Dennis Bovell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dennis Bovell
MBE |
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Dennis Bovell performing live at the Druga godba festival in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on May 28, 2015.
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | Blackbeard |
| Born | 22 May 1953 Saint Peter, Barbados, West Indies |
| Genres | Dub, lovers rock, reggae, post-punk |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, record producer |
| Instruments | Bass, guitar |
| Years active | 1968–present |
| Labels | LKJ Records |
| Associated acts | Linton Kwesi Johnson Janet Kay Matumbi Bobby Kray The 4th Street Orchestra |
Dennis Bovell (born May 22, 1953) is a famous musician and record producer from Barbados who is based in the United Kingdom. He is known for playing reggae guitar and bass. He was a member of the British reggae band Matumbi.
Bovell also made dub-reggae albums using the name Blackbeard. He is well-known for working with the poet Linton Kwesi Johnson for many years. For his work in music, he was awarded the MBE.
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Life and Music Career
Dennis Bovell was born in Saint Peter, Barbados, in 1953. When he was 12, he moved to South London. There, he got involved in Jamaican culture, especially dub music. He even started his own sound system, which is a group of DJs and engineers who play music for people.
At school, Bovell was friends with other future musicians. He first joined a rock band called Stonehenge. Later, the band changed its name to Matumbi and started playing reggae music in the mid-1970s.
Creating a New Sound
Bovell was a key person in creating a new type of reggae called lovers rock. This style of music is often about love and relationships. He wanted to write a hit song, so he wrote "Silly Games" for the singer Janet Kay. The song became very popular and is a famous example of lovers rock.
He also tried mixing disco music with reggae, which showed how creative he was as a musician and producer.
Working with Other Artists
Bovell is a talented record producer. This means he helps other musicians create their albums. He has worked with many famous artists from different music styles. Some of them include I-Roy, the Thompson Twins, Bananarama, the Pop Group, Fela Kuti, and Madness.
His longest and most famous partnership has been with the poet Linton Kwesi Johnson. Bovell produced many of Johnson's albums, mixing poetry with dub music.
Music for Movies and TV
Bovell's music has also been used in movies and television. In 1980, he wrote the music for the film Babylon. He also wrote music for a TV show in 1983 and a film in 2006.
More recently, his song "Silly Games" was featured in the 2020 film Lovers Rock, which was part of the Small Axe series by director Steve McQueen. Bovell even had a small acting role in the movie.
Honors and Recent Work
In 2021, Bovell was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). This is a special award given by the Queen for his important contributions to music.
Bovell continues to make music. In 2012, he produced the album Mek It Run. He also works with other musicians, playing bass and producing new tracks. His work shows he is still a major figure in the world of reggae and dub music.
Famous Albums
Here are some of Dennis Bovell's well-known albums, including some he released as Blackbeard:
- Strictly Dub Wize (1978)
- I Wah Dub (1980)
- Brain Damage (1981)
- Audio Active (1986)
- Decibel: More Cuts and Dubs 1976–1983 (2003)
- Mek It Run (2012)
- Dub 4 Daze (2015)
- The Dubmaster (2022)
