4,329 films were submitted to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. This newsletter had15,000views in 2012. If each view were a film, this newsletter would power 3 Film Festivals
While the Sons and Daughters of Small Heath prepare to welcome 2013 inna fine style and fashion with their forthcoming New Year’s Eve Party; it was suggested a few weeks ago by a subscriber and former resident of Small Heath, that PANTHER NEWSLETTER should highlight the richness of exceedingly talented people who used to reside in that little enclave of South-East Birmingham and the contributions they have made to the Entertainment and Arts industry of the UK and the world. So before PANTHER NEWSLETTER boasts and reveals who these talented people are, here is a brief history of the area…
Small Heath is an inner-city area within the city of Birmingham, West Midlands, England. It is situated on and around the A45 (Coventry Road). During World War II, Small Heath was heavily bombed by the German Luftwaffe, resulting in well over 100 fatalities in local houses and factories.
There are two large supermarkets in Small Heath, Asdaand Morrisons and the outdoor pursuits centre The Ackers Trust. There is also a business park that is home to the former Birmingham Cable Company, now Virgin Media, the international CADCAM Company Delcam and the UK's leading independent kitchen appliance repair specialists, Repaircare. Up until 1973, Small Heath was the home of the massive Birmingham Small Arms factory (BSA) on Golden Hillock Road and Armoury Road, manufacturing amongst other things, motorcycles, guns, cars, including taxi cabs and bicycles which dominated the local and national economy; (read more here...). The factory was briefly acquired by Norton Villiers Triumph following their takeover of BSA before it closed down; (read more here...), much of it being demolished following the collapse of the British motorcycle industry. Whilst the business park now occupies the site, the remaining buildings are still used for manufacturing.
There are several parks and green spaces in the suburb, of which the largest is Small Heath Park (formally known as Victoria Park). Small Heath is also home to Birmingham CityFootball Club's St. Andrews Stadium.
A large number of mostly terraced houses were built around Small Heath towards the end of the 19th century, and over the next few decades these buildings became the residence of numerous Irish immigrants.
In the 20 or so years that followed the end of World War II, the area attracted more immigrants – from the Indian sub-continent and the West Indies. Up until the mid 1980s Small Heath became a predominantly West Indian community.
Sport, Literature, Drama, the Fine Arts and Playing Music were the popular forms of entertainment in this close-knit community. Reggae music, the dance-hall and sound systems during the 1960s, 70s and 80s also played an important roll in their lives. Small Heath held its own when it came to the quality sound systems that graced the reggae dance-halls locally and nationally. Small Heath was home to popular sound systems such as: Iron Sound, Studio City, Spaceman, Count Nevis, Count Flash, andPrince Trojan to name a few. It also accommodated a number of youth sound systems, the likes of: JahRebel Sound, Cyclops, Bosrah, Count Nyah, Earthquake, Jah Shanti, Negus City, Ruffian, Jah Rockers and there were many more.
Due to the lack of social housing in the area when the first generation of black-British born youth began to have children of their own, there was a mass exodus from the Small Heath area to other suburbs in Birmingham. However, the spirit and positive vibes still remains in the hearts and minds of them and those who spent their formative years growing up in Small Heath.
Reggae singer Annette B is best known for her melodic Lovers Rock style of singing. She recorded her debut single at the tender age of 15 with Philip Gadd New Talent Records. Annette B then signed to various record labels such as UK Bubblers a subsidiary of Greensleeves, Ariwa Sounds, an album release ‘Suggestive Movements’ and single ‘Fairy Godmother’ released by Charm records Jet Starr.
He was one of the original founding members of the Ebony Arts Theatre Groupfrom outta Small Heath in the 1980's. A former semi-professional football player who played for six clubs as well as representing St.Kitts & Nevis in the 2002 World Cup qualifiers. He is currently a UEFA licensed football coach and is an established Deejay for the popular internet radio station from outta Birmingham England; STINGDEM.COM; read more about him here...
Named after a British unemployment benefit form, pop-reggae band UB40 was formed in a welfare line in 1978, and its multiracial line up reflected the working-class community its members came from. The band consolidated its street credibility with political topics appealing to dissatisfied youth; read more here...
Reggae music flows through the veins of Phillip "Gadd 59" Whittaker; his father is the creator and legendary Spaceman (sound system). His sister was a member of the Lover's Rock girl group Brown Sugar who sang the reggae classic Black Pride (1977).
During his teenage years Phillip was the inspiration and leader of Jah Rebel (Sound System) and later moved on to produce music of his own forming New Talent Records, producing Annette B's first single when she was just 15 years of age. Over the years, Phillip has rubbed shoulders with legendary reggae artists such as Beres Hammond, Big Youth and the late great Dennis Brown to name a few.
Valda Jackson has exhibited widely and has been commissioned for a series of prestigious public art projects. Her work has been shown in the National Portrait Gallery, London, Morley Gallery Westminster and public clients have included Bristol City Council and Newport City Council; more about her here...
(Founder of "The Black Farmer" range of food products.)
Wilfred Jones was born in Clarendon, Jamaica. In 1961 he moved with his parents to the UK where they settled in Small Heath. After working in the catering industry Wilfred enrolled on a training scheme that led to a job working for Peter Bazalgette on the BBC television series Food and Drink. He worked in television as a producer/director for 15 years. He also appeared on Robert Llewellyn's Carpool on 22 January 2010. His television career gave him the capital to buy West Kitcham Farm, in Devon, which he continues to farm. He became known to the locals who helped him initially with farming as "The Black Farmer", which inspired him to set up the brand of the same name, whose products include awarding-winning sausages, chicken, ham and sauces. He has since become involved in setting up the Black Farmer Scholarship, which aims to help and encourage ethnic minorities to work in the rural community, an area where traditionally they have been under represented. This has been made into a Channel 4 TV series, Young Black Farmers, a series of three, which sees him take a group of nine inner-city school leavers from ethnic minorities on a scholarship on his Devon farm; read more about him and check out his website here...
When we talk about writers, we automatically think of those who write fiction. James writes both fiction and non-fiction producing words that sell - not just tell. James Pogson is a graduate in Public Administration and Managerial Studies. He has worked in the Arts for more than a decade, writing and producing ideas for radio and theatre. For more than 20 years he's written in the public, private, arts and entertainment sectors - wearing more than one hat. Brought up on stories told to him by both his parents, he's managed to create a living for himself doing just that. Here's his story...
Born and raised in Birmingham England of Jamaican parents Moqapi Selassie, International Dub-Poet, has been performing his spoken words on stage since 1984. He selected and deejayed on sound systems Earthquake and Jah Shanti from outta the Small Heath area of the city back in the day. His unique style encompasses a cultural richness and wisdom that is literally mind-blowing and it is evident that he recognises and acknowledges the power of Father God in his life. His lyrics whether written or improvised freestyle, continually give honour and glory to the creator. This is how his story goes...
Marcus Simeon is a qualified Youth Worker/Adviser/Counsellor and a functioning member of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. He first started his musical career following the legendary JAH REVELATION MUZIC. After their demise in 1992, he became one of the official DJ's on the TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL SOUND SYSTEM along side The Ambassador, Cronical Dan, and Legal Wolf. Here's his story...
On April 5th 1982, Norman Samuda Smith was confirmed as the first black British born novelist to be published in the United Kingdom when his novel Bad Friday was published by Trinity Arts, short-listed for the Young Observer Fiction Prize later that year and re-published by New Beacon Books in 1985. During the 1980's and 1990s, he also played semi-professional basketball with his club Small Heath Panthers (Read more about themhere...)who became one of the most feared and respected basketball clubs in theWest Midlands Basketball League.
"The Race is not for the swift it's for who can endure it. Endurance is one of the most difficult disciplines, but it is to the one who endures that the final victory comes." __________________________________________________________
ITS MISSION: - TO EDUCATE; TO MOTIVATE; TO PROMOTE; TO INSPIRE; TO EXPRESS; TO SHARE...
MAKING HISTORY ______________________________________
Norman Samuda Smith- Writer/Editor/Publisher ofPanther Newsletteris interviewed on BBC Radio 4 UK "Making History" where he talks about Black History. His interview starts around 6 minutes 30 seconds into the programme - but have listen to the whole show when y'all have a window - an interesting programme; listen to the programmehere...
A LABOUR OF LOVE ______________________________________
Birmingham writerNorman Samuda-Smithand the main man behindPanther Newsletterdiscovered his love of writing when he was 10 years old. He made history in 1982 for being the first Black British-born novelist to be published in the UK. The year 2012 celebrates this achievement he made 30 years ago; read about ithere...
Talisha Johnson ofScene Birminghamhas: An Interview with Norman Samuda-Smith: The UK’s First Ever Black British-Born Published Novelist; read the interviewhere...
PANTHER NEWSLETTERstarted out as a hobby and has become a global phenomenon. Launched November 22 2009, with a vision to highlight local talent; within three months of its launch,PANTHER NEWSLETTERcaught the eye of the global internet community and has grown from strength to strength.
LONG MAY IT CONTINUE TO THRIVE AND GROW STRONGER!!
First published in 1982 (Trinity Arts; Birmingham), short-listed for the Young Observer Fiction Prize the same year and republished in 1985 byNew Beacon Books;London/Port of Spain, BAD FRIDAYis the ground breaking novel, written by the UK's first black British born novelistNorman Samuda Smith. Set in the mid 1970s,BAD FRIDAYfollows the fortunes of Delroy Bell, a young black school-leaver and his friends. The prospects for them look grim. Will Delroy realise his dream and become a professional basketball player; or will he end up hustling and gambling on the streets like his cousin Peter says?BAD FRIDAYtells how each are searching for a future, an identity and respect they feel was denied their parents; and the predicament in which Faye, young and pregnant finds herself - anxious about the possible rejection of her family and the baby's father. A compelling page turning novel and exceptionally well written.
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"Bad Friday is the first novel to come out of the black British working class experience; and it confronts in an artistic form, the life of black youth in Britain today." John La Rose,New Beacon Books (1985)
Norman Samuda Smith with John La Rose @ the Bad Friday book launch; Finsbury Park, London: April 1985
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"I read Bad Friday before I met Norman and felt it was good then: a novel about school leavers set in inner-city Small Heath Birmingham (UK) among the Afro-Caribbean community in the 1970s. It uses the dialogue of the community skilfully to tell an affecting story. What's amazing (to me) about it is the author's youth when he wrote it. He was in his early twenties, but he shows a mastery of narrative..." Alan Beard,goodreads(January, 2001)
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IF YOU HAVEN'T GOT A COPY OFBAD FRIDAYIN YOUR COLLECTION YET...
Scene Birmingham had the pleasure of interviewing Birmingham born writer Norman Samuda-Smith who made history in 1982 for being the first Black British-born novelist to be published in the UK. He discovered his passion for writing at 10 years of age and has continued in writing and publishing more of his work; his novel Bad Friday, which made history, was also short-listed for the Young Observer Fiction Prize; read his interview with me here...
In the 1790s, the son of an aristocratic white father and a black slave woman became a charismatic French general who for a time rivalled Napoleon himself, and afterward languished in a Italian dungeon. His story inspired the novel "The Count of Monte Cristo," written by his son, Alexandre Dumas, who also drew upon his father's adventures in "The Three Musketeers." Posterity remembers this son as Dumas pere, to distinguish him from Alexandre Dumas fils, also a writer, whose novel "La Dame aux Camellias" was the source of Verdi's "La Traviata." But the general was the first of the three Alexandres (he preferred to be known as Alex), and in "The Black Count," Tom Reiss, the author of "The Orientalist," has recovered this fascinating story with a richly imaginative biography; article continued here...
Recent riots in Greece and Spain over their respected government's austerity measures affirms the feeling that the everyday populous of Europe are not happy. They are losing their patience and can't take any more spending cuts which is affecting mainly the poor and needy. Meanwhile, Europe's leaders go around in circles and end up with no solutions. In December 2011, editor 'Normski' Samuda Smith wrote an article about this subject with a biblical twist in PANTHER NEWSLETTER, which has gone on to become the most popular read piece in the on line cultural review during 2012. If you haven't read it yet, here's your chance to read Normski's article now; THE AGE OF IRON AND CLAY; here...
Jenniece Anderson is an artist, art teacher and art dealer. Born in Jamaica, Jenniece currently lives and works in London. A prolific painter, she is committed to celebrating and promoting Caribbean art which was the driving force for her establishing “Bingy” Art Gallery of which she was the art director; check out her website here...
Brotha Chaz Walker (PANTHER NEWSLETTERARTIST OF THE MONTH/January 2011); hails from out of Oakland California. He is a musician, poet, community activist and educator. Dubbed “the High Priest of Hip Hop," his brilliantalbum WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE released on Inersa Records; which gives you a superb cocktail of Hip Hop, Reggae and Afrobeat, is available for you to purchase here…
Under the direction of the visionary Terrance Kelly, the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir has developed into one of gospel's premier ensembles. The release of the choir's album, October 4 2011 "Hear My Prayer," is only the fifth in its 25-year history. It is a cause for celebration among lovers of great gospel music everywhere!
Birmingham's multifaceted and multi-talented Tonya Bolton enthrals you with her one woman show. Let her take you on a journey taken by many, but one that is rarely shared so honestly in the public domain.
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TOUR DATES
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September 29 2012 - The Public, West Bromwich (Performance) - 0121 533 7161 - www.thepublic.com.
For all connoisseurs who prefer less chat and more music; Tune into Majestic Radio launched on the earthstrong of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie July 23 2011.
If you promote Dub/Roots/Reggae/Revival/Bashment/Dancehall events; just register as a promoter and post your events on the site here... You can also buy/sell event tickets direct from the event listings via: http://www.I-Want-Tickets.com
The original pencil drawing
by author Norman Samuda Smith (April, 1982). It became the original cover design for his ground
breaking novel Bad Friday and is now available on canvas. View more of his designshere...
_______________________________________________________ Here ends your specialBLACKHISTORYMONTHissue. PANTHER NEWSLETTER (Echo)will return soon. Until then, remember... "It is only when man becomes master of his fate - able to determine his destiny - that he can be free from fears and inferiority" His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I - July 2, 1963 -
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