Fireside Chat

Jazzie B

Soul II Soul, London

The first sound man to be honoured by Her Majesty the Queen, Jazzie B is a true soul legend. He and friend Daddae started a sound called Jah Rico when they were just 13, playing mainly reggae music; after three years Soul II Soul was created. They were launched into success by landing a gig at the now legendary Africa Centre in London's Covent Garden and it wasn't long before the record labels were beating down the proverbial door. Soul II Soul enjoyed early chart success with 'Keep On Moving' and 'Back To Life' and picked up a couple of Grammys in 1990. Jazzie was subsequently given the keys to seven cities in the US and there is even a Soul II Soul day celebrated by die-hard fans on that side of the pond. Excepting his success with Soul II Soul, Jazzie is quite the entrepreneur. He has his own label (Soul II Soul Recordings); has produced a string of remixes for the likes of The Fine Young Cannibals and James Brown (one of his childhood heros); he's a radio DJ and runs his own annual music festival in the Caribbean. A man with more enthusiasm and banter than an east-end market trader, this Funky Dread has stories for days...