Brad Lives! Tribute to Brad "Clocktower" Osbourne
williedynamite
263 Posts
Brad Lives! A Tribute to Brad Osbourne, founder of Clocktower and Grand Groove record labels.Friday, April 3rd 9pm-2pm. $7 Panel discussion (9-10) and performance (10-2) in honor of Brad Osbourne, pioneer in NY reggae scene and early days of hip-hop.Black Unity Sound System ft. Ras Kush and Brother Vincent. Mean Machine Crew ft. DJ's Chuck City, Danny Dan & MCees Smitty Rock & Easy Al. T-Ski Valley performing "Catch the Beat." Vocalists "Pop" Gaskins, Ricky Grant, Audrey Hall, Dave Edwards and special guests.Maysles Cinema, 343 Malcolm X Blvd bet. 127 & 128. www.mayslesinstitute.orgIf any one man can be credited with bringing reggae to the Bronx, it is Brad Osbourne. He is also vital but rarely acknowledged figure in the formulation of hip-hop out of the Bronx/Jamaica cultural nexus. Friday, April 3rd, the Maysles Cinema brings Brad???s family and close associates ??? old school hip hop and reggae pioneers in their own right ??? together to honor their friend and mentor in an evening of conversation and musical performance. In 1969 Brad opened Brad???s Record Den on White Plains Road with his wife Tami. Originally dealing in R&B and blues records, Brad???s began providing reggae from Jamaica and England to the budding Jamaican community. In 1971, Brad Osbourne, in association with Upsetters organist Glen Adams, launched Clocktower records. The Clocktower imprint became the pre-eminent vehicle for distributing and re-mastering music made in Jamaica (Augustus Pablo, King Tubby, Horace Andy to name a few) to North America and for recording of Jamaican artists in New York (Lee Perry, Linville Thompson, Johnny Clarke and many others). In 1981 Brad gave a young man named Tyrone, who worked in the break-beat section of the record store, the opportunity to record a rap for him. The result was ???Catch the Beat???, Brad gave Tyrone the name Tski Valley and Brad???s new hip hop label Grand Groove had its first hit single. Brad???s enterprises ??? the record store on White Plains Road, the Clocktower and Grand Groove record labels - were in full swing when he was killed in 1983. His legacy is carried on by Tami Osbourne, engineers such as Lloyd ???Bullwackie??? Barnes and the record stores that opened on White Plains Road by former employees and friends. The discussion and dancehall jam that will occur on Friday, April 3rd, from 9pm-2pm is the first time that friends, fans and family will come together in public celebration of Brad ???Clocktower??? Osbourne.
9pm-10pm: The PanelistsSikhulu Shange: Owner of Harlem???s Record Shack on 125th street. Brother Sikhulu operated a record distribution company behind the Record shack that sold records to Mr. Osbourne in the seventies.The Imperial J.C.: The legendary DJay from the Herculoids Sound System was a dediated customer at Brad???s Record Den, spending about $300 dollars per visit. J.C. changed over to a rapper and recorded a few singles on Grand Groove with his brother as The Just Four.TSki Valley: Brad Osbourne???s most prolific recording artist, co-owner of the Grand Groove Imprint, whom Brad treated like a son.Bob Blank: Owner and Engineer of the Blank Studio in downtown Manhattan, where Brad did most of his recording.Tami Osbourne: Brad???s wife and partner since 1958. Tami helped establish and operate Brad???s Record Den and is determined to keep her late husband???s Clocktower Label alive. She distributes and presses vinyl on a daily basis. 10pm-2pm: The MusicTHE BLACK UNITY SOUNDSATION featuring BROTHER VINCENT & RAS KUSHTHE MEAN MACHINE CREW featuring: DJAYS CHUCK CITY, BROTHER VINCENT, DANNY DAN & MCEES SMITTY ROCK & EASY AL???POP??? GASKINS doing his Hit ???FREEDOM TO DIE???RICKY GRANT performing his Hit ???TIME IS THE MASTER???T-SKI VALLEY performing Grand Groove classic ???CATCH THE BEAT???SPECIAL INVITED GUESTS: Reggae Singer AUDREY HALL, Poet DAVE EDWARDS, Reggae Artists GLENN ADAMS, CARLTON HINES, and LLOYD ???BULLWACKIE??? BARNES.
9pm-10pm: The PanelistsSikhulu Shange: Owner of Harlem???s Record Shack on 125th street. Brother Sikhulu operated a record distribution company behind the Record shack that sold records to Mr. Osbourne in the seventies.The Imperial J.C.: The legendary DJay from the Herculoids Sound System was a dediated customer at Brad???s Record Den, spending about $300 dollars per visit. J.C. changed over to a rapper and recorded a few singles on Grand Groove with his brother as The Just Four.TSki Valley: Brad Osbourne???s most prolific recording artist, co-owner of the Grand Groove Imprint, whom Brad treated like a son.Bob Blank: Owner and Engineer of the Blank Studio in downtown Manhattan, where Brad did most of his recording.Tami Osbourne: Brad???s wife and partner since 1958. Tami helped establish and operate Brad???s Record Den and is determined to keep her late husband???s Clocktower Label alive. She distributes and presses vinyl on a daily basis. 10pm-2pm: The MusicTHE BLACK UNITY SOUNDSATION featuring BROTHER VINCENT & RAS KUSHTHE MEAN MACHINE CREW featuring: DJAYS CHUCK CITY, BROTHER VINCENT, DANNY DAN & MCEES SMITTY ROCK & EASY AL???POP??? GASKINS doing his Hit ???FREEDOM TO DIE???RICKY GRANT performing his Hit ???TIME IS THE MASTER???T-SKI VALLEY performing Grand Groove classic ???CATCH THE BEAT???SPECIAL INVITED GUESTS: Reggae Singer AUDREY HALL, Poet DAVE EDWARDS, Reggae Artists GLENN ADAMS, CARLTON HINES, and LLOYD ???BULLWACKIE??? BARNES.
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Knowing how things pop off in Harlem you don't want to miss this.