Dennis Bovell
b. 1953, St. Peter, Barbados, West Indies. Guitarist who, as co-founder of Matumbi, one of the UK's first and best indigenous bands, has had a long apprenticeship in reggae music. Though born in the West Indies, Bovell grew up in south London. There he fell in love with Jamaican dub music and its ethos, setting up an early British sound system: Jah Sufferer, in north London. It brought him his first clash with the establishment: he was imprisoned for six months on remand after one event, only to be released on appeal. Like many reggae musicians operating in the UK in the late '70s, Bovell discovered common ground with the punk/new wave movement. He was friends at school with keyboard player Nick Straker and producer Tony Mansfield ( New Musik, Captain Sensible etc.), and this pair and others would help spice up his solo releases. In turn Bovell became embroiled in the early recordings of bands like the Pop Group and the Slits. Bovell's own efforts, particularly his first two sets, offered an impressive collection of experimental dubs. Indeed, at one point in time his name was linked in one way or another to no fewer than 18 singles in the British Reggae Top 20.