Over the coming months, we plan to interview a few key members within the Caribbean community who have had a lasting influence on the sound system/music industry. Our task is to capture their stories through interviews and discussion in various locations including their homes, former nightclubs, public houses, community centres and elsewhere.
In the past six weeks we have managed to interview eight of these members from our community. We have conducted these interviews at three private addresses: two at a public house in the Manningham area, one at MAPA, and two in our office base on Ripley Street.
On the 18th of November 2021 at the Bradford Arms public house, Lincoln Anderson and Lincoln Oakley interviewed two of Bradford’s legendary DJs, affectionately known as ‘Martell’ and ‘Jah Man – Reverend (aka Winston)’. Their DJ careers began way back in the 1960s, starting with small house parties through to their graduation on local radio stations such Pennie (Pennine), Bradford Community Radio (BCB), and Pirates City Radio (PCR).
We chose the Bradford Arms public house, to give a relaxed setting and atmosphere, and furthermore, this was Jah Man and Martell’s regular spot. The first to begin their interview was Jah Man. We have known each other for over 50 years; hence we were all comfortable in each other’s company.
Jah Man has always been one of our favourite DJs on the circuit. Listening to him speak so clearly and articulately about the bygone era of Bradford and the entertainment, brought goose pimples to the back of the neck. Listening to sound system stories aroused/excited our passion to hear more about some of the key players in the music business.
We also reflected on some of the great sound men of Bradford, Leeds, and Huddersfield, who have sadly passed. These included: ‘Mr Bunny’ (Chester), ‘Slackness’, ‘Urko’, ‘Fish’, ‘Coswell’, ‘Stash’, but to mention a few. Rest In Peace (RIP) our friends. We thank each and every one of you, for putting Bradford on the map.
The level of emotions in the voices of the interviewees and interviewer was a blessing to behold! Our interviewing techniques allowed both Martell and Jah Man to fully express themselves throughout the session. The audience on the night was fully captivated by the level of insight shown by the interviewees, and their willingness to answer questions directly. We could not help but be in awe of these two DJs as they recollected dates and times. Their stories captured our attention as each memory really resonated. For us, the best stories were of the early to the late 70s, as this was a period in the Black community’ when realisation of self-worth, self-value, and also Black culture, was at a peak.
We could relate to the philosophy and comments expressed by the DJs, given the times we were all living under. They recalled that it was the younger generation during the early seventies, who were the ones that stood toe to toe with the National Front (NF) and the Special Patrol Group (SPG), who would accompany the NF on marches in Black areas. This invoked the past injustices we suffered as youths growing up in Bradford and surrounding areas.
Bradford was like a powder keg, just waiting for someone to light the fuse, coupled with police investigation for the ‘Yorkshire Ripper’ and ‘Black Panther’. Clubs and pubs in Lumb Lane and Manningham Lane were flooded with police. Early days investigations into the Yorkshire Ripper brought the Black community into close and regular contact with both uniformed and plain clothes police officers. For once, the police were asking for our help, as we were the regular youths on the streets around Lumb Lane and the Manningham area.
The interviews gave us time to reflect on our past decadence, good times, the madness, and the togetherness of our community. However, we could not help detecting a sense of disappointment from the interviewees regarding the advancements that young Black youths have achieved since those glory days of the seventies. Given the pains and battles that was fought to overcome the disparity within our Caribbean communities, it’s sad to see we have not progressed like other communities, as we were the trailblazers that positively put Bradford on the entertainment map.
Rites of Passage: Bradford's Sound System Stories 