Greensleeves Records
On July 1, 2023, International Reggae Day, Greensleeves Records, the iconic West London Reggae label, received a blue plaque created in association with Nubian Jak Community Trust (NJCT) and Hammersmith & Fulham Council to adorn the wall of TFL's Shepherd’s Bush Station.
The plaque marks the site of the famous record shop, which led to the founding of the record label in 1977. Greensleeves is one of those labels that define a genre like Blue Note, Motown or Chess. It’s been Reggae central for forty-six years and has a catalogue of hits that outlines the history of the music during the period better than any other.
Over the years, Greensleeves has become synonymous with all the latest hits, artists and sound coming from Jamaica, especially Rub-A-Dub and Dancehall. Whilst other reggae labels courted the mainstream, Greensleeves began channelling the sound of Downtown Kingston and set out to arm every Reggae DJ in the UK and Europe with it. Artists who have released music on the label include Dr Alimantado, Augustus Pablo, Wailing Souls, Barrington Levy, Yellowman, Eek-A-Mouse, Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, Freddie McGregor, Shabba Ranks, Bounty Killer, Red Rat, Elephant Man, Vybz Kartel and many more.
Producers who worked have worked with the label include Henry ‘Junjo’ Lawes, Linval Thompson, King Jammy and Gussie Clarke.
The unveiling took place close to the site of their Shepherd’s Bush record shop, where the label was launched in 1977. The Blue Plaque forms part of Hammersmith & Fulham’s Black History Trail.
"We're glad to see the first International Reggae Day UK event on July 1 is the unveiling of the plaque to Greensleeves, a record company with a rich catalogue of Jamaican and British reggae catalogue." Kwaku, convenor of International Reggae Day UK and British Black Music Month
“We are delighted once again to be partnering with Nubian Jak Community Trust and to install a heritage plaque, for Greensleeves Records. This event forms part of the council`s wider drive to diversify our public realm and celebrate significant people and places in the borough, which may have previously been overlooked. I hope residents will be able to join us in this celebration on the day.” Cllr Sharon Holder, Cabinet Member for Public Realm (including Heritage and Culture)
“For over four decades, Greensleeves Records and all the artists who released on the label, were pioneers in the ascension of Reggae and Dancehall music to reach global audiences and to impact wider music cultures forever. We’re honoured to see the Nubian Jak Community Trust Blue Plaque recognise this legacy and finally take its space on the site of the shop where the label was founded. We hope that future generations will remember the incredible contribution that past and present artists from Greensleeves Records have on music and cultural landscapes.” Karen Proctor, Greensleeves Records.
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