Jazzie B

As founding member and creator of iconic 80s band Soul II Soul, Jazzie B is one of the most respected and established DJs, producers and entrepreneurs in the music industry.

Whilst Jazzie B and Soul II Soul will always be connected, both spiritually and substantially, that has never been all Jazzie has been about. For years now, he has built a parallel career away from the collective, one that allows Jazzie to advance his own ideas and character.

Among his more eclectic achievements as Jazzie B, he has been a regular on London radio since Kiss FM was a pirate – he is currently on Solar Radio, Sundays 2-4 pm and also does a variety of voice-overs for radio and television.

He's had a spell running Motown in the UK, designed a sneaker for the Lacoste Legends range and presented James Brown with the Diesel U Music Lifetime Achievement award – an honour the late Mr Brown would accept in person on the one condition that it was Jazzie who presented it to him.

For as long as there has been a Soul II Soul success story and studios, there's been a procession of artists through the doors to take advantage of Jazzie's production and remixing skills.

Jazzie co-wrote and produced a series of tracks with the Godfather of Soul himself, James Brown, including Just Do It, Watch Me and Show Me Your Friends. He's produced Teena Marie, Cheryl Lynn and The Jones Girls; and co-produced Maxi Priest and The Chimes.

He has remixed for, among others, Public Enemy (So Whatcha Gonna Do) Johnny Gill (Wrap My Body Tight); Fine Young Cannibals (I'm Not The Man I Used To Be); Incognito (Change); and, perhaps most memorably, Family Stand's international smash hit Ghetto Heaven.

Jazzie has also put together some of the greatest club classics collections of recent years, drawing on his sets from the legendary Africa Centre parties and other dances from back in the day.

Jazzie B is an in-demand DJ, playing out as far afield as the USA, Dubai and Croatia, and rocking prestigious houses such as the Lovebox Festival; the Southport Weekender; the Baltic Festival; and the Red Bull Music Academy Culture Clash at London's Roundhouse, in which Jazzie's club classics held their own against Trojan, Metalheadz and Digital Mystikz.

The emotional high point of Jazzie's DJ career, though, was Back II Life Antigua, a one week festival with a series of sophisticated events hosted by the original sound system DJ's; Jazzie B, David Rodigan, Trevor Nelson & Norman Jay; at some of the worlds most stunning and exclusive venues, including Jazzie's house.

His total look, the 'Funki Dred' continues to grow and change each season, infusing Jazzie's every endeavor with its vibrant brand. 2013 saw the launch of his Classics Collection with Harvey Nichols; a high end, raw, handmade collection which illustrates the 'do it yourself' energy of those early sound system days.

Jazzie B's aesthetic remains fully global. When he performs, he is an envoy of style as well as of sound.

Of course all of this hasn't come without recognition. Jazzie has been honoured for his services to the community as well as his music. In 2008, Jazzie became the first UK sound man to be invited to a Buckingham Palace investiture, when he was awarded an OBE for services to music, by Her Majesty the Queen.

In the same year, he was awarded the inaugural Ivor Novello Award for inspiration; when it was presented to Jazzie, the announcer described him as "the man who gave British black music a soul of its own". A sentiment few will argue with, but his most personally significant recognition was yet to come.

In 2013, Jazzie was honoured by his birthplace, Finsbury Park, when local residents selected three distinguished sons and daughters of the area for their contribution to and inspiration for the community. An ironwork sculpture of him now stands at the Portrait Bench by the station forecourt, alongside suffragette Edith Garrud and health pioneer Florence Keen.

Inspirational & Motivational Speaking
As a teenager, had Jazzie not gone in to the music business full time he would more than likely have become a PE teacher. On leaving school, a careers advisor had told Jazzie he couldn't get him a job in the music industry and 'politely' suggested he became a milkman or a BT engineer.

So Jazzie opted for his second passion – sport. Indeed, for about six months the two career paths actually ran in parallel as Jazzie tried to combine teacher training college with running the sound system.

However, something had to give, and lucky for music lovers, if perhaps not so much for a generation of UK athletes, music won out. Although, since then, Jazzie has still gone on to become an official FA coach and has worked with youth football teams in North London.

Jazzie’s natural communication skills haven't gone to waste either; he frequently gives inspiring motivational talks, and Q&A sessions, all over the country about his life and the adventures of Soul II Soul.

He has lectured at Cambridge University; spoken about the changing face of the global music business at Manchester's annual In The City music conference; talked extensively about sound systems and sound system culture for the Red Bull Music Academy; and taught music and music technology at Jamie's Dream School for Channel 4 in 2011.