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Jazzie B awarded OBE
The honour was awarded to the Soul II Soul front man earlier this year but this morning Jazzie B visited Buckingham Palace to formally accept his OBE.
"The award acknowledges the musician's rich contribution to British black music and culture and the continuous work done to support young people both in music and sport"
Best known as the Soul II Soul frontman, Jazzie B continues to DJ globally, hosting his Caribbean Back II Life festival in Antigua each year and keeping the Soul II Soul soundsystem alive through club nights and festivals. He also hosts a regular radio show on BBC London. His forthcoming compilation album, School Days, is a compilation of musical influences as a north London school boy.
See full interview below:
The OBE obviously a great honour – how did you feel when it was announced?
First of all I was very confused with it all but as the year’s going I’ve got used to it.
Do you know what the format is for the collecting the badge?
I guess I go to Buckingham Palace in the morning, meet the old girl, get pricked by the pin then off out.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of your first release, are how are you intending to celebrate this?
Actually, next year is the 20th anniversary of our first number one. I’ll probably have a BBQ or something.
When did you realise things were serious with Soul II Soul?
When we moved out of the warehouse parties, prior to that we were running our shops and that prior to that just running them part time. The shops started to get serious and take over everything else, when we took over the Africa Centre, the next stage was being offered a record deal.
Tell us about Soul II Soul Recordings – any interesting new signings coming up?
Yes a couple that I can’t really mention. We are putting together a project, a combination of re-records, a couple of tracks with Karen and new artists.
How did your BBC Radio London gig come about?
I Just got a phone call at the end of the year because I’d spent so much time in Antigua. They said they were changing the format to the weekends and wanted me to join. It’s quite interesting.
How did you get started?
I was Tommy Steele’s tea boy. I became a sound engineer, cleaning up making tea
I hear you trained as PE teacher? Are you still into sport?
I’ve got a little soccer team, I’m an FA coach. I do it voluntarily, which I enjoy a lot.
Who has been your favourite artist to work with?
Probably James Brown – got the chance to work with him and hang out – he lived up to the expectation
Tell us a bit about the 'School Days' album?
It’s a compilation album. I was approached by the guys from Sanctuary they came off one of the Back To Life gigs in Antigua – them being in the Carribean, that’s where the idea came from. It’s basically snapshot of my early record collection, records that meant a lot to me.
What’s your advice for young people today trying to start out in the music business?
I think it’s probably very difficult, keep your eye on the target, be careful of what you ask for ‘cause you might get it. If nobody’s ever done it before, do it. Believe in what you’re doing.
