Three Coventry Music pioneers were inducted onto the Coventry Music Wall of Fame at The 2-Tone Village on Ball Hill Coventry this afternoon.
The three were: Jerry Dammers (Sponsored by Dave ‘Hatter’ Johnston)
Dammers is a man whose influence on the Coventry Music scene knows no bounds. The man who formed The Specials and The 2-Tone Record label, gave a speech full of jokes, stories and praise With the likes of Neville Staple, Neol Davies, Trevor Evans (pictured below) and members of a number of Coventry based Ska bands, listening on intently. Jerry spoke for over ten minutes, admitting his delight at being inducted.
The second inductee was Delia Derbyshire (Sponsored by Pete & Julie Chambers).
Her partner Clive Blackburn spoke about a woman from Coundon now sadly more famous in death than during her life. Delia who inspired the Bristol sound and Jerry Dammers amongst others, was a pioneer of electronic music and as part of the BBC Electronic Workshop it was Delia’s groundbreaking arrangement of The Doctor Who theme that helped give the series it’s brooding ‘hiding at the back of the settee’ atmosphere. She worked with the likes of Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd and Karlheinz Stockhausen, and her creativity in the world of electronic music has made her a true Coventry Icon in every sense of the word.
Ray King (Sponsored by West Indian centre)
Ray (or Vibert Cornwell ), who was joined by the High Commisioner for St Vncent And The Grenadines, where he was born, is a soul singer who has played all over the world including the playboy club, met the likes of Jimmy Hendrix and gave many eventual 2-Tone legends, their first break in his bands Nite Train and Pharaohs Kingdom.
You can continue to nominate at www.2tonecentral.co.uk or at any of Coventry’s Libraries.
Pictures copyright of Cosupport News Service. Credit CNS/KM