignored. Her music was (and still is) critically acclaimed and greatly appreciated by reggae and soul lovers alike.

Born in London, England to a Montserration mother and a Nigerian father, Adebambo’s musical career began by chance. Whilst she was in training to enter the Health Care profession, she was invited to do a cover version of two records entitled “Again” and “Reunited” by Ital Records in the early 1980’s. She would later join forces with Jamaican producer and by now London resident Leonard Chin to embark on her solo career.

The twelve-inch single “Paradise” may by Adebambo’s most ‘talked about’ recording; however, this beautifully crafted gem was only a small part of Adebambo’s recording story. Jean Adebambo was blessed with a honeyed soulful voice capable of sweet sensuous harmonies. She also had a gift for song writing, arranging and played both keyboards and acoustic guitar. Subsequent single releases such as “Reaching For A Goal”, “Hardships of Life” and “Pipe Dreams” where all extremely well received by the British Lovers Rock fraternity in the early 1980’s. Her solo album “Feelings (1983) released by her own Ade J. production and publishing company was a collection of all the above singles as well as an acoustic soulful offering “Feelings”. This seemed to be a glowing start to what should have been a fruitful career both creatively and financially. Her absence from music ‘and the music business’ after her album release came as a shock to fans, but not to individuals close to her.

Adebambo returned to the Health Care profession securing a role as a health visitor for Southwark Council n Bermondsey. (A position she held up to her untimely death).

Carol Thompson was one of the many ‘still performing’ lovers rock singers who persuaded Adebambo to return to music. After successful Lovers Rock Reunion concerts held in Wolverhampton and South London’s Brixton Academy in the autumn of 2008, many had hope that Adebambo would continue the trend and even bless her fans with new recorded material.

Her final concert was a fundraising event at the Aldersbrook Lawn Tennis Club in east London . Prior to that she played host to an acclaimed unplugged session at the D’Eclipse club and restaurant in south London.

15 March 2009, a memorial ceremony was held at the Hackney Empire for Jean Adebambo. This charity event (organised by her manager Orlando Gittens) was hosted by Angie Le Mar and Eddie Nestor with performances by fellow lovers rock artists such as Carol Thompson, Janet Kay, Sandra Cross, Lorna Gee and Victor Romero Evans. Comedians such as Donna Spence, Judith Jacob and Robbie Gee also featured on the night to help generate funds for the continued education and upbringing of Adebambo’s two teenage daughters.

Robin Francis
© Michael Valentine Studio Ltd.