‘Each one contributed to Hackney’: Plaque honouring late African-Caribbean musicians to be unveiled on Mare Street

Two members of the Mighty Diamonds feature on the plaque. Photograph: Renaud Guilhou

A number of late African-Caribbean musicians with “strong ties” to Hackney are set to be honoured with a memorial plaque on Mare Street.

The names of twenty-four artists who performed at the Ocean venue, which closed in 2004 and was later converted into the Hackney Picturehouse, will be mounted on the building.

The unveiling will take place from 4-7pm on Saturday 12 November.

The plaque has been funded by the local community as part of the ‘Gone But Not Forgotten’ initiative led by one of the borough’s longest standing Black music organisations, Mellow Mix Studios.

Ocean, pictured in 2007, three years after it closed. Photograph: Ewan Munro

The Mellow Mix team view it as an important mark of respect to their late peers and also as a commemoration of Hackney’s long and rich musical history, particularly in reggae.

Project coordinator Novlette Brown said: “We as an organisation feel it is important to show our respect and honour these artists. Each one contributed to Hackney being a colourful and diverse borough, performing locally and keeping strong ties with Hackney and its community.

“Now that there is a renewed commitment to documenting Black history in the light of the tragic events of 2020, it is extremely important that this history is shared by the people who lived it.”

The artists to be honoured on the plaque are: Tabby Diamond, Claudia Fontayne, Jodie White, Bunny Diamond, Horace (Ruddy Ranks) Burke, Andy Irish, Frankie Paul, Reuben (Sleepy) White, Gene Rondo, Justin Hinds, Sugar Minott, Welton McIntosh, Elroy Bailey, Denni Vidal, Siddi Ranks, Ray Carless, Floyd Lloyd, Joyce Sims, Angus (Drummie Zeb) Gaye, Devon Russell, Joy Mack, Jah Globe, Jean Adebambo, Richie Johkan.