16 Glen Munro/Gleaner Writer LONDON: A PIONEERING music label, which has nurtured global appreciation for reggae music, has been commemorated with a blue plaque in west London. The prestigious sign was unveiled recently outside Peckings Records, in Shepherds Bush, a hub for the promotion of reggae music and its artistes for nearly 50 years. The name George ‘Peckings’ Price, the founder of the record label, is inscribed on the plaque. The entrepreneur from Kingston, Jamaica came to London in 1960 and, before long, distributed ska and reggae music to respected sound systems, including Coxsone, Jah Shaka and Hawkeye. During a career spanning nearly 60 years, Price not only engendered a love of Jamaican music in London, but globally, including countries such as Mexico and Japan. Speaking exclusively to TheWeekly Gleaner, Chris Price, the son of George, described the family’s reaction to the recognition. He said: “The family is overwhelmed by the commemoration of my father’s record label. Anyone that visits the store can see the plague and where the development of reggae music started in London during the 1960s. “Peckings Records grew slowly, as it worked with artistes such as Coxsone, Prince Buster and Duke Reed. Dad also helped and encouraged young deejays (DJs) by teaching them about the history of reggae music and sound systems. “He was instrumental in initiating the careers of prominent DJs like David Rodigan and Daddy C. “Famous rock and punk bands, including The Who, The Clash and Sex Pistols would buy records from the shop. But reggae enthusiasts would travel from France, Berlin, Mexico and Japan to buy music frommy father. He created a great legacy.” George Price died in 1994. Since the death of ‘Peckings’, the record label and shop have been operated by his four sons, who have collaborated to release 100 records and albums. In 2013, the business was awarded Best Label and Producer at the British Reggae Industry Awards. British DJ David Rodigan MBE, described the achievements of Price recently in TheVoice, a newspaper read by the African Caribbean community in Britain. He said: “George Price made an immeasurable contribution to the evolution of Jamaican music in London with his tireless passion and enthusiasm for the promotion of Studio One music, a catalogue quite unlike any other. For this, and so much more, we all owe Peckings a huge debt of love and respect.” The blue plaque was installed by the Nubian Jak Community Trust, which promotes the historic contributions of black people in the United Kingdom. Blue Plaque honour for Peckings Records Neil Armstrong/Gleaner Writer STORYTELLING IS at the heart of everything Sandra Whiting does and now she has added‘Sandra Seh’, her new YouTube channel where she shares her opinions on various matters. When she migated to Canada many years ago, Whitingmet DanYashinsky, a well-known Canadian storyteller, author, and community organiser. It was while attending a festival he organised just to listen to the wordsmiths that she fell in love with hearing stories again. “I had always been a reader. I can still remember the feel of those old books in the library and getting into the stories, so it’s been a long time,” she says noting that, “From I learnt to read and learnt to hear words and learnt to hear stories, I’ve loved them.” Whiting says her mother was very good at storytelling, and that her family required that everyone shared whatever they were experiencing, so storytelling felt very natural to her. A speaker and event host, she has worked for many years in arts and culture at the Harbourfront Centre, Obsidian Theatre, Factory Theatre, Jamaican Canadian Association and other cultural organisations and events in Canada. “I get a huge kick out of it. I feel so pleased to be asked andmy view of it, especially as an emcee, is that I want the audience to experience the best of what is being presented,” says the court interpreter for Jamaican Patois/ Creole. She conceived Kuumba – the longest-running Black History (African Heritage) programme at a major cultural institution in the city. During Black History Month, she launched Sandra Seh because as she says the month inspires and showcases black Canadians. Although well aware that Black History is to be supported 365 days a year, her view is that February is “our Christmas”. It is a dreamwhich she believes has now come to life as she says Sandra Seh has been on her bucket list for a while. She figured now was the time to do it. “It has reinvigorated me, honestly, amazingly,” says Whiting. She thanks her friend, photographer Michael Chambers, for helping her set up a mini studio in her home. He also did the lighting and her make-up, and recorded the sessions on her cell phone. She is inviting persons to subscribe to her channel and to share it with others. Using the Jamaican proverb, “Mout mek fi talk; story jump out!”– she says “our mouths are made to talk and we must share our stories.” Recently, Whiting signed on with the Black Business and Professional Association to do a project with Toronto’s Little Jamaica in the summer. They will organise a food festival on the street on the Labour Day-long weekend in September. Their aim is to animate the street and Whiting is planning a clean-up of the area on the Victoria Day-long weekend in May. She is inviting people from the community to come out and help to show that they are invested because the community has fallen on hard times. Many of the businesses have been affected by the construction of the Eglinton Light Rail Transit, which started in 2011, the reduction of vehicular and pedestrian traffic, and regulations closing businesses for long periods during the COVID-19 pandemic. ‘Sandra Seh’ Dynamic Jamaican-Canadian storyteller adds YouTube channel Sandra Whiting. CONTRIBUTED THE WEEKLY GLEANER | APRIL 4 - 30, 2022 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS NEW YORK, NY: WILLIAMS JEWELLERS is made up by three generations of jewellers. Some of you may remember my father’s stores at 57A East Queen Street, Premier Plaza and 95 Harbour Street, Kingston. Although all stores have been closed a few years now, I have taken the mantle and started up again. We are online and growing! We draw our inspiration straight from the heart of Jamaica, fashioning Jamaican jewellery with designs from our ackee bangles to our carefully crafted graduation rings for the Jamaican high schools. It is an honour to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Jamaica’s Independence with you. Just like a precious family heirloom, our country’s Independence and history will be passed down to generations, and what better way to do so than with our ‘Anniversary Pendant’ fromWilliams Jewellers! If you feel the same way I do about our island home, then our anniversary pendant is a ‘must-have’ this summer. We have eight choices for you, all sterling silver with or without a 3mm, 18inch snake sterling silver chain, or you may have the Hummingbird in 10K, 14K or 18K, yellow gold. All options are on our website, williamsjewellers.com. Every piece created is styled with you and our beautiful Jamaica in mind. And we have left the best part for last; on the back of EVERY pendant is a laser engraved insignia, taken from the National Anthem; “Jamaica, Land We Love”. Each pendant is uniquely designed with your name made into the pendant. All our pendants are custom-made to each person’s name and that pendant’s unique serial number. We invite you to join us in our celebration of Jamaica! Please visit our website, www. williamsjewelllers.com or WhatsApp messages to +1 347-861-4301. Williams Jewellers Invites You To Celebrate ‘Jamaica 60’
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