Quick Facts
Biography
Trevor Beresford Romeo OBE, (born 26 January 1963) better known as Jazzie B, is a British DJ and music producer. He is the founder of Soul II Soul.
Life and career
Jazzie was born to parents of Antiguan descent in Hornsey, London, the ninth of ten children, several of whom began running sound systems in the 1960s and 1970s. He had his first gig in 1977 working with friends under the name Jah Rico. He changed their working name to Soul II Soul in 1982. Soul II Soul was originally an umbrella name for several of his projects - the sound system, a clothing line and Camden record shop, a record imprint, as well as the group itself.
From 1985-1989, Jazzie and Soul II Soul would hold what would be regarded as a legendary night at the Africa Centre in Covent Garden. The Soul II Soul track "Fairplay" was recorded there just before the group started to find wider success. The nights at the Africa Centre would be celebrated in the 2003 compilation "Soul II Soul At The Africa Centre".
At this time, he would also host a show on then pirate radio station Kiss FM, which would continue through its legal licence and until 1997. From 2009 to 2012, Jazzie B hosted the "Back 2 Life" radio show on BBC London 94.9, which he then bought to Mi-Soul since 2014.
Jazzie has produced and remixed tracks for the likes of Incognito, Maxi Priest, James Brown, Kym Mazelle, Cheryl Lynn, Teena Marie, Johnny Gill, Ziggy Marley, Nas, and Destiny's Child.
He is a founding director of the Featured Artists Coalition.
He has a daughter Jessye (an actress), and a son Mahlon who plays professional football for Millwall.
Honours
In 2002, he was listed first in the Business category of the "100 Great Black Britons" list.
He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Elizabeth II in the 2008 New Year Honours.
In May 2008, he was awarded the first Inspiration award at the Ivor Novello Awards, for being "a pioneer" and "the man who gave black British music a soul of its own".
Discography
Compilation albums
- Jazzie B Presents Soul II Soul at the Africa Centre (Casual, 2003)
- Jazzie B Presents School Days: Life Changing Tracks From The Trojan Archives (Trojan, 2008)
- Masterpiece (Ministry of Sound, 2008)
