Emotional tributes to Jamal Edwards – the music pioneer who began his stellar career while studying at Richmond College

By Rory Poulter

4th Mar 2022 | Local News

Jamal Edwards, who helped the launch the careers of music stars from Jessie J and Rita Ora to Ed Sheeran and Dave, was a student at Richmond College.

The music entrepreneur, who was the inspirational founder of SBTV and respected around the world, died suddenly last month at the age of 31.

He was an ambassador for the Prince's Trust, a charity headed up by Charles, and in 2014 was awarded an MBE for his services to music.

Jamal mixed with some of the most famous names in music from both sides of the Atlantic, but not many people are aware of his links to Twickenham and Richmond.

Details emerged this week when the rapper Dave paid an emotional tribute to Jamal during his concert at London's O2 arena.

He paused his show at the 20,000-capacity venue on Monday night to deliver a speech hailing the work of the music pioneer, who created a platform for young British performers.

The arena screens showed early SBTV clips before a black and white image of Edwards appeared, prompting applause from the crowd.

Dave said: "Jamal Edwards is the reason I'm standing in front of you guys here today.

"There's so many different emotions that all of us feel - all of us that were so connected to him in so many different ways.

"We all have a different experience of him but we all have so many things in common with the experience.

"And he's one person in the world that just wanted to help and just wanted to see every single person that he touched shine."

Dave, real name David Omoregie, reflected on how Edwards had agreed to help him film a music video while Edwards was still a student at Richmond upon Thames College in Twickenham.

"He gave me an opportunity when no one would," he told the audience.

"I did not have the money to pay for videos. Jamal Edwards did it for free out of the love and kindness of his heart.

"Every single thing that I have today - we have today - we owe to Jamal Edwards.

"As a scene, I want to say I'm so, so, so grateful for you, brother. Jamal, I love you, I love you, I love you."

A host of figures from the British music industry and beyond shared tributes to Edwards after news of his death broke last month, including the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, Sir Richard Branson and former prime minister David Cameron.

     

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